Tansey Brent
Lead Senior Intelligence Research Specialist, Intelligence Division, FinCEN
Tansey Brent is a Lead Senior Intelligence Research Specialist assigned to FinCEN’s Intelligence Division. Her areas of expertise include Russian organized crime, narcotic money laundering / networks, transnational organized crime, and is a subject matter expert in the use of Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) data to support financial analysis. She currently leads the Human Trafficking / Human Smuggling portfolio in the intelligence division and collaborates closely with our many law enforcement and regulatory stakeholders. Tansey has been with FinCEN since 2002 and worked at the Department of the Treasury focusing on terrorist networks prior to joining FinCEN.
Tim Soper
Supervisory Special Agent, Homeland Security Investigations, Department of Homeland Security
Timothy Soper is a Supervisory Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Houston, Texas. Tim leads a group of Special Agents, Criminal Analysts, and contract personnel investigating violations of U.S. Customs law, including the supply chain used by Mexican cartels to manufacture illicit drugs and financial crimes associated with foreign corruption and sanctions evasion. Prior to this position, Tim served as an HSI Deputy Chief of Staff, Program Manager for the National Gang and Violent Crime Unit, and Staff Coordinator with the Special Operations Unit. Tim was also stationed as a Special Agent in Corpus Christi and Houston, Texas where he investigated smuggling and financial crime. Tim began his career with DHS in 2009 as an Intelligence Research Specialist through the Presidential Management Fellow Program after earning a Master of Public Administration from the Maxwell School of Syracuse University.
Steve Murphy
Special Agent in Charge (Retired), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Stephen Murphy worked his up way from his start as a police officer in a small West Virginia town to the Deputy Assistant Administrator of the DEA. During his 37 years in law enforcement Steve was stationed all around the world, most notably as one of the two Americans present and involved in the hunt for the largest cocaine distributor in the world, Pablo Escobar. Murphy was present during the chase and eventual shooting resulting in the death of Escobar, and took all the photographs seen in the media following the event.
Instead of accepting that he would never again work a drug trafficking case the size and scope of Escobar’s, Murphy continued to aggressively pursue local and international drug dealers just as he had pursued Escobar. His work ethic, conviction, integrity and charcater assisted him in climbing the ranks within DEA before his retirement in July 2013.
Murphy continues to serve in law enforcement roles, and lectures around the country on drug trafficking trends, security-related challenges and what it was like to pursue a criminal the magnitude of Escobar. He has appeared on a variety of television specials on Escobar’s death. Along with Javier Peña, he serves as a subject matter expert and senior consultant for the hit Netflix series Narcos.
Now, looking forward, Steve is back again with his DEA Narcos partner Javier Peña to lead an investigation into a history making cold case. Just prior to World War II, the worlds most high-tech commercial airliner with secret military grade engines was on a seemingly routine mission – but was it? On board Pan Am Airways flight 229 Hawaii Clipper were fifteen passengers and crew bound for Hong Kong from San Francisco with three million dollars (46 million today) in goldbacked bank notes. Why? Allegedly ransom for missing aviatrix Amelia Earhart. The plane -missing. The crew – allegedly murdered by rogue Japanese agents and buried on a remote Pacific Island. If Steve and Javier can find the remains of these fifteen Americans – the start date of World War II may have to be changed in our history books.
Javier Peña
Special Agent in Charge (Retired), U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Javier Peña retired in 2014 as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the DEA Houston Field Division after 30 years of service with DEA.
In 1988, Peña volunteered for an assignment at the DEA office in Bogota, Colombia. Shortly thereafter, he was joined by partner Steve Murphy, and together they pursued the world’s first narco-terrorist, Pablo Escobar. SAC Peña spent six years hunting Pablo, resulting in the final chase and shooting of Escobar in 1993.
During his DEA career, Peña was stationed all over the world, including in San Francisco, the Caribbean and elsewhere. Using his leadership and expertise in dismantling highly sophisticated criminal networks and organizations, Peña led and contributed to a large number of successful investigations in the war on drugs and narco-terrorism.
Peña is a subject matter expert on the Medellin Cartel and has delivered more than 100 presentations on the subject and related areas, including sharing rare photos of original events that were captured during the rise and fall of the Cartel. Along with Steve Murphy, he serves as a subject matter expert and senior consultant for the hit Netflix series Narcos.
