MICHAEL T. BARRETT, CFS
Farmington Hills, Michigan

Graduating in accounting (Cum Laude) from the University of Detroit, Mike Barretts' private practice work included a stint with Touche Ross, CPA's (now Deloitte & Touche) and serving as Senior Manager in the Corporate Investigations Practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). Retired from the FBI after nearly 25 years as a Special Agent, Mr. Barrett now operates a private consulting firm that provides critical support to clients in need.

During his service as an FBI Special Agent, Mike Barrett spent two years in deep cover, far removed family, friends and the safety net of FBI colleagues. He eventually became accepted as a financial facilitator and service provider to the criminal underworld. Becoming part of their "circle," Mr. Barrett developed a close working relationship with "made guys", upper echelon members of well-known organized crime families.

Working with them, Mr. Barrett participated, observed and listened to them as they committed; bank fraud, embezzlement, insider theft from world class banking institutions, stock market manipulations, money laundering. and wire and mail fraud. Key to Mr. Barretts' survival was a clear grasp of the criminal mindset. Key to his capturing the evidence needed to bring these major criminals to justice required Mr. Barrett clearly understanding their methods.

While engaged in other covert operations, or in support of other Undercover Special Agents, Mr. Barrett participated in bankruptcy fraud, bribery/kickback schemes, balance sheet fraud, falsification of financial records, and submission of false/fictitious documents and financial statements to public agencies responsible for licensing and taxation. A Certified Fraud Specialist, Mr. Barrett, previously served as the Association's National Secretary and remains a member of the Association's National Executive Committee.

SEFTON BOYARS, CFS, CPA, CIA, CGFM
Walnut Creek, California

A graduate of Temple University, Sefton Boyars is a Certified Fraud Specialist, a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Internal Auditor, and a Certified Government Financial Manager. Mr. Boyars' professional history includes working 16 years with the U.S. Department of Education as the Regional Inspector General for Audit where he was responsible for directing all audit activities in the West Coast, Hawaii, Alaska and the Pacific Basin. Upon retiring, Mr. Boyars has been retained as a consultant by many government and private organizations, including the USDA Graduate School, the California State Controllers' Office, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the City of Los Angeles to name a few. A former member of the Qualifications Committee for the California State Board of Accountancy, Mr. Boyars also serves as a Regent and Adjunct Faculty Member for the Association of Certified Fraud Specialists.

JAMES BLANCO, CFS, QDE
Rocklin, California

Author of the ground-breaking book Business Fraud, Know it and Prevent It, Mr. Blanco works with corporations in training personnel on how to "fraud-proof" their businesses. One of only 150 Certified Forensic Document Experts in the United States, Mr. Blanco's 17 plus year career includes working for the U.S. Treasury (BATF), the California Department of Justice, and the Sacramento Sheriff's Office - Detectives Division. An author, Mr. Blanco has had technical articles published by both the Forensic Science International and the American Academy of Forensic Sciences publications. Frequently featured as a speaker, Mr. Blanco has been profiled at two of our Association's National Fraud Conferences.

An Adjunct Faculty member for St. Johns' University in Louisiana, Mr. Blanco is also a member of our Associations' Adjunct Faculty. Regularly retained as an instructor for law enforcement agencies, Mr. Blanco develops and presents courses designed to assist professionals investigating fraud cases on how to sift through documents to determine whether they tell the truth, or lie.

LES BROWN, CFS, JD
Sacramento, California

Having received a Bachelor "With Honors" in Criminal Justice from California State University, and a Juris Doctorate "With Distinction" from McGeorge School of Law, Les Brown's duties as a Principal Prosecutor in the Insurance Fraud Prosecution Unit of the Sacramento District Attorney's Office includes handling a wide variety of cases and assignments. His experience includes having served on the D.A.'s Legislative Committee, the Crime Charging Committee, and the Juvenile Justice Committee.

After having served a 4 _ year stint in the homicide unit, Les is presently works closely with government agencies and Insurance Companies to combat various types of insurance fraud. Under Les' leadership, his unit has acquired a reputation for quality investigations, solid case development, and the aggressive prosecution of insurance fraud.

DALE CARLSON, CGFM
Sacramento, California

For over 17 years, Mr. Carlson has been performing and leading performance audits and federal compliance reviews for the State of California. Employed by the California Bureau of State Audits since 1993, Mr. Carlson is responsible for guiding staff in conducting the analysis of operations such as the University of California, and the City and County of San Francisco. Part of his duties at the Bureau of State Audits includes teaching audit staff how to develop and use sources of information with emphasis on using the Internet. Mr. Carlson is the course developer and instructor for mandatory Internet and Resource Training Program, that all new audit staff must complete.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Carlson served as a performance auditor for California's Office of the Auditor General (predecessor to the Bureau of State Audits), as a manager at the California Employment Development Department, and as an Adjunct Instructor for Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

ROBERT DeMARIA, CFS
San Francisco, California

Robert DeMaria has spent most of his professional life in the field of fraud investigation. His 22 year career as a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation culminated in his specialization in white collar crime, bank fraud and embezzlement and bank failures. During his career at the FBI, Mr. DeMaria supervised 22 Special Agents and was responsible for Asset Forfeiture Program in the Bureau's San Francisco Division. Subsequent to retiring from the FBI, Mr. DeMaria joined Visa International in the Asia Pacific Region where his responsibilities included fraud risk management on a regional basis. His responsibilities also included operational, settlement risk and risk management training throughout the Asia Pacific Region and he regularly provided training in consumer payment systems for national and local law enforcement agencies, and financial institutions.

