#USA #Washington, D.C. #Cellebrite #Digital Justice #JUSTYS

Celebrating Excellence in Digital Investigations

On April 16, 2026, Cellebrite DI Ltd., a leading global provider in digital investigation solutions powered by AI, held the second annual Digital Justice Awards—popularly referred to as the JUSTYS—at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C. The event brought together hundreds of attendees to honor outstanding achievements in the field of digital investigations, recognizing both public and private sector contributors.

The CEO of Cellebrite, Thomas E. Hogan, emphasized the importance of this event, stating, ‘The JUSTYS is our main event to celebrate and honor those who go above and beyond to protect their communities, nations, and organizations.’ The event highlighted the significant courage, dedication, and passion displayed by the recipients, who are often unsung heroes in digital forensics.

In a demonstration of community support, Cellebrite employees personally raised $67,500 for the families of fallen officers. This contribution aids organizations such as Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), supporting families impacted by the loss of law enforcement officers. Sara Slone, C.O.P.S. Outreach Director, expressed gratitude for Cellebrite’s support, acknowledging that generous donations are vital to their mission.

The evening was enriched by live broadcasts reaching over 7.5 million YouTube subscribers, efficiently hosted by legal analyst Jesse Weber. A panel of digital forensics experts assessed numerous nominations, ultimately doubling the number of award winners from the inaugural event in 2025.

Award Highlights

Among the various categories presented during the JUSTYS ceremony were:

• - Rising Star Award for exceptional newcomers in digital forensics, won by Jonathan Adams (public sector) and Jesse Lao (private sector).
• - Voice for the Voiceless Award, which recognizes individuals empowering survivors with digital forensic capabilities, awarded to Eric Landamia and Patrick Eller.
• - Champions for Kids Award, presented to Taylor Sines, celebrating extraordinary efforts to protect children's safety.
• - Mentor of the Year Award, highlighting figures like Elizabeth Marsden and Bill Aycock for their dedication to guiding the next generation of forensics professionals.
• - Partner of the Year Award for Design, recognizing Kent Nielsen and Jonathan Edwards for their contributions in enhancing Cellebrite's solutions through early access programs.
• - Digital Bridge Builder Award awarded to Ralph Henderson, focusing on those uniting law enforcement through digital tools.
• - Catalyst for Digital Investigations Award presented to Wayne Cantrell for his transformative leadership
• - Community Guardian Award awarded to Geraldine Blay, K-9 Storm, and K-9 Siri for innovative community protection initiatives.
• - Excellence in Digital Investigation secured by Kirk Crabb for his unwavering commitment to enhancing judicial efficiency and accuracy.
• - Excellence in Digital Forensics Skills awarded to investigators Gary Dalton, Lim Tuan Liang, Mateus De Castro Polastro, and Johann Polewczyk, who made notable impacts across different regions.
• - Corporate Innovator of the Year went to Bill Aycock for exceptional innovation and technology adoption.
• - The Case of the Year Award was presented to Claire Hardisty and Laura Boothroyd of the Lancashire Police for their crucial role in a significant operational espionage case.

This award ceremony served as a key element of the broader C2C User Summit, which featured nearly 500 organizations from law enforcement, intelligence, and private sectors. Attendees participated in sessions and trainings led by industry leaders and were inspired by keynote presentations, including actor and former NFL player Terry Crews, along with insights from digital forensics experts regarding high-profile investigations.

About Cellebrite

Cellebrite prides itself on being a trusted partner to over 7,000 law enforcement agencies, defense organizations, and businesses globally. Their mission centers on developing comprehensive digital investigation solutions to enhance community safety, operational efficiency, and data privacy protections. With capabilities to support over 1.5 million legally authorized investigations annually, Cellebrite plays a critical role in advancing public safety initiatives. To learn more about their offerings, visit Cellebrite’s official site.