Lurking in the Fog

In this episode of Lurking in the Fog, we are joined by Bryan Earl, a seasoned attorney, investigator, and former FBI Special Agent with over two decades of experience unraveling financial crime and corruption. From post-Soviet corruption to offshore laundering schemes, Earl walks us through one of the most consequential investigations of his career: the prosecution of a former Ukrainian Prime Minister. He unpacks how millions were siphoned from Ukraine through extortion, shell companies, and offshore banks, eventually landing in U.S. real estate and private bank accounts. We also explore the evolving landscape of Russian and Ukrainian threats, the transformation of organized crime, and how a shrinking window for global cooperation threatens the fight against kleptocracy. Tune in for a riveting journey through corruption, investigation, and the fight against dirty money.

In this harrowing episode of Lurking in the Fog, we are joined by Adam Zarnowski, a former CIA officer and specialist in human trafficking, organized crime, and digital forensics. Drawing from his experience in intelligence and investigations, Zarnowski walks us through the darkest corridors of modern slavery, where victims are trafficked not only across borders but within families, institutions, and nations. He explores how organized crime networks exploit religion, reputation, and even humanitarian crises to traffic organs, bodies, and labor, often with the complicity or blind eye of state actors. From boot camps for 'troubled teens' to the supply of blood and organs from the Global South to the Global North, Zarnowski unpacks the mechanics of control, complicity, and generational trauma that allow trafficking to persist in plain sight. He also discusses the 13th Amendment loophole, detention center labor, and the intersection of intelligence agencies with global mafias. Tune in for a difficult but necessary conversation about how crime thrives behind respectability, and what it takes to expose the fog.

In this episode of Lurking in the Fog, we are joined by Archana Bae, the CEO and founder of Porta Strategies. With nearly 25 years of experience spanning investigations, intelligence analysis, risk management, and consulting across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Archana brings a rich perspective on national security and financial crime. Through a captivating anecdote, she recounts a career-defining case that began as a routine license renewal and unraveled into the discovery of a money laundering network. Archana sheds light on the rise of fraud and money laundering, the growing threat of Chinese money laundering networks, illicit finance fueling Mexican cartels, and the complex geopolitical implications of China's expanding global influence. Tune in for an exploration of financial crime, international security threats, and the evolving playing field of global risks.

In this gripping episode of Lurking in the Fog, we are joined by Detective Marc Evans, a seasoned financial crimes detective, certified fraud examiner, and co-founder of Fraud Hero. With over 12 years of law enforcement experience, Detective Evans takes us deep into the intricate world of fraud investigation. From identity theft and social engineering to high-stakes financial scams, he unpacks the sophisticated tactics fraudsters use and reveals how financial crime is often the backbone of organized criminal networks. Along the way, he shares his passion for solving complex financial puzzles, the psychological strategies behind fraud, and some of the most challenging cases he's encountered—including the devastating impact of romance scams. Tune in for an eye-opening look at deception, investigation, and the pursuit of justice.

"The Anatomy of Corruption in Mexico" In this fascinating episode of Lurking in the Mist, we are joined by Estefanía Medina, an accomplished attorney, co-founder of Tohil, and vice-president of the Anti-Corruption Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce of Mexico. With more than 12 years of experience, Estefania recounts her work investigating criminal networks within the government itself. She recounts startling cases in which federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials were involved in bribery, drug trafficking and human trafficking. One shocking case involves a public official who extorted money to return seized drugs, while another uncovers human trafficking crimes perpetrated by agents of an anti-human trafficking unit. Her commitment to justice inspired her to co-found Tohil, a non-profit organization dedicated to strategic anti-corruption litigation. The episode concludes with insights into the intricacies of combating systemic corruption, from verifying the authenticity of documents to identifying the subtle cues that unravel complex criminal schemes.

