U.S. Department of Justice

FBI News Release
Jackson Field Office

Contact: Deborah Madden FBI
(601) 948-5000

Press Release
For Immediate Release
December 12, 2008

FBI ANNOUNCES 2008 RECIPIENT OF
DIRECTOR'S COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD

On Friday, December 12, 2008, Frederick T. Brink, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Jackson Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) awarded the 2008 Director's Community Leadership Award to Marsha Thompson, an Investigative Reporter/Anchor for WLBT television station in Jackson, Mississippi. The presentation took place during the Jackson Division's All-Employee Conference.

Established in 1990, the Director's Community Leadership Award is presented each year by FBI Field Offices to individuals and organizations whose achievements in the areas of crime prevention, drug deterrence, or similar educational programs have made a positive difference in their communities.

The Jackson Division of the FBI nominated Ms. Thompson for the Director's Community Leadership Award for 2008 in the category of outstanding service in the media.

The Jackson Division's nomination for Marsha Thompson was written as follows:

The Jackson Division has nominated Marsha Thompson for the Director's Community Leadership Award for 2008, as a member of the media. Her creative news segment, "Most Wanted," has increased awareness of crime, drug and gang violence by engaging the community to bring criminals to justice.

Marsha Thompson is currently an Investigative Reporter/Anchor for WLBT television station in Jackson, Mississippi. Except for the three years when she worked for the top-rated Fox Television Station WAGA-TV in Atlanta, Georgia, most of her 30-year broadcasting career has been at WLBT-TV.

Currently, she is tackling consumer problems as WLBT's Chief Investigative Reporter for "3 on Your Side." She has uncovered government waste and shown ordinary citizens how they can tap into millions of unclaimed funds. Among other assignments, she participated in an undercover internet sex sting operation with law enforcement and the national watch dog group Perverted Justice. Thompson works with other "3 On Your Side" reporters in the WLBT-TV newsroom to follow-up on significant issues of interest, from government waste to helping citizens determine whether they live in a flood zone area, as well as problems that continue to plague Mississippians displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

She is very active in her community and was a participant in the 2007 Jackson Division FBI Citizens' Academy. Ms. Thompson continues to maintain membership in the Atlanta Press Club, as well as being a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors. She has served as past President of the Mississippi Press Broadcaster Association.

At present, Ms. Thompson is featured on WLBT-TV's "Most Wanted," wherein she has creative control of the program. The segment identifies and airs a criminal of the week and provides information about them. After the Wednesday broadcast, the information is posted on the WLBT website. When a criminal is captured, "BUSTED" is printed over the respective criminal's picture. Each Wednesday, Thompson announces a new criminal and the station also highlights FBI most wanted individuals

"Most Wanted" has been so successful that some criminals have been apprehended within 24 hours of the broadcast. This has led Thompson to request even more photos and names from the Jackson Police Department, Jackson, Mississippi. Thompson advised that no reward is offered - just an appeal to the public to help put criminal behind bars. According to Thompson, the "Most Wanted" segment has been very successful since its initial airing in early 2008 and it is due to information received from the public.

Detective Sharesa Sparkman, Jackson Police Department, Intelligence Unit, stated that since Thompson's broadcast of the "Most Wanted," there has been a noticeable increase in the number of criminals captured. Some have turned themselves in after seeing their picture aired. Sparkman expressed that Thompson is very responsive to the police department and does not hesitate to report tips received from viewers as a result of the broadcast.

Nehemiah Flowers, U. S. Marshal for the Southern District of Mississippi, recalls when Thompson was hired at WLBT-TV and said she was like a sponge absorbing every aspect of the business. He expressed how proud he is of her work and longevity with the TV industry and stated that she is most deserving of such recognition.

Awards

Thompson has received numerous distinguished awards for her reporting and anchoring, including the NAACP Fannie Lou Hamer award and a special service award from the Mississippi Commission for Prevention of Child Abuse. In 2001, Thompson was formally recognized by the Mississippi State Medical Board for her outstanding work and her contribution to health care in the state of Mississippi.

SAC Brink stated, "On behalf of Director Robert S. Mueller III, the Jackson Division of the

FBI is pleased to present the Director's Community Leadership Award to Ms. Marsha Thompson."