MEMBER MEETINGS ARE SUSPENDED

While the United States and Virginia

are subject to active health emergencies

physical member meetings will not be convened.

The PIAVA Board of Directors is active and

will message our association community

with updates as they become available. 

Be well and stay well!

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   * 

For inquiries, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

WHEN: TBD.

WHERE: TBD.

 

FUTURE MEETINGS

Your BoD is working to confirm speakers on topics including but not limited to: the deep/ dark web, cyber matters, working with criminal defense lawyers, working with family lawyers, insurance fraud investigations, drone use for investigations, contracts for clients and sub contractor relationships, preparation for sworn testimony, interview methods and strategies, compliance agent functions, domestic and international privacy laws pertaining to PIs.

If you have any topic suggestions or speaker recommendations, then please contact any Board member (login not required) to advise.

 

MEMBER MEETINGS

WHEN: Most often on the third Thursday of a month or otherwise as called, doors opening approximately 6:30 pm.

WHERE: Usually in the McLean area of Fairfax County, where the restaurant venue varies with availability.

AGENDA: Typically includes delivery of periodic officer reports, discussion of business, presentation by a guest speaker.

 

PIAVA MEETING SPEAKERS

April 2019 Meeting with Guest Speaker Matthew J Smith Esq of Insurance Law Services Inc and the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (CAIF). both Washington DC based organizations.

Matthew J Smith Esq is a multi state attorney, subject matter expert, global speaker, founder and principal of Insurance Law Services Inc, and General Counsel and Director of Government Affairs for Washington DC based Coalition Against Insurance Fraud (CAIF).

For his PIAVA audience, Matthew discussed law and ethics in investigations with a focus on insurance matters and how investigator practices can affect verdicts, recent case law affecting investigators, investigation methods, emerging trends and other topics of interest. Lively and elucidating discussion occurred throughout the presentation.

 

March 2019 Meeting with Member Speaker Jeffrey A Mader of The Penrose Corporation.

Jeffrey A Mader is a VA DCJS licensed private investigator, compliance agent, instructor and principal of Haymarket Virginia based The Penrose Corporation.

Jeffrey offered a multimedia presentation on cutting edge developments in mobile device tracking by use of commercially available data in forensic analysis. This was an eye opening look at the continual collection of mobile device data by businesses and alternative uses of that data. Lively discussion occurred throughout the presentation.

 

February 2019 Meeting with Speaker Daniel Gray Esq of Cooper Ginsberg Gray PLLC.

Daniel L Gray Esq is a founder and partner of Fairfax Virginia based Cooper Ginsberg Gray PLLC, a family law focused law firm, and Secretary of the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He is licensed to practice in Virginia, as well as in the District of Columbia and Maryland. Dan has been active in many professional organizations and continues to be a speaker in high demand.

Dan offered his background and path into the legal profession, then distributed his self-produced handout, titled "Federal and State Laws Governing Electronic Surveillance", and began discussion of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, the Stored Communications Act, the Virginia Wiretap Act, Virginia Code on the Unlawful Creation of Images and Evidentiary Rules. He also described application of civil and criminal law to various types of relationships, work with private investigators and questions of privilege in professional relationships.

full room of attendees engaged in lively discussion with Dan.

 

December 2018 Meeting and Holiday Luncheon.

The PIAVA Board of Directors was pleased to host a holiday luncheon in the Chima Tysons Steakhouse private dining room, where members and guests joined together in the spirit of the season for good company, conversation and a gourmet meal.

A member meeting was conducted to deliver periodic reports, announce applicants and offer remarks upon the progress of 2018 and expectations for 2019.

 

November 2018 Meeting with speaker Corinne Magee Esq of the The Magee Law Firm PLLC.

Corinne J Magee Esq is a Virginia and Rhode Island licensed attorney, who is a principal of McLean-based The Magee Law Firm PLLC. The firm handles a range of case types and Ms. Magee focuses on criminal defense matters.