This episode of Lurking in the Fog features Coleman Flaherty, who shares his gripping journey through the financial industry, marked by substance abuse, regulatory violations, and redemption. Flaherty recounts his early career struggles, starting at Dean Witter in 1989, where substance abuse quickly derailed his path. Over six tumultuous years, he moved between firms, committing unauthorized trades and grappling with personal demons, culminating in a 2005 SEC ban for illicit trading practices. After founding several penny stock newsletters, Flaherty's success grew but also led to further illegal activities, including offshore accounts to evade regulations. In 2012, an FBI investigation resulted in felony charges, but Flaherty cooperated as a confidential informant, aiding multiple convictions. His narrative sheds light on the darker side of high finance, the personal costs of addiction, and the path to recovery. Flaherty's candid discussion provides an insider's perspective on the pressures, temptations, and consequences of life "lurking in the fog."

In the shadows of the U.S. visa system, a sinister world of human trafficking and organized crime thrives. Join us for this podcast as we talk with special guest John Freeman who spent 21 years as a special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service, the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. State Department. He worked domestically and internationally protecting dignitaries, securing major events, conducting criminal investigations and leading the creation of an anti-human trafficking portfolio for the agency. In this analysis we travel to the dark side of global immigration, where desperation and deception converge. From the streets of Eastern Europe to the halls of power in Washington D.C., we expose the shocking truth behind the exploitation of vulnerable populations and the cunning tactics used by traffickers to manipulate the system. Listen as experts and survivors share their stories and insights, and discover the hidden dangers lurking in the world of visa fraud and human trafficking.

Our guest David Cook, is a U.S. Army veteran with expertise in psychological operations and open source intelligence. The analysis focuses on influencing foreign audiences and countering recruitment by groups such as ISIS. It discusses how these tactics are evolving in today's information age, particularly concerning OSINT's role in national security. Cook also tells how misinformation, smokescreens, and confirmation bias affect investigations in the digital world as in real-life intelligence work.

Join us on our seventeenth episode with Ícaro Avelar, a crypto lawyer who developed his career in the corporate environment, working as an in-house legal counsel for large, multinational Japanese and Austrian companies. He has significant experience in providing legal advice for Web3 projects, being responsible for regulatory enforcement in the companies he advises. Ícaro has made sure to stay on top of all the latest trends in Web3, crypto, and blockchain. He is especially knowledgeable about the role of cryptocurrencies in facilitating illicit activities on the dark web, citing the Silk Road as a cautionary tale of how well-intentioned tech founders can become complicit in crimes such as drug trafficking and arms smuggling should they choose to ignore the illicit activities occurring on their platforms. Most notably, he stresses the importance of being well-versed in the regulatory differences between the U.S. and the EU regarding Web3, crypto, and blockchain.

Join us on our sixteenth episode with Jim Crotty, a senior fellow at the Center for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS), where he supports their Organized Crime and Grand Corruption team on projects related to drug trafficking, money laundering, and transnational organized crime networks. He served as the Deputy Chief of Staff at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), where he assisted with strategic planning and communications, policy development, and the execution of major DEA programs and initiatives. Prior to joining DEA's front office, Mr. Crotty served as a Group Supervisor in the agency's Chicago Field Division, where he oversaw a team of intelligence analysts supporting significant drug trafficking and money laundering investigations. From 2013 to 2018, Mr. Crotty served as a liaison officer at the US Embassy in London, where he was a primary point of contact for all drug-related matters in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as well as the region's Cyber Coordinator. Mr. Crotty started his career with DEA in Washington, DC, where he conducted all-source intelligence analysis on drug trafficking trends in South America. Notably, in 2010, Mr. Crotty deployed to Afghanistan with DEA's Foreign Advisory and Support Team, where he coordinated and deconflicted counterdrug operations between US and allied partners. Before joining DEA, Mr. Crotty was an associate at PRTM Management Consultants' national security practice group. In this role, he provided strategic and operational advice to clients in the Intelligence Community, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense. He holds a JD from the University of Alabama School of Law, MA in Political Science from Boston College, and BA in Political Science from Auburn University, summa cum laude.

