FBI Case File Review

Retired agent Jack Schafer reviews his espionage investigation of John Douglas Charlton, an aerospace engineer who had worked for Lockheed Corporation on their top-secret "Skunk Works" stealth technology project. During a false flag operation, Charlton offered to sell classified information to an undercover FBI agent for $100,000. He was convicted on 10 counts of attempted espionage. Jack Schafer served in the FBI for nearly 21 years.

Check out episode show notes, photos, and related articles: https://jerriwilliams.com/417-jack-schafer-lockheed-engineer-sells-classified-stealth-technology/

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Retired agent Jerry Spurgers reviews his investigation into the abduction and murder of thirteen-year-old Kacie Rene Woody by a 47-year-old California man named David Leslie Fuller. Kaci met Fuller, who posed as a 17-year-old boy named David Fagen, in a Christian chat room for teens. Jerry Spurgers worked this case with a team of local detectives, sheriff's deputies, and members of the Little Rock Division's Evidence Response Team. He is the author of A Parent's Worst Nightmare: True Stories of the FBI's Response to Missing Children. Kacie Rene Woody's case is featured in the book. Jerry served in the FB...

Retired agent Tom Clark reviews the history of FBI Aviation. Tom pays tribute to retired agent Tom Drumm, the "Father of Bureau Aviation," and provides details about the dawn of police aviation, the first Bureau use of aircraft, the initial FBI Headquarters resistance, building of the fleet, and how agent pilots use aviation assets to support Bureau operations, to include surveillance, photographic support, and executive transport.
Tom Clark, along with retired agents Tom Lott and Russell Atanasio, and former agent Bill Allen, also share fascinating aviation surveillance stories from their agent pilot careers. 2026 marks the FBI Aviation Program's 50th...

Retired agent Keith Mularski reviews the online undercover investigation of the "DarkMarket" forum, which sold stolen identities, credit card data, usernames and passwords, and electronic equipment used to carry out financial crimes. The case proactively targeted international cybercrime by penetrating English-speaking internet cybercrime forums. Keith infiltrated the forum using the alias Master Splyntr. The two-year-long undercover cyber operation resulted in the site's shutdown and over 60 arrests worldwide. Keith served in the FBI for 20 years.

Check out episode show notes, photos, and related articles: https://jerriwilliams.com/414-keith-mularski-darkmarket-forum-master-splyntr-infiltration/ 

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Retired agent Shayne Buchwald-Nickoles reviews a violent crime case developed through a confidential source. The task force investigation involved stolen firearms, a conspiracy to commit home invasions and jewelry store robberies, a fake police stop, and the kidnapping of the owner of a jewelry store. The successful investigation and prosecution resulted in the guilty plea and conviction of seven co-conspirators. The investigative team was recognized with the Rod Rosenstein Award for Outstanding Collaborative Efforts among federal, state, and local law enforcement. Shayne served in the FBI for 20 years.

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Retired agent Ellen Glasser reviews the criminal investigation of the Iran-Contra Affair, the secret sale of U.S. arms to Iran and the illegal diversion of funds to Nicaraguan Contra rebels. The case was code-named "Operation Front Door." Ellen investigated and testified about the almost 6,000 messages that were deleted from John Poindexter's and Oliver North's computer files. Poindexter and North were convicted at trial but were later pardoned by President George H. W. Bush, who had been vice president at the time of the scandal. Dr. Ellen Glasser, Ed.D., studied female leadership in nontraditional occupations. She served in...

Retired agent Dr. John Pi, MD, reviews his investigation of the RaisetheFist website, a landmark cyber intrusion investigation that tested the boundaries of digital evidence, constitutional protections, and national security law enforcement. Sherman Austin was charged and convicted of the distribution of information relating to explosives, destructive devices, and weapons of mass destruction with the intent that such information be used in furtherance of a federal crime of violence.

John Pi is also a board-certified emergency physician. As the first FBI agent and doctor, he pioneered the development and integration of tactical medicine into FBI operations. John...

Retired agent Wayne Barnes reviews a 1998 espionage investigation where he was assigned to ferret out a suspected mole within the FBI who was spying for the former Soviet Union and Russia. This involved recruiting "Ivan," a former Soviet intelligence operative who was believed to be aware of the mole's identity. Ivan, who was seeking American backers for a film project, was going to be at the American Film Market, an industry sales and marketing event held in California. Wayne went undercover as a representative for wealthy Texans looking to invest in films. He secured Ivan's trust and arranged the scenario...