Javier has a heart for solving mysteries and the next one may be his biggest. With DEA Narcos partner Steve Murphy side by side – both former agents will now blaze a new trail on a cold case of an ancient organized criminal enterprise that may have helped start World War II in the Pacific. Together with Steve, Javier will work to interview people from across the world and search a small Pacific island to help solve an 80 year old cold case and bring closure to families still haunted by the very first hijacking of a commercial airliner – the Pan Am Airways Hawaii Clipper.
Jon Muschenheim
Assistant United States Attorney, United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
Jon Muschenheim graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1977 with a BA in Government and International Studies. He worked full-time as a public transportation analyst while attending law school. He received a Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the University of Connecticut in January, 1987. Prior to joining the United States Attorney=s Office for the Southern District of Texas in July, 1997, Mr. Muschenheim practiced criminal defense for ten years in state and federal court in Texas. He has led the District’s Asset Recovery Unit since August 1, 2018.
Mr. Muschenheim has been litigating cases related to the money laundering statute in Federal Court since 1989. Since 2007, he has spoken frequently about financial investigations and charging decisions to law enforcement agents, prosecutors, and financial institutions. He has participated in several FinCEN exchange meetings and is the designated FinCEN representative for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas.
Ted Imperato
Assistant United States Attorney, Criminal Chief, United States Attorney’s Office, Southern District of Texas
Imperato began his career with the SDTX in 2003. Since that time, he has served as an AUSA in Violent Crimes, Narcotics Enforcement, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force/Organized Crime and National Security/Public Corruption sections. In 2016, he became the deputy criminal chief of the National Security and Public Corruption section. He has been the Criminal Chief since December 2020. In 2021, he was appointed the First Assistant United States Attorney and also continued to serve as the Criminal Chief. In 2022, he returned to his duties as the Criminal Chief and remains in that position today.
Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO)-SDTX, Imperato was with the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office in Ohio for seven years. He has received numerous accolades and case commendations during his tenure with the Department of Justice to include the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of State – Diplomatic Security Service. Imperato was also awarded the Houston Police Department’s Chief of Police Commendation.
Imperato holds a B.S. in Accounting from Providence College and a J.D. from the University of Dayton School of Law.
He is licensed to practice in Texas.
Raymond Amador, MBA, MSAC
Senior Financial Investigator to the Houston U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) OCDETF Strike Force
Ramon Amador, MBA, MSAC, is currently assigned as a Senior Financial Investigator to the Houston DEA OCDETF Strike Force, and has worked cases involving Transnational Drug Organizations, Politically Exposed Individuals, and Diversion Investigations. He has assisted the FBI in cases involving human trafficking, terrorism, and kidnappings. Prior to being assigned to the DEA OCDETF Strike Force, he was assigned to the DEA High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area in the Houston Field Division where he assisted state and local law enforcement agencies. He is a graduate of the University of Houston (BSBA) and received his MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio.
Carol Beaumier
Senior Managing Director, Protiviti, Inc.
Carol is a Senior Managing Director in the firm’s Risk and Compliance practice and oversees the firm’s Asia-Pac Financial Services Practice. Prior to joining Protiviti, Carol was a Partner with Arthur Andersen where she led the Global Regulatory Practice; a founding member of The Secura Group and leader of the firm’s Risk Management practice; and a regulator with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department.
An experienced consultant with more than thirty-five years of experience, Carol has extensive knowledge of numerous risk and regulatory issues affecting the financial services industry and frequently writes about and speaks on these issues.
For the last several years, Carol has been a regular presenter at the Institute of International Bankers’ BSA/AML/OFAC Training Series. She has also been a lecturer at the Boston University School of Law for which she designed and taught a financial crimes course in the University’s Certificate in Financial Services Compliance program.
Terri Luttrell
Compliance & Engagement Director, Abrigo
Terri Luttrell is CAMS-Audit certified and has over 25 years in the banking industry, working both in medium and large community banks in the areas of compliance/fraud, commercial lending, and deposit operations. As an AML consultant, she has helped institutions develop BSA/OFAC programs to ensure all regulatory requirements are met and managed a team of AML investigators for a large/cross-border institution, among other roles. Terri is currently Compliance & Engagement Director with Abrigo (formerly Banker’s Toolbox).
Carolina V. Gambrel
Founder, Capital C Consulting LLC
Carolina has a natural eye for design and a passion for excellence. She brings over 20 years of expertise in client experiences and project management. Coupled with her exceptional organizational skills, Carolina has enjoyed consistently exceeding expectations for her clients.
She’s highly skilled at relationship building, influencing, and getting things done! Being detailed, resourceful, and flexible have helped hone her superpower of filling those various, unrecognized needs for organizations before they arise.