Join us on our fifteenth episode with Daren Firestone, former federal prosecutor and white house attorney. During his time in the United States Department of Justice Tax Division, Daren led scores of white collar criminal tax prosecutions and investigations involving healthcare fraud, government procurement fraud, bankruptcy, and identity theft. He handled criminal cases involving off-shore accounts, tax shelters, Medicare coding, employment taxes, corporate and partnership taxes, and fraudulent tax preparation. After graduating magna cum laude from Harvard College, Daren became an actor, appearing in Off-Broadway shows, national commercials, and the feature film “Scenes from a Mall,” in which he played Woody Allen and Bette Midler's son. He then went on to graduate magna cum laude from Northwestern Law School. Daren is the preeminent expert in keeping the identity of crypto whistleblowers confidential, even managing to hide them from the U.S. government during one of his cases.

Join us on our fourteenth episode with Meghana Vodela, a District XI Assistant Public Defender with the Maryland Office of the Public Defender. As a graduate of the American University Washington College of Law, Meghana is passionate about dismantling long-standing injustices within the U.S. criminal justice system. She was a student attorney for the university's Women and the Law Clinic (now renamed the Gender Justice Clinic) where her work focused on advocating for disenfranchised clients in the greater Washington D.C. area. Meghana's publication titled, "Restorative Justice: Uplifting Human Rights for the Marginalized, Vulnerable, Victimized, and the United States As a Whole" can be read via the link below. https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2004&context=hrbrief

Join us on our thirteenth episode with Dr. Louise I. Shelley, founder and director of the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) at George Mason University. She is one of the foremost experts in money laundering, illicit trade, human trafficking, wildlife trafficking, and other forms of transnational organized crime. Her academic career started off with extensive study on Russian Literature at Cornell University, followed by a Master's in Criminology and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. This research helped her conduct numerous money laundering investigations in Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia. As an Omer L. and Nancy Hirst Endowed Chair and a University Professor at George Mason University, Dr. Shelley has also authored books such as "Dark Commerce: How a New Illicit Economy is Threatening our Future" and "Dirty Entanglements: Corruption, Crime and Terrorism". As Dr. Shelley would say...to catch criminals, see beyond your stereotypes.

Join us on our twelfth episode with Vincent Scott, a U.S. Navy veteran with more than 30 years of cyber experience. His career in military operations centered around cyber warfare and information warfare, allowing him to conduct Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities at various levels. As a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Vince served as a Naval Cryptologist in numerous deployments and combat operations. Vince also served national intelligence agencies such as the National Security Agency. Following his military career, Vince held positions at major companies like P&G and PWC leading privacy, incident response, and threat intelligence teams. With his experience, Vince founded Defense Cybersecurity Group to support the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) by implementing the new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). Vince believes in the importance of telling companies the truths they do not want to know to confidently ensure their security.

Join us on our eleventh episode with Glenn Karabeika, a retired special agent with over 30 years of experience in the U.S. Customs Service Office of Investigations and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, working in the Homeland Security Investigations Counterproliferation Investigations Unit. In addition, Glenn also has over 30 years of experience as an electronic surveillance technical agent. Using his vast experience, Glenn has established his own import/export consulting and private investigations service, dealing with legal issues related to national security, narcotics, counterfeiting, arms control, illegal immigration, intellectual property rights, child sexual abuse material, and financial crime. Glenn is particularly adept at obtaining evidence from witness interview subjects who deliberately try to obfuscate the full story. His plethora of experiences have allowed him to help defense attorneys provide sound, trustworthy client defenses.

Join us on our tenth episode, a special cross-over episode with "Fraudish," a podcast hosted by Kelly Paxton. Our guest has over 20 years of experience as a Certified Fraud Examiner, Private Investigator, and Professional Speaker. Ms. Paxton was a Special Agent for the US Customs Office of Investigations from 1993-1998, and has investigative experience working for the Department of Homeland Security, Washington County Sheriff's Office, and Nike. Ms. Paxton also supports www.pinkcollarcrime.com, which is devoted to information regarding embezzlement. Fraudish is a podcast to help those working in fraud, providing origin stories, tips, and resources. Please join us on this special episode as we discuss Ms. Paxton's work on fraud cases and more!

