PI’s Declassified!

Encore Conducting Investigations in Nairobi

Where do you turn when information is needed in Africa, whether it is conducting research or a background check? How do you go about vetting an individual from an African country? This could include something so basic as determining someone’s full name, details of their identity card, validation of academic certificates, professional qualifications, or property ownership. As the world becomes smaller, it becomes more and more necessary to know who to contact to obtain critical details. Tune i...

Encore Cyber Crime: Chasing Digital Footprints

Digital evidence can often be modified with ease so whether it is gathered from a computer, a cell phone, a flash drive or any other device, digital forensic investigators must handle evidence in a manner that ensures their conclusions are based upon factual evidence and their own personal expert knowledge. Is there evidence of a crime? Can an alibi be confirmed? What about the intent to commit a crime? Is there a document that needs authentication? What about identifying a stalker, a perpetr...

Encore Photography: Tips From An Expert

Would you like to become a more proficient photographer? Are you interested in hearing tips and tricks from a professional? Taking photographs under an array of circumstances for an assortment of reasons is an essential skill for many, but it is a principal tool in the private investigator’s tool box for gathering evidence. Tune in to hear Certified Evidence Photographer Keith Rosenthal share his expert but practical knowledge.

Encore Corrupt Cops & A Crooked PI: A Tale of Conspiracy, Fraud & Deceit

For two years, the sordid saga of conspiracy and criminal acts of a California Private Investigator and a Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) Task Force Commander rocked Northern California. Not only did they sell drugs confiscated from evidence, but they also ran a brothel and provided paid protection for the bawdy-house prostitutes. It didn’t stop there! This PI, conspiring with a family law attorney and utilizing his female soccer mom PI’s, set up “Dirty DUIs” on husbands...

Encore Understanding and Investigating Military Law Cases

Many of us have had some experience with the U.S. state or federal court system. Whether it is a traffic ticket, a small claims suit, something more serious or just from watching T.V., we probably have a basic comprehension or expectation of the rules that are applicable. Do the same rules apply in the military? How do the policies of the court and the legal proceedings vary? What determines military jurisdiction? Does a person charged with a crime have the same rights in military courts com...

Encore Investigation: An Attorney's Vicarious Liability

Private investigators must be aware of how their actions may impact others. The American Bar Association’s Model Rules of Conduct sets forth directives for behavior not only for attorneys but for non-lawyers as well and are enforceable in all but eight states. Violations can result in sanctions or worse. Therefore. If a lawyer retains an investigator, that attorney is liable for the investigator’s actions. Certainly, there are gray areas in investigation tactics, but some, particularly when i...

Encore Criminal Defense: A Search for the Truth

Have you ever wondered exactly what a criminal defense investigator does? Are you one of those people who question why people represent criminals? Are you one who wrinkles up your nose and asks, “How can you do that kind of work?” Even though much has changed in the American justice system, rights of even those who are accused of committing crimes are still protected by the United States Constitution. Daniel Dafoe said, “I hear much of people’s calling out to punish the guilty. But very few a...

Encore Private Investigations and the Changing Landscape

Is the private investigation profession shrinking due to governmental regulations or local laws, or do private investigators have to start looking at their work with a different perspective? To be successful, a private investigator has to run their agency like a business, a skill that is often underdeveloped before entering the field. Having some expertise or getting advise in the areas of business administration, personnel, public relations, and marketing are key. No longer can a PI continue...

Encore Surveillance Is Not For Sissies

Surveillance is both an art and a skill. It requires planning, flexibility, quick decision-making, and most of all patience, patience, and more patience. It is definitely not a task for sissies! Are you a surveillance investigator who wants to learn more tricks of the trade? Or…are you someone who wants to hire a competent surveillance investigator and you don’t know where to start. Pennsylvania Private Investigator Matt Grotkowski says, “Surveillance is able to cut through the layers of frau...

Encore Mexican American Gangs: A Look from Inside Out

It is unusual to find a man who has experienced the life led by Dr. Jesse De La Cruz and lived to become a positive influence on others. From the time he was 12-years old, Dr. De La Cruz pursuits were checkered with gangs, crime, heroin addiction, and prison. Caught in the criminal lifestyle, it was the only path he knew. Twenty years ago Dr. De La Cruz was released from prison for the last time. Today, he is an author and a man who possesses a Sociology Degree, a Masters in Social Work, and ...