Retired agent John Kingston reviews how he unraveled a murder-for-hire conspiracy which resulted in the 1985 killing of Atlanta entrepreneur Richard Braun, who was ambushed and killed in his driveway. The hit was brokered through a Soldier of Fortune magazine classified ad. Four men were convicted of conspiracy to commit murder. After filing a lawsuit, the victim's family won a landmark civil verdict against the magazine for negligent publication. John Kingston served in the FBI for over 21 years. 

Check out episode show notes, photos, and related articles: https://jerriwilliams.com/409-john-kingston-soldier-of-fortune-murder-for-hire-conspiracy-case/

Retired agent Sheldon Fung reviews the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Sacramento Division investigation of James Christopher Malcolm, who used the online moniker "Dark_Mart." Malcolm was charged and convicted for possessing abrin, a deadly biological toxin similar to ricin found in the seed of the rosary pea, a tropical plant. He knowingly sold vials of abrin to individuals planning to use the biotoxin to kill others. Malcolm was also convicted of the unlawful dealing of explosives and firearms. Sheldon Fung served in the FBI for 21 years.

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Retired agent and veteran polygraph examiner Barry Colvert reviews the over 20 polygraph exams he conducted on the John Walker spy ring case, beginning with Barbara Walker, John's ex-wife who was almost dismissed as a drunken spouse seeking revenge for unpaid child support money and alimony, when she claimed John had been selling military secrets to the Soviet Union. That quirky beginning led to one of the most damaging losses and compromises to national security ever investigated. Barry got confessions from John Walker and his brother Arthur, and interrogated co-conspirators Jerry Whitworth and John's son, Michael Walker.

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Retired agent Tom Ropel reviews his fugitive investigation of Adam Gadahn, who was indicted in October 2004 for treason and was the first American indicted for treason since the 1950s. California-born Gadahn, who moved to Pakistan to join Al Qaeda, was also charged with providing aid and comfort and material support to the terrorist organization for making propaganda videos supporting Al Qaeda. He threatened attacks on major U.S. cities, called 9/11 payback for American crimes, and encouraged Muslims in the West to kill Americans. Dr. Thomas Ropel, Ph.D., served in the FBI for 21 years. 

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Retired agent Kerri Reifel reviews her work with the Fort Wayne Police Department on the investigation into the murder of 8-year-old April Tinsley, who disappeared on April 1, 1988. Her body was found three days later. But the murder went unsolved for over thirty years. Kerri worked closely with Fort Wayne PD Detective Brian Martin and others on the case for 16 years, first as an agent assigned to the Indianapolis Division and member of the Child Abduction Rapid Deployment team (CARD), and then as a certified profiler in the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU-3) Crimes Against Children program. Through genetic DNA testing...

Retired agent Shawn Johnson reviews his investigation of serial bank robber Scott Scurlock, aka the Hollywood Bandit. Steven Meyers, who was Scurlock's lookout and getaway driver, also takes part in this case review. Steven Meyers and Scurlock staged takeover heists in the Seattle area during a four-year period in the 1990s. Before entering the bank, Meyers would help Scurlock disguise himself with Hollywood-quality makeup and prosthetic facial features. They robbed 19 banks. However, when surrounded by members of the Seattle Division's Puget Sound Violent Crimes Joint Task Force while attempting to escape from their last robbery, a shootout ensued and...

Retired agent Eric Robinson reviews a case where the subject provided thousands of dollars to a terrorist organization to support violent jihad. After he was arrested, the subject solicited the murder of the federal judge presiding over his case. Eric led the undercover operation where an agent posed as a "hitman" to record the plot to kill the judge. Eric received the U.S. Attorney General's Award for his work on this matter. He served in the FBI for over 23 years.

