JUDICIAL BIOGRAPHY

Circuit Court (Group 41) commission date: May 13, 2019.
Elected without opposition, November 3, 2020.

Judicial assignments:

• Unified Family Court (June 2019 – present)
• Domestic Relations Division I (January 2022 – present)
• Delinquency Division F (January 2020 – January 2022)
• Dependency Division C (June 2019 – January 2020)

2022 Luis A. “Tony” Cabassa Award (THBA) (November 3, 2022)
2020 Robert W. Patton Outstanding Jurist Award (HCBA YLD) (March 25, 2021)

EDUCATION

Master of Laws (LL.M.), University of London King’s College (KCL) (2002)
Specialization: Banking & Finance Law

Juris Doctorate (J.D.), cum laude, The Florida State University College of Law (2001)

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), The American University (1998)
Major: Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, Government (CLEG)
Minor: International Studies
Student body president (1996-1997)

High School, Jesuit High School (Tampa) (1994)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney’s Office (Tampa) (May 2007 – May 2019)

• Federal prosecutor in Tampa, Florida.  Served in the Transnational Organized Crime Section, the Economic Crimes Section, the Organized Crime Section, and the Violent Crimes and Narcotics Section.
• District Opioid Coordinator, Middle District of Florida (MDFL) (2017-2019). Responsible for coordinating anti-opioid efforts of the second most populous District in the United States. Prosecuted opioid-related cases, prepared a revised 2018 MDFL anti-opioid strategy, created a new intelligence and evidence-collection process with Florida medical examiners, shared best practices amongst opioid-responsible colleagues, and collected and analyzed the best available data on the opioid threat to the District.
• Reviewer. As part of the Section chain of command, responsible for reviewing investigatory techniques (e.g., wiretap applications, search warrants, tracking warrants, pen registers) and certain pleadings prepared by other AUSAs prior to their presentation to the Court.
• Senior Litigation Counsel for the Criminal Division. Trained other AUSAs, including implementing a training program focused on new hires. In a one-year period, put on fourteen training programs, many in collaboration with partners, including a districtwide wiretap training program attended by more than 140 law enforcement officers and AUSAs. Worked to develop and improve partnerships with client agencies.
• Prosecuted a number of significant, complex cases, including a completed murder-for-hire, an intended murder-for-hire of a federal witness, a significant health care fraud prosecution, a narcotics distribution with death case, a complex science-related fraud case, a maritime drug smuggling case, a stolen identity refund fraud (SIRF) case involving numerous vulnerable victims, and many others.
• Previously served as the Human Trafficking Task Force Coordinator, formed the original MDFL Mortgage Fraud Task Force with another AUSA, and served as the MDFL’s Mortgage Fraud Coordinator.
• Granted Top Secret/Secure Compartmentalized Information (SCI) clearance.

Assistant State Attorney, State Attorney’s Office, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit (July 2003 – May 2007)

• In addition to service as a general prosecutor, served as the Deputy Chief of the Economic Crimes Unit, its Lead Trial Attorney, and as a domestic violence prosecutor.
• Tried most major crimes prosecuted in Florida, including murder, trafficking, burglary, and sexual battery.
• Served as lead counsel in a civil case against a conglomerate of strip clubs.

Federal Judicial Law Clerk, U.S. Magistrate Judge (Tampa) (July 2002 – July 2003)

• Researched for and otherwise assisted in the adjudication of federal civil and criminal litigation, Social Security appeals, and other duties as assigned.
• Drafted proposed orders, memoranda of law, and assisted in the preparation of legal presentations.

Tried more than sixty cases to verdict (2003–2019).