Join us on our ninth episode with Sylvia Tidey, a cultural anthropologist and Associate Professor at the University of Virginia in the Anthropology Department and Global Studies Program. In her first research project, Tidey examined the continuation of civil service corruption in Indonesia in the aftermath of stringent anti–­corruption measures meant to promote “good governance.” In her book titled "Ethics or the Right Thing: Corruption and Care in the Age of Good Governance," Tidey explores novel forms of corruption within Indonesia's civil service. On this episode we will discuss Tidey's work studying corruption in Indonesia, the failure of anti-corruption efforts, and good governance.

Join us on our eighth episode with Dan Ramey, a distinguished financial fraud investigator and forensics accountant. Ramey is the Founder and President of Houston Financial Forensics, LLC, a past President of of the Houston Chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors, and previously served as Chairman of the Houston CPA Society's Forensic and Valuation Committee. He is currently an adjunct professor at the C. T. Bauer School of Business at the University of Houston, where he teaches Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination and Enterprise Risk Management courses. Join us as we discuss financial fraud cases Ramey has worked on, and some of the investigative services he has provided.

Join us on our seventh episode with Carlos De la Espriella, a distinguished attorney, human rights advocate, and legal scholar from Colombia. Carlos earned his J.D. with a concentration in criminal law from Universidad de Los Andes, and later pursued further specialization. He received a Masters of Law in procedural law from Universidad Externado de Colombia and Queen Mary University of London. Carlos co-founded "De la Espriella Legal", a boutique law firm focused on conflict resolution in criminal and civil matters, and has also spent time as a Magistrate in Colombia's Supreme Court. On this episode we will discuss Espriella's journey, and his experiences with compliance and law in Colombia.

Join us on our sixth episode with Colin Schmitt, who recently retired from the FBI after 25 years during which he investigated crimes involving frauds and swindles regarding cryptocurrency, money laundering, securities fraud, bank fraud, bankruptcy fraud, wire fraud, kidnappings, and more. He is a certified fraud examiner and anti-money laundering specialist. On this episode we will discuss various money laundering schemes and Colin's work as an FBI agent.

Join us on our fifth episode with Bernardo Weaver, who is an international lawyer by trade and has more than 20 years of experience representing large multinational corporations, business executives and high-ranking government officials in different continents. On this episode we will explore how lawyers assist with financial crime investigations, and discuss cases ranging from fraud on the Internet to money laundering scams.

Join us on our fourth episode with John Schwartz, who has over three decades of service for his country: nine years as an active duty Army officer and 24 years as a FBI Special Agent. John founded the Center for Combating Elder Financial Abuse in 2021, created with the vision of reducing elder financial abuse in the United States. On this episode we will discuss the illegal use of an elderly person's funds/properties/resources, the successes and failures of predators, and the various forms of abuse against the elderly.

Join us on our third episode with Michael Fasanello, a crypto compliance officer and thought leader specializing in anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing, economic sanctions, and illicit finance with a current focus on digital assets and the Blockchain technology place. On this episode we will discuss how digital assets are used to facilitate illegal financial transactions for threat actors. Learn more about rug pulls, due diligence, and cybercrime in the crypto arena.

Join us on our second episode with Scott Greytak, Director of Advocacy at Transparency International US, as we explore the complexities of this world and explore the correlations between corruption and money laundering. Discover how institutions play a role in different schemes and how dirty money is moved between gatekeepers and high-value assets.

Join us on our first episode with Lee Sullenger, former Liutenant Colonel of the US Army, as we explore the complex world of geopolitics, the Fulda Gap, and direct on the ground perspectives from his days in the army.