The FBI Los Angeles Field Office in 2013 released a series of regional television public service announcements (30 second PSAs) highlighting the devastating effects of intellectual property theft. The campaign won Emmy Awards for director/producer Nate Thomas and actor/producer Tim Russ recently at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences 40th Annual Pacific Southwest Emmy Awards in Carlsbad, California. The award-winning work included three ads on music piracy, bootleg clothing and stealing trade secrets. The project was done through Thomas's production company Nate Thomas & Associates which specializes in making PSA and commercials. 

The duo are considered by many as the 'gurus' of public service ads having produced social issue ads for many non- profit organizations as well as the State of California and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Nate is also a tenured Professor of Cinema and Television Arts at California State University, Northridge where he is head of the film production program. Tim, a well recognized screen actor, is known to millions of fans across the world as 'Tuvok' on the the "Star Trek: Voyager" television series, as 'Frank' on the series "Samantha Who?", and as 'Principal Franklin' on the Nickelodeon series "iCarly ." 

Nate and Tim both received a prior commendation from former FBI Director Robert Mueller for previous FBI PSA work.