Check out episode show notes, photos, and related articles: https://jerriwilliams.com/403-eric-robinson-solicitation-for-murder-of-federal-judge/

Retired agent Brian O'Hare and former Chattanooga Police Lieutenant Sean O'Brien review the July 16, 2015, attack by a lone terrorist, who opened fire on two military installations in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He first committed a drive-by shooting at a recruiting center, where one Marine was injured by gunfire. He then traveled to a U.S. Navy reserve center where he continued firing. Four U.S. Marines were shot and killed at the scene, and a U.S. Navy sailor died at a hospital two days later. A police officer was wounded. The gunman was killed by responding police during the firefight...

Retired agent Lara Burns reviews her investigation of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, a Texas-based charitable organization, which led to the conviction of some of Hamas' top fundraisers in the United States. The government charged that HLF was created for the sole purpose of acting as a financing arm for Hamas. It has been illegal to provide financial support to Hamas, a designated foreign terrorist organization, since 1995. Five former leaders and the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) were convicted of providing material support to Hamas and money laundering, resulting in a $12.4 million money judgment. Lara served in...

Retired agent Vito Roselli reviews the biggest but still unsolved case of his FBI career, the missing-persons investigation of Richard Petrone Jr. and Danielle Imbo, who were last seen leaving a bar in Philadelphia on February 19, 2005, never to be seen again. Over two decades later, the case remains open and active. Also taking part in the case review are Christine Girardi, Richard Petrone's sister, and John Ottobre, the brother of Danielle Imbo.

Check out episode show notes, photos, and related articles: https://jerriwilliams.com/400-vito-roselli-missing-on-south-street-danielle-imbo-and-richard-petrone-jr/

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Retired agent Larry Guerin reviews a health care fraud investigation involving an emergency medical technician (EMT) who stole Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protected patient information, such as Social Security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, and phone numbers, and then tried to sell it back to managers of private ambulance companies. The case would have been only the second prosecution against an individual under the new statute. However, the case ended tragically before the subject was officially charged. Larry Guerin served in the FBI for 28 years. 

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Retired agent Al Scudieri and former Assistant United States attorney (AUSA) Judy Hoyer review the Allen Wolfson case, initiated as an FBI investigation of a $600,000 Tampa bankruptcy fraud that should have taken only months to resolve. Three years later, the case had led to the discovery of two nationwide Ponzi schemes and the failure of the Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company of Tampa, with about $322 million in assets. Al served in the FBI for thirty-years.

Check out episode show notes, photos, and related articles: https://jerriwilliams.com/398-al-scudieri-and-judy-hoyer-bankruptcy-fraud-bank-failure-ponzi-schemes/

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Retired agent James Page reviews his investigation of John Mark Collins, a former Florida sheriff's deputy, and his accomplices in a jewelry store burglary ring and supermarket break-ins which took place in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. The thieves would break into businesses and empty the contents of safes and display cases. The men are accused of stealing $1.3 million in jewels and cash. Jim, who was the FBI's Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) coordinator for the state of North Carolina, also talks about WMD threats and reviews his former duties and responsibilities. Jim Page served in...

Retired agent Dawn Norris Doak reviews her undercover role in the investment fraud investigation of Joseph LaForte, the founder of Par Funding, which took in money from investors promised high returns to provide cash advances to small businesses that could not qualify for loans from banks. Par Funding then charged the small business owners exorbitant interest rates, and when they failed to make their interest payments, threatened them with bodily harm. Dawn, an FBI-certified undercover employee (UCE), also talks about why she wanted to go undercover and shares stories from some of her other undercover roles. She served in...

Retired agent Michael De La Pena reviews a case where he, as a rookie agent, was assigned to investigate two armored car robberies in West Hartford, Connecticut, where a total of $1.8 million was stolen. During one of the robberies, one of the subjects wore a full Santa Claus costume as a disguise and later had one of the robbers killed to stop him from talking about the crime.

Check out the episode show notes, photos, and related articles: https://jerriwilliams.com/395-michael-de-la-pena-santa-claus-armored-car-robbery-and-murder/

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Retired agent Ed Mireles reviews several true stories from his 15-plus years of undercover work using the alias Lalo. He recounts his assignments posing as a notorious drug trafficker, transporter, and money launderer in Miami, El Paso, Tucson, and other areas along the Southwest border between Mexico and the United States. Ed, aka Lalo, managed several warehouses in Miami, Florida, and he expanded to operate a transportation business and later a trucking company. The quantity of drugs he reportedly moved made him highly sought-after by the cartels and law enforcement. Ed and his wife, Elizabeth "Liz" Mireles, who is...

