United States Attorney Vanessa Waldref has announced that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Laurel Holland has been recognized as the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Prosecutor of the Year for the Eastern District of Washington.
AUSA Holland, a founding member of the U.S. Attorney’s Branch Office in Richland, Washington, joined in June 2023. Her career includes roles as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Benton County and an AUSA in Yakima, Washington. She is noted for her work on cases involving child exploitation.
One notable case involved Lucas Murphy, who was convicted in August 2024 for Online Enticement of a Minor after abducting a minor from Kennewick, Washington to New Mexico. AUSA Holland played a key role in this prosecution.
In the past year, AUSA Holland has prosecuted several significant child exploitation cases. In United States v. Julio Cesar Anaya, she secured a substantial sentence for a man attempting to meet a 13-year-old for sex. In United States v. Gerald Alan Nott, she obtained a fifteen-year sentence against an offender distributing over 1600 child pornography images from his parents’ home internet in Richland, Washington. Additionally, in United States v. Bret Michael Emineth and Malesa Hale, she and co-counsel achieved sentences of 30 years and 28 years respectively for two co-defendants who abused their victim over four years.
AUSA Holland emphasized the importance of collaboration with HSI and other task forces: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office could not do this important work without the support of HSI and the Southeast Regional Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force."
U.S. Attorney Waldref praised AUSA Holland's dedication: “Assistant United States Attorney Laurel Holland is tireless in her pursuit of justice on behalf of the young and most vulnerable among us." Waldref also highlighted Holland's contributions to training law enforcement and prosecutors.