Covert Media Consulting was founded on the principle of providing the most up-to-date training, covering the latest investigative techniques. We pride ourselves on only using active instructors who are currently involved in the subject matter they are teaching. Each of our instructors are highly commended officers and are certified instructors by their respective state law enforcement commissioning boards.
John Hock
Detective John Hock is currently assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division at a large department in the Dallas area. As part of his current assignment he is responsible for uncovering and supplying real time, actionable intelligence to field operations personnel by using a combination of social media platforms, law enforcement databases and open source intelligence. He is a highly commended officer in the use of “out of the box” techniques to safely apprehend and successfully prosecute criminals. He maintains current knowledge regarding the use of technology in law enforcement. He has been sought after by numerous local, state and federal agencies to assist with high profile investigations using social media and open source investigative techniques.
Michael Sewall
Detective Sewall is a detective working primarily online undercover Internet Crimes against Children cases for the last seven years. Known for his ability to stay on the cutting edge of up and coming technologies and constantly finding the new “playground” online for child predators. Revolutionized undercover chatting through exploiting new avenues and personas which have resulted in hundreds of child enticement, child pornography, and child sexual assault arrests both domestic and abroad.
Detective Sewall has organized multi-level proactive undercover online operations to include local, state and federal agencies. He teaches other investigators how to not only create new undercover personas but the nuances of chatting as an art form in order to portray a credible character and avoid detection by suspects. He takes pride in the ability to work as an undercover while maintaining integrity and avoiding legal defenses through a thorough understanding of the law as it stands in online undercover cases.
He is passionate about teaching others this craft and sharing the knowledge he has gained from hundreds of undercover interactions online.
Eric endzel
Detective Endzel has been a Law Enforcement Officer in a large New Mexico department since 2005. He is currently tasked with the long-term covert surveillance and apprehension of offenders for crimes including homicide, armed robbery, burglary, and other exigent life-threatening circumstances. Eric spent time in patrol and five years as a K9 handler on the department’s full-time tactical team before transitioning to investigations. He has conducted investigations at the local, state, and federal levels and is a Task Force Officer for the FBI Cyber Crimes Task Force.
Since 2013, Detective Endzel has explored and developed techniques using open-source intelligence and covert Social Media investigations to support ongoing investigations and apprehension efforts. He was awarded a Master of Science in Cyber Security Operations and Leadership from the University of San Diego in 2018 and has applied information security principles to create undercover Social Media accounts, develop witting and unwitting informants, infiltrate criminal organizations and online marketplaces for firearms and narcotics, as well as locate and apprehend violent offenders through direct online undercover contact.
Detective Endzel utilizes his experience and knowledge of cyber security to approach investigations as an information assurance and security problem.This strategy enables the proactive location and apprehension of violent offenders who are already aware of law enforcement interest and actively conducting counter-surveillance.By leveraging proven cyber and intelligence attack strategies, he identifies and exploits weaknesses in a suspect’s information security posture to uncover sensitive information and draw them into physical surveillance.
Brian Casanova
Detective Brian Casanova is an investigator with one of the largest metropolitan police agencies in Texas. He is currently assigned as a Task Force Officer with a Federal Cybercrime Task Force. Detective Casanova has been utilizing social media and open source investigative techniques since 2013.
Detective Casanova has utilized these techniques to advance narcotic, violent crime, human trafficking and missing children cases. He was selected to create a Violent Crimes Task Force for his department where he utilized social media intelligence to advance homicide, robbery, sexual assault and domestic terrorism cases. His Violent Crimes Task Force unit was recently selected as the 2020 Unit of the year. He was then selected to be a part of a federal task force where he utilizes social media investigative techniques for cases at both the national and international level.
He is regularly sought out to assist other investigative details both at the state and federal level. He lectures extensively on social media investigations in both the public and private sector.