In part two of this two-part episode, retired agent and FBI certified polygraph examiner George Olivo continues his review of the FBI's polygraph program, interview skills he's developed over his more than a decade as an FBI certified polygraph examiner, and of two of the cases he worked. The first case review covers his examination of Fernando Vazquez Garcia, suspected of possessing child sexual images, and a man claiming to be a Russian spy double agent.

George is also interviewed about the truths and untruths surrounding polygraphs, and his latest season of Lie Detector: Truth or Deception, h...

Former agent Larry Wansley, one of the FBI's first long-term deep undercover agents, reviews the early years of the FBI's undercover program when, starting in1973 he and a handful of agents, including the equally legendary Joe Pistone, began using the investigative technique forbidden by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. They were part of a behavioral sciences study to establish standards for UC Agent selection qualifications and operations.

Larry also reviews his most life-threatening assignment, which took place in rural Texas. He went undercover to prove Tom Welch, the elected Sheriff of Gregg County, Texas, was essentially a...

Retired agent 4erry Bianchi reviews several investigations he worked as a technically trained agent in the Philadelphia Division, including surreptitious entries into a mob attorney's law office, Philly mob boss John Stanfa's luncheonette, Philly mob boss Ralph Natale's penthouse apartment and the former Garden State racetrack to install court-authorized electronic surveillance recording devices.

Gerry appears in the Netflix documentary Mob War: Philadelphia vs. The Mafia, a three-part series where he discusses how the tech squad contributed to the successful prosecution of organized crime cases.

He also shares true stories where he and his tech agents i...

Retired agent Geoffrey Kelly reviews his 22-year investigation of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist where 13 masterpieces worth over $500 million were stolen and have never been recovered. He shares his insights and theories about the infamous theft, and his thoughts about armchair detectives and journalists with their own speculations involving international culprits and government conspiracies. Geoff is the author of Thirteen Perfect Fugitives: The True Story of the Mob, Murder, and the World's Largest Art Heist, the behind-the-scenes true story about the case. Geoffrey Kelly served in the FBI for 28 years.

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Retired agent and FBI-certified polygraph examiner George Olivo reviews his polygraph examination of Korina Flores Sanchez, who was suspected of murdering her live-in boyfriend. It was one of the first high-stakes examinations George conducted as a brand-new polygrapher. George is also interviewed about the truths and untruths surrounding polygraphs, what true crime media often gets wrong about polygraphs, and his TV appearance on another season of Lie Detector: Truth or Deception, which premieres on A&E and Hulu on March 12 and 19. George served in the FBI for 22 years. Check out episode show notes, photos, and related articles: https://jerriwilliams.co...

Retired agent Jerry Spurgers reviews his investigation of the mysterious disappearance of federal witness Susan Cooper from Malvern, Arkansas. The case involved drug conspiracy, witness intimidation, and murder. Jerry investigated the case with a team of local officers, sheriff's deputies, and an intelligence analyst by using traditional police skills and new technologies. As a former member of the Little Rock Division's Evidence Response Team and an experienced death investigator, he also reviews the steps taken to collect evidence at a murder or accidental death. Jerry is the author of Murder at Midnight: The FBI's Battle with Violence and Drugs...

Retired agent Phil Andrew shares how his experience surviving one of the nation's first school shootings when he was a twenty-year-old college student impacted his FBI career as a hostage negotiator. Phil reviews a kidnapping case where he negotiated with a member of the terrorist organization behind the Mumbai attacks and a case where he attempted to broker the release of New York Times reporter David Rohde, who was being held captive for ransom by the Taliban in Afghanistan. These case reviews are examples of how Phil turned tragedy into purpose, dedicating his life to keeping communities safe. Phil...

Retired agent Barry Black reviews two bombing cases he worked as a special agent bomb tech (SABT) assigned to the Oklahoma City Division. The first case covers the detonation of a bomb at a University of Oklahoma football game in 2005, where the subject used a type of homemade explosive that had only been used by international terrorists. The second is an undercover investigation code-named Operation Mischief Mayhem Barry worked just before he retired, where he thwarted the subject's plan to build and deploy a 1000-pound device similar to the one Timothy McVeigh used to bomb the Alfred P. Murrah...