Ms. Magee offered a short history of her path from prosecutor to private criminal defense, then led an engaging seminar style discussion with attendees. Corinne offered both serious and humorous anecdotes from her long career, all conveying practical guidance for PIs in the field.

You can connect with Corinne on LinkedIn, and learn more about her and her law practice on the The Magee Law Firm PLLC website.

 

October 2018 Meeting with speaker Phillip Leiser Esq of the Leiser Law Firm.

Phillip Leiser Esq is a Virginia licensed attorney, who is a founder of the McLean-based Leiser Law Firm. The firm handles a range of case types and Mr. Leiser focuses on criminal defense matters, as well as the various types of appurtenant civil matters.

Mr. Leiser offered a short history of his path from education in nuclear physics, to armed forces work in nuclear propulsion and into the practice of law. Our members and guests then learned about the very recently changed Virginia rules of criminal discovery and the potential they hold for additional private investigator work. Mr. Leiser also offered practical advice for PIs being examined under oath.

You can connect with Phillip on LinkedIn, and learn more about him and his law practice on the Leiser Law Firm website.

 

April 2018 Meeting with speaker John Sexton of Sexton Executive Security Inc.

John Sexton is a PIAVA member, former president of the Council of International Investigators Inc, principal of  domestic and international operator Sexton Executive Security Inc, and author of The Big Yank, "a coming of age memoir...about growing up in Ireland in the late 60's and early 70's."

John discussed his life and extensive career, and the personal and professional value of publishing. Attendees were given an insider look at the publishing industry, benefits and detriments of print and digital formats, print on demand (POD) options, and DIY versus traditional publishing paths, as well as provided valuable resources for those wanting to explore writing and publishing.

You can connect with John on LinkedIn, learn more about his services and literary works on his business website and author website, respectively, and find The Big Yank on Amazon.

 

March 2018 Meeting with speaker Michael T. Yergey of Yergey Insurance Services LLC.

Mike Yergey, a veteran insurance producer and firm principal specializing in products for private investigators and related categories operating domestically, applies his experience and knowledge to optimizing PI offerings, stakeholder communications and legislative efforts at the state and national levels.

Meeting attendees learned that producers can and do influence development of insurance policy and offerings by use of market power and lobbying efforts. Mike walked the group through a slide presentation and held a very thorough, informative Q&A session.

You can connect with Mike on LinkedIn and learn more about his services on his business website.

 

February 2018 Meeting with speaker Dan Moldea, Investigative Journalist and Author of Nine Books.

Dan Moldea is an investigative journalist and prolific author who commands an audience with riveting first-hand accounts of major events spanning four decades, all galvanized by details and peppered with reasoned insight. On February 22 2018, Dan reflected upon his ninth and most recent book, Hollywood Confidential: A True Story of Wiretapping, Friendship, and Betrayal. This book, focusing on the saga of the "sleuth to the stars" , Los Angeles private detective Anthony Pellicano, is chock full of celebrity intrigue that would interest most any reader, but is of particular interest to private investigators everywhere.

Following his presentation, Dan satisfied the audience with full answers to blunt questions, and then offered a retrospective on his large body of work.

At meeting's end, Dan generously donated and raffled a copy of Hollywood Confidential. Long time PIAVA member Gene O'Leary was the fortunate recipient of the book, which Dan personally inscribed.

You can learn more about Dan and his work at moldea.com, connect with him on LinkedIn and Facebook, and find Hollywood Confidential on Amazon.

 

January 2018 Meeting with speaker Esther Hyatt of Information Diagnostics LLC.

Esther Hyatt is founder and principal of VA DCJS licensed business Information Diagnostics LLC, a private investigation and courier firm performing FCRA defined consumer reporting agency (CRA) functions, conducting background and screening work, as well as a wide range of private investigative services for businesses and individuals throughout the Commonwealth. Esther is a VA DCJS registered private investigator and certified compliance agent, military veteran, grant writer and was a law enforcement public information officer. She is media savvy, having appeared in hundreds of radio and television spots, and has worked extensively with Crime Stoppers. Esther possesses a deep knowledge of not-for-profit entity operations and administration, and is a certified Zumba instructor.