DUSTIN SMART
Detective Dustin Smart is employed at a large metropolitan police department in Texas. He is currently responsible for examining complex property crime investigations using multiple forms of electronic communications data from various cellular providers, Google, social media, and other sources. Detective Smart began exploiting various forms of electronic communication data to generate evidence related to criminal investigations beginning in 2014.
Detective Smart has successfully utilized multiple techniques in gathering and interpreting electronic communications data in crimes related to Organized Criminal Activity, Serial Offenders, Gang Activity, Theft of Firearms, Organized Internal Theft, Burglary, and Fugitive Apprehension. Detective Smart has been recognized for his innovative and evolving use of electronic communications data to solve serious crimes in which no physical evidence exist.
Detective Smart has been regularly sought after by local, state, federal, and private entities for technical assistance to identify and obtain electronic communications data for high-level investigations. He has previously lectured both public and private sector entities on basic and advanced techniques to further State and Federal investigations.
Eric Wilson
Eric Wilson is currently assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division at a large agency in the State of Texas. Eric has lead and supervised the federal prosecution of 200+ white supremacist gang members and associates. These cases have received multiple awards from the Department of Justice. He is a highly commended officer in the use of electronic surveillance to successfully arrest and prosecute violent offenders for various offenses. Eric has served on a federal fugitive task force for 12 years. He assisted with developing a curriculum for his agency to teach new investigators how to successfully lead large-scale federal conspiracy investigations and maintains current knowledge regarding the use of technology in law enforcement.
CHRIS BRAMAN
Detective Lieutenant Chris Braman has worked in law enforcement since 1998. Detective Lieutenant Braman is a former K-9 handler and worked as a Drug Recognition Expert for 10 years.
In 2010, Det. Lt. Braman was assigned to the Investigations Division and was promoted to a division supervisor in 2013. During his time in investigations, Det. Lt. Braman has worked on numerous large-scale State and Federal Internet Investigation cases. Much of his work, is through social media and open source investigations, and holds undercover accounts that originated as far back as 2010. Det. Lt. Braman facilitated his agency's ICAC affiliation and oversees its current joint operations with the FBI.
As an investigator, and now as an investigative supervisor, Det. Lt. Braman has an excellent perspective on ethical and organizational requirements. He prides himself on protecting his investigators and agency as law enforcement moves further into the digital era.
Nick Grey
Nick Grey is assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) at a large agency in the State of Texas. As a member of CID, Nick investigates computer intrusions involving malware, exploitation, and a variety of vulnerabilities. He has extensive knowledge on the use of technology in law enforcement and combines his expertise to help develop policies and procedures related to cryptocurrency and online investigations. As an instructor, he aims to bridge the gap between rapidly changing technology and investigative strategies.
Nick is a certified forensic computer examiner who specializes in digital forensics and cyber security related investigations. He has completed over 900 hours of digital forensics training with a focus on computers, mobile devices, and storage media.
Kevin Burkleo
Detective Kevin Burkleo is a 29-year veteran police officer with 15 years in the Criminal Investigations Division of a major suburban city in North Texas. He holds a master level police certificate. He is currently assigned to the Major Crimes Unit where he specializes in homicide and robbery investigations. His interest into cellular mapping and analysis began back in 2011. He sought out a school to learn how to hand-map cellphone locations and then used the knowledge to snare a major burglary ring operating all over Texas.
This led to the recovery of over $100K of stolen jewelry and solved offenses in numerous cities throughout Texas. Since then, Detective Burkleo has sought out training in the area of Cellular Records Analysis and Geolocation. He has attended the basic ZetX Cellular Records Analysis class and went on to complete the ZetX Subject Matter Expert course in Cellular Records Analysis and Geolocation. He completed all of the required course work and projects to be deemed a Certified ZetX Subject Matter Expert in 2019.