Currently the Director of Investigation for Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann and Bernstein, LLP, a leading, national, plaintiff class action law firm in San Francisco, Mr. DeMaria works closely with senior partners on critical cases. As Director of Investigation his responsibilities include all aspects of fact investigations from the inception of the case through trial and settlement. The cases are complex and span securities and investment fraud, corporate fraud, anti trust, consumer fraud, as well as other areas.

HARDY R. GOLD, JD, CFS
San Diego, California

Graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of California at Irvine, Mr. Gold received his law degree from the University of Santa Clara Law School. After a stint in private practice, Mr. Gold joined the California Office of the Attorney General in 1990. Presently a Supervising Deputy Attorney General with the AG's Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse, Mr. Gold's prosecutorial history is a long and distinguished one.

Mr. Gold's successes in prosecution includes stopping a Pakistani organized crime ring engaged in fraud and money laundering. He worked to help pioneer the prosecution of Identity Theft cases relating to health care fraud and he prosecuted the first blood trafficking conspiracy, commonly known as "Operation Dracula," in 1999. As a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Mr. Gold successfully convicted 9 defendants in first health care fraud RICO case in Southern District of California and, when he uncovered corruption and extortion by Department of Health Services investigator, he assisted the U.S. Attorney's Office successfully prosecute the perpetrator. In another first, Mr. Hardy marshaled the first successful California prosecution of crimes related to Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), and the list of multi-agency task forces he has assisted, or led, is a lengthy one.

Presently a member of National Universities Adjunct Faculty (Criminal Justice Department), Mr. Gold is also a member of our Association's Adjunct Faculty and serves as a member of the Education and Curriculum Development committee - the committee charged with national oversight of our Association's training program.

Lt. RICHARD HARRIS, CFS
Yuba City, California

Presently a lieutenant with the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office where his duties comprise supervising a staff of investigators who focus on major narcotic crimes, homicides, gang-related investigations, asset forfeiture issues, and staff security. Lt. Harris' previous employment includes serving as a Special Agent Supervisor for the California Department of Justices' Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement and as a Supervising Fraud Investigator II for the Fraud Division of the California Department of Insurance. A Certified Fraud Specialist, Lt. Harris is the current Chairman of the Associations' Board of Regents which is our standards setting body. Possessing extensive experience as an instructor for the Yuba College Administration of Justice Program, Lt. Harris regularly teaches law enforcement courses in Evidence, Search Warrants, Firearms, Property Crimes, Use of Force, Surveillance, and Report Writing.

CHARLES W. HESTER, CFS, CPA, CFE, CGFM
Salem, Oregon

After his service as an Audit Manager for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Office of Inspector General (Western District), Mr. Hester worked for several CPA firms, including KPMG Peat Marwick and Nunez & Associates. Mr. Hester is the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Education and Training Award, as presented by the Association of Government Accountants, and the prestigious Jack Birkholz Leadership Award, as presented by the Western Intergovernmental Audit Forum. Mr. Hester is an accomplished author of technical writings and, upon retiring from FEMA, began working as a consultant and professional trainer for various organizations and government agencies, including the USDA Graduate Schools' Government Audit Training Institute, the Institute of Internal Auditors, the California Department of Finance, and the California Association of State Auditors. A former member of the Qualifications Committee of the California State Board of Accountancy, Mr. Hester is presently a member of the Qualifications Committee of the Oregon State Board of Accountancy. In addition, he is a member of the Oregon State Bar Disciplinary Board, the Oregon Board of Examiners for Engineering & Land Surveying, and the Oregon Board of Geologist Examiners. Currently a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Specialists Adjunct Faculty, Mr. Hester is also a member of the Associations' Professional Standards and Admissions Committee.

SHAWN LOEHR
Sacramento, California

Having received a Bachelor's degree from Chico State University, Shawn Loehr serves as a Criminal Investigator with the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office where he is assigned to the Homicide Unit. Responsible for conducting investigations and trial preparation of some of the most complex cases faced by Sacramento County, Investigator Loehr's responsibilities include such cases as the recent investigation and prosecution of several members of the infamous Symbionese Liberation Army.

Possessing extensive knowledge of various types of fraud schemes and investigative techniques, Investigator Loehr presently serves as is the lead instructor for the District Attorney's Check Diversion Program. His instructional duties include being selected to instruct the "Investigative Techniques" domain of the POST mandated Trial Preparation and Investigation Course that the District Attorney's Office conducts in partnership with Yuba Community College. Prior to becoming an investigator for the Sacramento County District Attorney in 1997, Investigator Loehr served two years as a police officer in Redding, California.