Encore Depositions: Tips for Testimony

Whether you are in a court of law, an administrative hearing or a civil deposition, testifying is not an easy matter. It requires knowledge of your topic at the very least, but it also requires confidence as well as authenticity. Depositions are an integral part of the legal discovery process and are not to be taken lightly. It is the “other side’s” opportunity to gather information and do as much damage to the opponent’s case as possible. Often the success of the case for the prevailing par...

Encore Suspicious Suicides

There are few life events more painful and far-reaching than a suicide. A suicide not only brings suffering to loved ones, it brings shame and guilt to those with the closest contact to the victim. But . . . what if the suicide isn’t a suicide? Can this same sad event be interpreted in another way? Can it be an accident? Can it be a homicide? Who decides? What factors are considered? What are the pros and cons of either determination? Then there are the myths surrounding suicide that leave...

Encore The Ins and Outs of Medical Malpractice

An alarming statistic from The Journal of American Medical Association (Jama)…medical negligence is the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States right behind cancer and heart disease. What do you do if you believe you have a medical malpractice claim? How is a claim investigated? What are the components of a valid claim against a medical practitioner? What is necessary to be shown for a claimant to prevail? How has tort reform impacted this area of law? Tune in to hear Paul Freidman, ...

Encore David v. Goliath: One Man Makes a Difference

After a 2 ½ year battle with the Pima County, Arizona County Attorney, Private Investigator Richard Robertson prevailed. New case law was created in Arizona in support of public access to government records, an incredible win for the news media as well as for the citizens of Arizona. As a result, the Arizona Newspapers Foundation honored Rich with their Freedom of Information Award. Tune in to hear Rich Robertson tell his remarkable story of how he fought the county Goliath and won.

Encore Policing: A Daunting Responsibility

Law enforcement policies and tactics have landed directly under the nation’s microscope of late. Many wonder what happened? Most individuals who sign on as sworn officers do so because they want to make a difference. What happens then? Is it their training or is something else afoot? A 34-year veteran law enforcement officer, retired police chief, and multiple award recipient, Dr. Norm Stamper, has much to say on the subject. He is the author of Breaking Rank: A Top Cop's Exposé of the Dark S...

Encore Audio and Video Enhancement: Myths, Facts and Benefits

What can be done when a video or audio recording is poor quality? What if the image is blurred? How about background noise that overrides the spoken word? What if the sound transmission obliterates vital background noise? Does it matter if the photo or the recording is from a cell phone? Is it possible to discover a cheating spouse by detecting voice stress? What are the myths concerning what enhancement can be done and what can’t? Video and audio recordings are often critical pieces of evide...

Encore Protecting Yourself from On-Line Dating Scams

On-line dating has become a popular method to locate that once-in-a-lifetime prince or princess charming. Whether it is an on-line dating service or a social media site, it is a convenient and accessible way to meet others. It is no secret, however, that the internet can be fraught with scammers and fraudsters, ever-ready to prey on the vulnerable and unsuspecting. The idea that “it can’t happen to me” is common but, unfortunately, it can happen to anyone! What are the red flags? Tune in to h...

Encore Interviewing the Document

Seasoned Journalist Don Ray has spent a life time tracking down a plethora of documents to pursue leads, check for accuracy, gather background information or verify information provided by other means. He has a wealth of knowledge about tracking down source documents and scrutinizing their content that he calls Interviewing the Document. Tune in to hear Don impart critical information needed to search and interpret documents, from gathering background information to conducting genealogical re...

Encore Losing it at Work: Preventing Violence in the Workplace

Have you ever been a target of violence in the workplace or been fearful of a co-worker? Do you know someone who has? Have you felt bullied or threatened? When are words more than “just words?” Is there physical violence or a restraining order involved? What about a weapon? Is there escalating agitation or aggression? What is happening in the background? What are you to do when you perceive a threat? Do you report it? What is your employer’s responsibility? Is intervention needed? Are there...