Detective Burkleo attends update classes on all things cellular records related to keep up to date on current technology and best practices. He has trained numerous detectives in his agency and other agencies in the Dallas area on cellular records analysis and geolocations. He has been sought after by the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, the Travis County District Attorney's Office, and the Bowie County District Attorney's Office to analyze records and testify as an expert witness in Murder cases not related to his city.
Scott kilpatrick
Detective Kilpatrick boasts an exemplary 19-year service record within the Baltimore County Police Department, with 18 dedicated years as a detective showcasing his unwavering commitment to justice. Early in his illustrious career, he played a vital role in the Vice Narcotics Unit, employing innovative social media strategies to dismantle drug trafficking networks. His prowess was evident as he exposed a rogue unit within the Baltimore Police Department itself, a triumph chronicled in a book and TV series "We Own This City."
Transitioning to the Special Victims Unit, Detective Kilpatrick's dedication remained resolute. In the Crimes Against Children Unit, he adeptly employs social media and open-source intelligence to locate suspects involved in heinous crimes such as sexual abuse and human trafficking. His journey is defined by a ceaseless pursuit of knowledge in OSINT and SOCMINT.
Noteworthy is his commitment to professional growth, underscored by prestigious certifications as a Maryland Police Training and Standards Commission Certified Instructor and NWC3-accredited Certified Cyber Crime Intelligence Analyst Investigator, and Examiner. He has completed diverse training programs on digital forensics, online investigations, and cutting-edge techniques. His recent presentation on trauma-informed interviewing at the 2023 Crimes Against Children Conference is a testament to his pursuit of excellence. Detective Kilpatrick was also selected to present at the National Internet of Things (IoT) Investigative Conference in 2024.
Detective Kilpatrick's remarkable contributions and unwavering commitment underscore his value within the Baltimore County Police Department. His journey, marked by exceptional achievements, positions him as a beacon of inspiration to peers and a guardian of justice within our community.
Mike Rooshanfekr
Detective Mike Rooshanfekr is currently assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division at a large department just outside of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. Det. Rooshanfekr spent time in the department’s Patrol Unit, Special Operations Tactical Unit, and served as a Task Force Officer in an Illinois State Police Narcotics Task Force. He conducted hundreds of undercover cases, resulting in significant achievements such as large narcotics purchases, gun trafficking cases against gang members, and a Quarter-Million Dollar cash seizure in a single case.
Det. Rooshanfekr continues to leverage social media platforms to aid in investigating crimes in his current role as a violent crime investigator and as a member of the Major Crimes Assistance Team, which collaborates with departments in the Cook County area to handle high-profile cases. He is frequently sought after by local, state, and federal agencies to conduct intelligence gathering on social media platforms and open-source information.
In addition to his investigative roles, Det. Rooshanfekr plays a crucial role in mentoring and training fellow investigators. His expertise extends to teaching the art of creating and maintaining undercover personas for effective investigations. Mike has developed a reputation for his exceptional ability to guide others in navigating the complexities of undercover work, imparting essential skills in building credible personas. His training sessions are highly regarded, and he is frequently sought out to share his knowledge on undercover techniques, enhancing the capabilities of law enforcement professionals across various agencies. Mike's commitment to fostering the next generation of investigators underscores his dedication to advancing the field of criminal investigation.
Keven Hendricks
Keven Hendricks is a 17-year veteran detective with a municipal police department and has served as a task force officer for two separate federal agencies combatting cybercrime and dark web contraband. He is a published author with the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin and American Police Beat and currently works as an instructor for various training companies, teaching a class for law enforcement on dark web and cybercrime investigations. He is a Certified Cybercrime Examiner and Certified Cybercrime Investigator by the National White Collar Crime Center, a Certified Cryptocurrency Investigator through the Blockchain Intelligence Group, and a Certified Digital Asset Professional through the Global Digital Asset & Cryptocurrency Alliance, and he is recognized as a Subject Matter Expert in dark web investigations by the Department of Defense DTIC. He is the found of the Ubivis Project / StopDarkwebDrugs.com.