MARK MENZ
Folsom, California

A private consultant specializing in providing critical incident support to major corporations, Mr. Menz possesses broad experience in computer related investigations. His expertise from both the development and forensic side of computers has led to his holding several critical positions with major corporations, including serving as Training Coordinator for Kroll and Associates' National Digital Evidence Laboratory and Deputy Operations Director and Chief Information Manager for Compac Engineering. Mr. Menz also served as an instructor for SEARCH, a non-profit organization funded by the U.S. Department of Justice to provide critical computer training to law enforcement officers. Mr. Menz' software and hardware design credits include his being one of the founders of Progressive Image Technology (later called PLAY, Inc), and being co creator of the original concept that became the Snappy Video Snapshot. His professional accomplishments include being a member of design teams for a number of peripheral products sold to, or by, companies such as Tandy, Apple, and IBM.

A nationally recognized author and expert in high technology related crime and computer network system design, Mr. Menz is certified in the field of computer investigations by the prestigious Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation, an institute administered by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. Presently he is an executive of the High Technology Crime Investigation Association, Mr. Menz has regularly been a profiled speaker at our Associations' National Fraud Conferences and he presently serves as a member of the Associations' Adjunct Faculty.

JOHN NICHOLAS, JR, CFS
Los Angeles, California

A retired law enforcement officer with over 20 years of investigative experience, Mr. Nicholas is one of only three officers in the United States who is of the Gypsy race. Formerly a Deputy Sheriff with the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office, in West Palm Beach, Florida, Mr. Nicholas has served as a Television consultant for Dateline NBC, America's Most Wanted and the History Channel on the Gypsy culture and the organized crimes perpetrated by criminal Gypsies. Because of his expertise he has been called in to assist the FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Probation, as well as local, county and state law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.

The author of several articles on the subject, Mr. Nicholas has developed several training courses to help anti-fraud professionals recognize the various types of frauds and scams Gypsies perpetrate. A respected teacher, Mr. Nicholas is certified by both the states of Florida and Colorado as an instructor. His efforts have resulted in praise from such noteworthy organizations as the Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training Council, the Florida Attorney General's Office, the Florida Crime Prevention Association, the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts, the Area Agency on Aging, the International Association of Special Investigation Units, and the Embassy of Australia in Washington D.C. (written on behalf of the Australian Federal Police in Canberra). Some of his information was submitted to United States Senate Special Committee for the Aging regarding crimes against senior citizens. A Certified Fraud Specialist, Mr. Nicholas is a member of the Associations' Adjunct Faculty.

DETECTIVE WERNER R. RAES
Anaheim, California

Detective Raes has been with the Anaheim Police Department for 28 years and has spent the last 15 years specializing in economic crimes. He is a nationally recognized expert in identity fraud, identity take-over, and impersonation. He is a past president of the California Financial Crimes Investigators Association, the Orange County Check and Credit Card Investigators Association, and presently serves as International Secretary for the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators. An instructor for the Anaheim Police Department, Detective Raes also serves as an instructor in the California Department of Justice's Advanced Financial Crime Investigation course.

Due to his extensive background, Detective Raes has been called upon to provide formal testimony on the emerging issues of Identity Theft to the U.S. Congress, the Federal Trade Commission, the Social Security Administration, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the U.S. General Accounting Office. Frequently used as a source on national television In stories about Identity Theft, Detective Raes has been interviewed on CSPAN, Dateline, and 20/20.

In a recent interview about the escalating problems associated with Identity Theft, Detective Raes was quoted as stating:

"In the United States, we do not have a valid form of paper identification. The drivers licenses in all fifty states, and the U.S. Passport, are not worth the paper they are printed on for the purposes of identification."

Lt. GREG YACOUBIAN, CFS
Los Angeles, California

Employed by the Los Angeles Police Department, Lt. Yacoubian directs a staff of officers in various investigative efforts. Possessing an extensive background in conducting investigations, Lt. Yacoubian has worked in the Anti-Terrorist Division, the Narcotics Division, and the Hollywood Vice Divisions. A veteran at interview and interrogation (I & I) methodology, Lt. Yacoubian was a profiled speaker at the Association's 2000 and 2001 National Fraud Conferences where his presentation on interviewing techniques received tremendous reviews. Certified as an instructor by the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation (Class No. 28), an advanced training institute administered by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, Lt. Yacoubian frequently teaches the art and science of interviewing and confrontation techniques at various law enforcement schools, including the Institute of Criminal Investigation (ICI), the LAPD Homicide School, and the LAPD Gang Awareness School. A member of the Association's Adjunct Faculty. Lt. Yacoubian is presently responsibility for developing the Associations' interview training program, Lt. Yacoubian is the current President of our Associations' City of Angels Chapter in Los Angeles, California.