TEACHING, ARTICLES AND AWARDS

• Presented more than 100 times on various substantive topics, including wiretaps, rules of evidence, trial skills, Daubert, social media evidence, identity theft, fraud, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, domestic violence, money laundering, mortgage fraud, and criminal procedure.
• Author of Opioids: From Fields of Poppies to Fatal Fentanyl, GPSolo, published in April 2023.
• Author of The Opioid Crisis, Crim. Just., Winter 2019.
• Author of Going “Cocoanuts:” Looking at Modern Mortgage Fraud, 57 Fed. Law. 38 (June 2010).
• Numerous agency awards and recognition as a prosecutor, including:
• 2019 FBI recognition, excellence in prosecuting major criminal case (United States v. Gary Todd Smith).
• 2019 Special Achievement for Program Contract/Grand Fraud Investigation Award, Tampa Region Financial Crimes and Inspectors General Council.
• 2019 Complex Financial Crime Investigation Award, Tampa Region Financial Crimes and Inspectors General Council.
• 2018 HHS-OIG Inspector General’s Cooperative Achievement Award (in recognition of efforts on Shire Pharmaceuticals investigation team).
• 2018 NASA-OIG presentation of KSC-81PC-137, Space Shuttle Columbia on Pad 39A (in recognition of performance in United States v. Akbar Fard).
• 2018 Case of the Year Award, Tampa Region Financial Crimes and Inspectors General Council (for prosecutions related to Advanced Biohealing).
• 2017 U.S. Department of Labor-Inspector General Team Award (for investigation and prosecution of major healthcare-related case).
• 2017 U.S. Coast Guard (Citation) Meritorious Team Commendation (for meritorious service while serving on the United States v. Polshyn trial team as sole prosecutor).
• 2017 FBI recognition for demonstrated excellence in prosecuting major criminal case (United States v. Polshyn).
• 2017 FBI challenge coin (for participating in the post-Pulse nightclub attack response efforts and embedding immediately in the Fort Pierce FBI-RA in the aftermath of the attack).
• 2017 U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General plaque (for significant work identifying healthcare fraud by Amerimed leading to the prosecution of four cases).
• 2016 NASA Office of the Inspector General recognition for outstanding contribution to the mission of the NASA Inspector General.
• 2016 Public Corruption Investigation Award, Tampa Region Financial Crimes and Inspectors General Council (investigation into corruption at the U.S. Postal Service).
• 2016 Complex Financial Crime Investigation Award, Tampa Region Financial Crimes and Inspectors General Council (investigation into complex ring of identity theft targeting veterans receiving healthcare at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and using their identities to file fraudulent tax returns to obtain refunds).
• 2016 Department of the Army, Patriotic Civilian Service Award for leadership and dedication to ensure the investigation and prosecution of major fraud procurement cases and contributing to the readiness of the U.S. Army.
• 2016 DEA, FBI, Coast Guard Investigative Service, and U.S. Coast Guard recognition for United States v. Polshyn prosecution.
• 2015 Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Award for Excellence (sponsoring agency: National Science Foundation).
• 2015 Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Award for Excellence (sponsoring agency: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs).
• 2015 NASA recognition for dedication to public service and significant contributions to the NASA Office of the Inspector General’s mission (presented with an American flag flown in space aboard Space Shuttle Endeavor, STS-108, launched December 5, 2001).
• 2015 Defense Criminal Investigative Service and U.S. Army recognition for major contributions to the Department of Defense and U.S. Army through the prosecution of United States v. Aldissi (presented with an American flag flown over the U.S. Embassy, Kabul, Afghanistan on July 4, 2011).
• 2015 Case of the Year Award, Tampa Region Financial Crimes and Inspectors General Council (for prosecution of United States v. Aldissi).
• 2015 National Science Foundation Office of the Inspector General plaque in recognition of leadership, effort, and dedication in the investigation and prosecution of Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)/Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) fraud cases.
• 2015 U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General plaque for dedication and professionalism greatly furthering the mission of protecting the homeland.
• 2010 Raymond E. Fernandez Award from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council for outstanding contributions to the criminal justice system.
• 2009 U.S. Postal Office of the Inspector General plaque in recognition of outstanding efforts and contributions through mail theft prosecutions.
• 2009 U.S. Attorney’s Office Mortgage Fraud Award for outstanding contributions in mortgage fraud prosecutions.
• 2009 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Integrity Award for major contributions to the Office of the Inspector General’s goals and objectives.