Encore: Keys to Uncovering Fraud and Financial Misconduct

Leah Wietholter, a former FBI employee, certified fraud examiner, forensic accountant, and the author of Data Sleuth: Using Data in Forensic Accounting Engagements and Fraud Investigations will detail what is involved in finding fraudsters through the process she developed. Tune in to hear Leah provide a comprehensive blueprint and critical tips to understand the foundational data sources and logical analyses used to quantify losses and uncover financial misconduct,

Product Dversiom - Fraud is Everywhere!

If you are a producer of specialty products - particularly name-brand products, chances are you have faced product diversion or will at some point. From hair care products to purses.to specialty foods, product diversion is a practice where merchandise intended for a particular distribution channel is shifted and sold elsewhere without the knowledge or permission of the company. Diverters go to great lengths to entice suppliers with shell companies and elaborate presentations - all sounding to...

Encore The Role of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner

The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner or SANE, plays a significant role when a report of a sexual assault has been made. The sexual assault nurse examiner conducts forensic examinations on reported victims and suspects of sexual assault events and has special skills to assess patients, identify injury, and collect evidence. A SANE nurse must be objective and a good listener. The forensic nurse will memorialize the examination both through documentation and photography, all which will be incorpora...

Encore Losing it at Work: Preventing Violence in the Workplace

Have you ever been a target of violence in the workplace or been fearful of a co-worker? Do you know someone who has? Have you felt bullied or threatened? When are words more than “just words?” Is there physical violence or a restraining order involved? What about a weapon? Is there escalating agitation or aggression? What is happening in the background? What are you to do when you perceive a threat? Do you report it? What is your employer’s responsibility? Is intervention needed? Are there...

Encore Bugs Anyone? Defeating the Snooper

The more sophisticated technology gets, the easier it is to spy on another. The use of electronic bugging equipment crosses many boundaries. From board rooms to politicians to cheating spouses, no one is safe from prying eyes and ears. Enter Charles Patterson, an expert in Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) and advanced technology threats. TSCM refers to a process of protecting private communications against electronic eavesdropping and other technical reconnaissance. Charles Patte...

Encore Law Enforcement: Transitioning to the Private Sector

After retiring from the Orange County Sheriff Department as a Lieutenant and becoming a Licensed Private Investigator, Bill Hunt is often approached by those from federal, state and local law enforcement looking to make the same transition to the private sector as he did. Bill has successfully mentored numerous aspiring PI's who now operate profitable private investigation businesses. Tune in to hear Bill Hunt tell of his experiences and offer ideas and suggestions for those who are moving fr...

Encore David v. Goliath: One Man Makes a Difference

After a 2 ½ year battle with the Pima County, Arizona County Attorney, Private Investigator Richard Robertson prevailed. New case law was created in Arizona in support of public access to government records, an incredible win for the news media as well as for the citizens of Arizona. As a result, the Arizona Newspapers Foundation honored Rich with their Freedom of Information Award. Tune in to hear Rich Robertson tell his remarkable story of how he fought the county Goliath and won.

Encore Protecting Yourself from On-Line Dating Scams

On-line dating has become a popular method to locate that once-in-a-lifetime prince or princess charming. Whether it is an on-line dating service or a social media site, it is a convenient and accessible way to meet others. It is no secret, however, that the internet can be fraught with scammers and fraudsters, ever-ready to prey on the vulnerable and unsuspecting. The idea that “it can’t happen to me” is common but, unfortunately, it can happen to anyone! What are the red flags? Tune in to h...

Encore Returning Vets: Horses for Heroes

With increasing numbers of veterans returning home and scores with physical disabilities, therapeutic horseback riding is getting attention. Wounded service personnel and veterans who have fought to preserve our freedom are being offered a process called Hippotherapy or Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy. Tune in to hear Private Investigator Dave Townsend tell about his new passion and this important horse therapy program.