FBI Case File Review celebrates the 10th anniversary of the podcast with a solo show featuring the host and producer, retired agent Jerri Williams. That's me! I released my first episode on January 22nd, 2016. Today marks my ten years as an FBI-focused storyteller. In this episode, I talk about why I started the podcast and how I create each episode. I also answer 25 "Ask Me Anything" questions sent in by listeners.    Check out the episode show notes, photos, and related articles: https://jerriwilliams.com/385-jerri-williams-10th-anniversary-show-and-listener-q-and-a/

     
Buy me a coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/JerriWilliams    

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Retired agents Bob Anderson and Carl Larsen review the major role Lou Peters, the owner of a Cadillac dealership in Lodi, California, played in the takedown of mobster Joseph Bonanno, Sr. In 1977, Bonanno had a mob associate approach Lou Peters with an offer to buy his Cadillac dealership to launder illegal funds. Peters instead met with Bob Anderson, who was assigned the case. Carl Larsen was the technical agent who wired Lou and his undercover apartment for sound. We also invited Lou's daughter, Lori Peters, to review the case with us. She's the author of God, the Mafia, My...

Retired agent Harry Samit reviews his investigation of Zacarias Moussaoui. Harry was assigned the case after the FBI's Minneapolis Division had been contacted by a flight school that reported its suspicions about Moussaoui, who had paid $8,000 in cash for a flight simulator course to fly a commercial Boeing 747 aircraft even though he had no background in aviation. Harry's investigation of Moussaoui as a potential threat to commit a terrorist act was stymied by program managers at FBI Headquarters. Moussaoui was later charged, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison as a co-conspirator of the September 11 terrorist attacks. He provides his th...

Retired FBI agent Michael Clarke and retired DEA agent Jack McFarland review their 2004 joint FBI and DEA investigation of "The Commission," a violent criminal gang operating in the U.S. Virgin Islands which includes St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix, whose members were convicted in federal court for racketeering, murder, and drug trafficking. The case was conducted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, the Safe Streets Task Force initiative, and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program. Mike and Jack both served as agents for 32 years.    Check out episode show notes, photos, and re...

Retired agent William Peterson reviews two cases, his kidnapping investigation where two American businessmen in Kenya where held for ransom and his assistance in the capture and identification of terrorist Sajid Mir, a senior member of the Pakistan-based Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT). Mir is on the FBI Most Wanted list for his leading role in the planning, preparation, and execution of the November 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India. These were just two of the significant investigations Peterson worked during his FBI counterterrorism and international law enforcement career. He served in the FBI for 23 years.

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In part two of this two-part episode, retired agent Jim Gaylord reviews the resolution of his investigation and the prosecution of Chi Mak and family members as spies for the People's Republic of China (PRC). Chi was an engineer who had immigrated from Kwang-Tung, China, and was employed with a U.S. company designing sensitive U.S. military and commercial technologies. Jim was assigned to investigate whether Chi was stealing U.S. Navy secrets from his employer. This case highlights the bureaucratic friction that jeopardized efforts to break the string of espionage failures. Check out episode show notes, photos...

In part one of this two-part episode, retired agent Jim Gaylord reviews his espionage investigation and the prosecution of Chi Mak and his family members as spies for the People's Republic of China. Chi was an engineer who had immigrated from Kwang-Tung, China, and was employed with a U.S. company designing sensitive U.S. military and commercial technologies. Jim was assigned to investigate whether Chi was stealing U.S. Navy secrets from his employer. Jim is the author of Chasing Chi: The FBI's Groundbreaking Pursuit of China's Most Prolific Spy Family. He served in the FBI for 31 years. 

Retired agent John Schachnovsky recounts his role in the investigation of the suspicious death of the actor David Carradine, the identification of frozen body parts discovered in a freezer in Bangkok, and a fraudulent financial transaction which originated in Memphis, Tennessee, but was resolved in a local Thai bank. John wrote about these investigations and many more in his memoir, Beyond the Badge: Crime, Justice, and the FBI in Thailand, available for pre-order now and in stores on December 9, 2025. John served in the FBI for 20 years.

Check out the episode's show notes, photos, and related articles: https://jer...