CEDAR RAPIDS Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Chatham was among only nine others across the country honored recently for “superior performance” as a federal prosecutor.
“I never expected it,” said Chatham, who was recognized last month by the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys with a Director’s Award for Superior Performance. “It’s not for a particular case but for the overall work.”
Chatham, 39, who has been with the office for over 12 years, is the chief opioid prosecutor. He has prosecuted over 80 opioid cases, 40 of which involved deaths or injuries.
These cases are not easy to prosecute because when overdoses are involved there usually are issues with evidence, Chatham noted. The heroin has to be traced back to the dealer, and other substances often are mixed in, so it can be difficult to prove the toxicity of the drugs.