Encore Video Evidence Unplugged

What is the process of extracting images from a video? With the advancement of technology, there is video evidence everywhere you look. It is on street corners, inside and outside stores and other buildings, parking lots, on highways and at toll stations buildings. It is unusual not to be video recorded, particularly in an urban environment. There are Smartphones and police officer body cameras. Cameras are watching us, and they become a critical component of a criminal, and even a civil inve...

Encore Global Investigations from Israel

Israeli based Jacob Lapid has tales of intrigue to tell. From investigating the Dutch connection to the Enron Corporation fraud to exposing a secret association between managers, clients and a Swiss bank involving 90 million pounds to finding two abducted American children in Tunisia, Jacob has experiences spanning over 30 years. And, he is an acclaimed artist as well, often chronicling his experiences of the 1973 Yom Kippur War. You will definitely want to join in to hear the adventures of ...

Encore False Confessions: Fact or Fiction?

Do people really confess to crimes they don’t commit? Why would an innocent person incriminate himself and accept responsibility for breaking the law? What is it like to be falsely accused? And, w/hat would you do if you were the suspect? Fifteen-year-old Jacksonville, Florida’s Brenton Butler knows. Brenton was arrested for murder and confessed to the crime. His case was chronicled in the award-winning documentary, “Murder on a Sunday Morning.” Hear Brenton’s attorney Patrick McGuinness and...

Encore Lessons Learned from Starting A Small Business

Small business start-ups have common challenges, whether it is retail, manufacturing or offering a service. Private investigation agencies have an additional challenge. Most PI’s starting an investigation agency have no prior business experience or knowledge of how a business needs to function. This is mainly due to most people foraging into the private sector investigation arena are former law enforcement officers. Cameron Jackson, a former police officer, has navigated those choppy waters a...

Encore Investigating Cults

What is it that you know about cults? Tune in to hear all about cults from private investigator and professional cult expert, David Sullivan, a man who has spent his career infiltrating cults and learning their secrets. Sullivan will provide a view of cults from the inside-out, describing how cults recruit members and maintain control through varied coercive techniques. He will detail the process of identifying and investigating cults, and his collaboration with leading authorities in the are...

Encore A Noted PI Recounts The Life of A Heroine

After studying the tumultuous history of the Afghani’s and hearing about a woman named Meena, Private Investigator Melody Ermachild Chauvis traveled to Afghanistan to research the remarkable story of Meena, the founder of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA). The result was an inspirational book chronicling Meena’s amazing life, her work, her struggles, her traumas and her tragedies against the backdrop of the ruthless Taliban that followed the years of harsh Russi...

Encore Corrupt Cops & A Crooked PI: A Tale of Conspiracy, Fraud & Deceit

For two years, the sordid saga of conspiracy and criminal acts of a California Private Investigator and a Contra Costa County Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) Task Force Commander rocked Northern California. Not only did they sell drugs confiscated from evidence, but they also ran a brothel and provided paid protection for the bawdy-house prostitutes. It didn’t stop there! This PI, conspiring with a family law attorney and utilizing his female soccer mom PI’s, set up “Dirty DUIs” on husbands...

Encore Privacy versus On-line Data Providers: Is There a Balance?

Achieving a balance between privacy of our own personal identifying information versus a legitimate need to access that same information is a difficult task. Don’t we each want to have all of our personal identifying details kept private? Of course we do! Conversely, if we were involved in a legal action, either civil or criminal, wouldn’t we want to be able to locate an individual who could provide information on our behalf? Consider if that person also has a common name name like John Jones...

Encore An Accidental Lawyer

Criminal Defense Attorney Gerald Schwartzbach has represented such clients as civil rights activist Stephen Bingham and Robert Blake, probably the most widely known for his role in the TV series, Baretta, an eccentric, street-smart undercover cop with the NYPD. A burning commitment to justice propels him to pull out all stops on behalf of his varied clients. He believes true justice is executed only when we refuse to objectify the defendant, regardless of the crime. Tune to hear Gerald Schwar...

Encore Inside the Investigation of The American Taliban

Indicted on ten federal charges including conspiracy to commit murder, providing support to terrorist organizations, contributing services and support to Al Qaeda and the Taliban and using and carrying firearms and destructive devices during crimes of violence, John Walker Lindh is serving 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to all ten charges. As the images of Lindh in captivity in were circulating the globe, California licensed private investigators David Fechheimer and Barry S...