Esther discussed intricacies of the 108 page Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) as they pertain to operations of private investigators and the information PIs acquire, organize, store, transmit and disseminate. Esther provided a hardcopy of the FCRA and summaries for review by attendees, and answered numerous attendee questions.

You can learn more about Esther and her work at backdetect.com, and connect with her on LinkedIn.

 

November 2016 Meeting with speaker Doug Lacey of Bek Tek LLC

Douglas S. Lacey is a Certified Forensic Video Examiner (IAI) and is a Certified Cyber Forensics Professional. His firm, BEK TEK LLC, is dedicated to providing objective, scientific examinations of audio recordings, video recordings and digital images. BEK TEK examiners possess preeminent scientific expertise and over 80 years of combined knowledge in forensic audio/ video and telecommunications disciplines, providing them with significant expert witness experience, whether on behalf of the prosecution, plaintiff or defense. With facilities located in the NoVA area, just outside of Washington, D.C., the firm provides consultations, examinations, research, and instruction in criminal, civil, investigative, administrative and Foreign Counterintelligence matters involving laboratory analyses of audio and video recordings (both analog and digital) and digital images, and on-site evaluations of acoustical information.

Doug discussed The Benefits and Limitations of Forensic Examination of Audio Recordings, Video Recordings and Digital Images in Investigative Matters.

 

September 2016 Meeting with speaker Patrick Siewert of Pro Digital Forensic Consulting

Patrick Siewert delivered a presentation titled: The Power of Call Detail Record (CDR) Analysis. Patrick described case types that could benefit from CDR analysis, cell carrier basics, available cell carrier data, CDR workings analysis, tower location and range-to-tower data, court order language and contact information. Patrick offered useful information and valuable insights respective of attorneys when CDRs are at issue in cases.

 

June 2016 Meeting with speaker VSP Sgt Andy Williams and Tr Byron Norris

Virginia State Police LEOs Andy Williams and Byron Norris provided us with an overview of Division 7's Crash Team investigations in the NoVA.region, demonstrated technology utilized to document crash scenes and answered numerous attendee questions.

 

March 2016 Meeting with speaker Leon Baker, VA DCJS executive

Leon Baker, Acting Manager of Customer Service, Division of Law Enforcement and Security Services, Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) has steadily risen through a variety of DCJS roles.

Leon discussed the history of DCJS, offered great insight of its workings and answered numerous attendee questions.

 

February 2016 Meeting with speaker Kevin Theriault of Crash & Safety Consultants LLC

Kevin Theriault, founding owner of Hopewell, Virginia based Crash & Safety Consultants LLC. In 1987, Kevin began as a patrolman investigating motor vehicle collisions. During his law enforcement career, Kevin received specialized training in traffic collision reconstruction, gained experience investigating serious injury and fatality collisions, and testified as a LEO in district and circuit courts. In 1998, Kevin transitioned into the private sector, where he continued specialized training and experience in collision reconstruction. Kevin has reconstructed over 1,100 collisions and has testified on over 130 occasions as a forensic consultant collision reconstructionist in federal and state courts, in depositions and trials.

Kevin delivered a presentation titled: Current Investigation Tools for Automobile and Commercial Motor Vehicle Crashes.

 

November 2015 Meeting with speaker Maria VelikonjaEsq

maria Velikonja is a DC attorney, VA DCJS registered PI and owner of Drew Investigations. Maria has accumulated more than three decades of law enforcement and legal experience as a deputy prosecutor, an FBI agent and assistant general counsel, a U.N. war crimes investigator and international consultant. Maria has worked cases ranging from the typical to public official corruption, the Pan Am Lockerbie bombing and Bosnian war crimes, and she has interviewed countless concentration camp victims. She is the co-Author of the first U.N. Law Enforcement Anti-Trafficking Manual for Southeastern Europe in 2003, and her work was adopted by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2004 and used to train LEOs around the world. Maria's DC legal work is generally pro bono and focused on representing indigent clients.