 
OTHER EXPERIENCES AND ACTIVITIES

• Honorary Wing Commander, 6th Air Mobility Wing, U.S. Air Force, MacDill AFB (2022 – present)
• Leadership Florida, Cornerstone Class 42 (2024 – present)
• Leadership Tampa, Class of 2022. Class Champion. Leadership Tampa Alumni (2022 – present)
• Boy Scouts of America (BSA) (2016 – present)
• Vice President, GTBAC District Operations (2023 – present)
• Fort Brooke District Chair (2020 – 2022)
• Greater Tampa Bay Area Council, Board (2020 – present)
• Pathfinder Committee (2020 – present)
• Troop 4 adult leader (2021 – present), currently Assistant Scout Master
• Assistant Cub Master, Pack 23 (2016 – 2021)
• Member, Economic Club of Tampa (2004 – present)
• Master, Herbert G. Goldburg Criminal Law Inn of Court (2002 – present)
• President (2011 – 2012)
• Master, Cheatwood Inn of Court (2009 – 2023)
• Master, Ferguson-White Inn of Court (2019 – 2021)
• Member, Florida Bar’s Criminal Section Executive Council (2018 – present)
• Member, Florida Bar’s Federal Court Practice Committee (2012 – 2018)
• Florida Bar Grievance Committee (13A) (2015 – 2019)
• Chair (2018 – 2019)
• Co-Chair, Bench Bar Committee, Hillsborough County Bar Association (2017 – present)
• Commissioner, Second District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission (2006 – 2010)
• Member, Merit Selection Panel (MDFL, retention of USMJ Porcelli) (2017)
• Member, Federal Bar Association (Tampa Bay Chapter) (2008 – 2011)
• Executive Board (2008 – 2011)
• Co-Chair, American Bar Association, White Collar Crime Regional Subcommittee (2012 – 2014)
• Member, Cuban American Bar Association (CABA) (2020 – present)
• Member, Tampa Hispanic Bar Association (2019 – present)
• Member, George Edgecomb Bar Association
• Member, Initial Screening Committee, Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Professionalism Committee (appointed by Chief Judge) (2019 – present)
• Member, Federalist Society, Tampa Bay Lawyers Chapter (2019 – present)
• Board of Trustees, Saint John’s Episcopal Parish Day School (2022 – 2024)

LAW SCHOOL AND UNDERGRADUATE EXPEREINCES

• Movie Extra, Casting Collective (London, UK) (2001-2002)
• Jessup International Moot Court (2000-2001)
• Summer Associate, de la Parte & Gilbert, P.A. (2000)
• National Italian American Bar Association Scholarship (1999-2000)
• Graduate Intern, Fla. House of Representatives (Academic Excellence Council) (1999-2000)
• American University’s Outstanding Leadership Award (1997)
• Intern, NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) Partnership Coordination Cell (Brussels, Belgium) (PCC) (1997)
• Staff Assistant, U.S. House of Representatives (1995-1996)
• Intern, U.S. Senate (1994-1995)

PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY

Judge Thomas N. Palermo is a native of Tampa, Florida. He was born at Women’s Hospital, grew up in the greater Carrollwood area, and has extensive roots in his hometown. His mother, whose first language is Spanish, is from Ybor City. She served a full career as a professor and, before that, as an English teacher at Leto High School. His father is from Seminole Heights. He owns a marine-related business in Drew Park. His brother and sister-in-law are attorneys here in Tampa and his sister is a real estate agent here in Tampa. Growing up, Judge Palermo was a member of Saint Timothy’s Catholic Parish, Saint Mary’s, and Saint Paul’s. Judge Palermo attended Saint John’s Episcopal and then Jesuit High School.