Encore Encore: Inside the Mind of an Investigative Journalist

Award winning correspondent, Diane Diamond, always has a story in the wind. And she loves to work with private investigators who often have the inside scoop both on the front lines as well as behind the scenes. What is it like to cover the headline making crime stories of the day, every day? How does a lifetime of covering crime impact the journalists who cover it? How does an intense news-breaking story as big and as shocking as the Michael Jackson or Jerry Sandusky cases impact the life of ...

Encore Do You Want to Write a Book?

It is not a surprise that any private investigator has a plethora of experiences and stories to provide terrific fodder for an interesting read. It could be a tale of an interesting case, a compilation of short stories, or an instructional how-to book. The topics are endless. Where do you start? How do you get published? What are your available options? Private Investigator and Chief Ethics Officer of a major global provider of whistleblower hotline and compliance services in over 150 countri...

Encore Encore: Policing: A Daunting Responsibility

Law enforcement policies and tactics have landed directly under the nation’s microscope of late. Many wonder what happened? Most individuals who sign on as sworn officers do so because they want to make a difference. What happens then? Is it their training or is something else afoot? A 34-year veteran law enforcement officer, retired police chief, and multiple award recipient, Dr. Norm Stamper, has much to say on the subject. He is the author of Breaking Rank: A Top Cop's Exposé of the Dark S...

Using Cyber Sleuthing Skills to Locate Cold Case Missing Persons

Encore Outrageous Gumshoe Stories

Whenever a group of private investigators get together, there are war stories. Sometimes, no matter how much planning has taken place ahead of time, the law of Murphy does its work. This particularly true for those private investigators who specialize in surveillance and worker’s compensation fraud. If a situation is going to go south, it has a high probability of happening during a surveillance, whether it is moving or stationary. Join Scott Fulmer, a private investigator who has many outrag...

Keys to Uncovering Fraud and Financial Misconduct

Leah Wietholter, a former FBI employee, certified fraud examiner, forensic accountant, and the author of Data Sleuth: Using Data in Forensic Accounting Engagements and Fraud Investigations will detail what is involved in finding fraudsters through the process she developed. Tune in to hear Leah provide a comprehensive blueprint and critical tips to understand the foundational data sources and logical analyses used to quantify losses and uncover financial misconduct,

Never Forget - First Person Account of September 11, 2001

John Ferriso was a New York Police Officer in 2001 when evil landed on the World Trrade Center and the citizens of New York. on September 11. Ferriso describes his eye-witness experienceof the events that changed New and even the world in a New York Minute. Many stories have been told about this day of infamy, but still this first-person account is captivating.

Encore Tackling Adverse Publicity

What do you do when you need to mitigate a controversy for yourself or a case you are investigating? Whether you are a Fortune 500 CEO, university chancellor, celebrity, politician, athlete, attorney or even an individual private investigator, where do you go for advice, particularly when there is high-profile exposure? You may need an expert to provide you tactical guidance, or you may require a behind-the-scenes process to gain positive publicity, to hold the media accountable for erroneous...

Encore Spotlight on Immigration Law

Who better to address immigration law than an attorney who was an immigrant herself? That is the case with Sharron SK Williams who immigrated to the United States from Belize. She is a practicing attorney who is right in the middle of addressing visa petitions, naturalization, permits for re-entry, asylum, religious worker petitions, unaccompanied immigrant children and other immigrant-related matters. Join PI’s Declassified! to hear Sharon SK Williams discuss both the challenges she faces as...

P.I.'s Declassified 04/21/22

Encore Forensic Scientist Extraordinaire

Working with experts can be challenging, frustrating, and sometimes puzzling. Working with a great expert is often insightful as well as rewarding, whether or not it helps your case. Celia Harnett is a court-qualified expert in many areas of forensic science including crime scene reconstruction, firearms & tool marks, gunshot residue, impression evidence, serology, trace evidence, blood alcohol analysis & interpretation, & controlled substances. She is an expert where an investigator or an at...

P.I.'s Declassified 03/24/22