 

June 2015 Meeting with speaker Patrick J Siewert of Pro Digital Forensic Consulting

Pro Digital Forensic Consulting, located in Richmond, Virginia, incorporates 15 years of law enforcement experience in criminal investigations and digital forensics to service governmental and private investigators, litigators and corporations. Mr. Siewert, owner of Pro Digital and a 15-year law enforcement veteran, has worked in high tech crimes and as an affiliate of the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. Patrick has attended numerous investigative trainings, received a number of awards for outstanding service and completed digital forensic programs through the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Defense (FLETC) and Guidance Software (to name a few). Mr. Siewert is also a VA DCJS Registered Private Investigator and Law Enforcement Instructor.

Patrick discussed what every private investigator needs to know about utilizing the services of a Certified Computer Forensic Examiner, how best to secure computerized devices from clients for proper examination, and seting budgets and prices for these service types.

 

May 2015 Meeting with speaker Brian O'Shea of Striker-Pierce LLC

Brian O’Shea is CEO and Senior Investigator at Striker Pierce. For more than 20 years, Brian has been in the field of investigations and intelligence working first in military intelligence for two Special Forces groups and then for two government agencies. Brian left government service and entered the world of boutique intelligence, focusing on corporate and executive clients, and finally founded Striker-Pierce. Brian is featured in several publications on body language and human lie detection. He has worked intelligence and investigations in at least 27 countries, solving over 500 domestic and international cases involving fraud, theft, corporate espionage and patent infringement. Brian has also been a featured speaker at Reed Smith’s Cyber Security Roundtable, a guest instructor for a San Francisco based “Escape and Evasion” school, and managed investigations and intelligence operations for Fortune 500 companies and international financial firms. Brian is a Certified Private Security Instructor in Virginia, has been certified in various disciplines by numerous law enforcement and intelligence organizations, and is a guest instructor for courses focused on social engineering, lie detection, and information elicitation. Brian holds 3 undergraduate degrees and a Master’s of Criminal Justice from Boston University.

Striker-Pierce LLC provides a full range of investigative services and executive solutions on both a domestic and international scale. Formed during 2009, Striker-Pierce has conducted 181 field investigations since April 2012 in addition to hundreds of due diligence and intelligence collection operations within the same time frame. Investigators include former journalists, military intelligence and competitive intelligence collectors, political consultants and cyber specialists.

 

April 2015 Meeting with speaker Michael T Yergey of The Yergey Insurance Agency

Michael Yergey is an insurance agent specializing in policies covering both private security and investigative businesses and individuals. With passage of HB 1718 in the Virginia House and Senate, it is very likely that individual private investigator registrants wil be permitted to operate as independent contractors (ICs) for VA DCJS licensed private investigation businesses. A critical requirement appears to be that ICs would have to secure their own general liability insurance.

Mike discussed private security insurance in general and highlighted aniticipated requirements for individual registrants who might wish to operate as ICs.

Yergey Insurance is a family owned and operated agency. At inception, the agency specialized in Medical Malpractice and Artisan Contractor Insurance coverages. The agency has grown dramatically, adding several new employees along with numerous sales associates in the field. During 2001, the agency moved to Manassas, Virginia, where it has remained. Yergey is now a full lines agency for property, casualty, life, and health for both commercial and personal insurance needs. The agency thrives on personal relationships it develops with clients and feels that services and education are the keys to success in tis business.

 

March 2015 Meeting with speaker Dan Moldea, best-selling author of eight nonfiction books

A specialist on organized crime and political corruption investigations since 1974, best-selling author and independent investigative journalist Dan E. Moldea has published eight nonfiction books: The Hoffa Wars (1978); The Hunting of Cain: A True Story of Money, Greed, and Fratricide (1983); Dark Victory: Ronald Reagan, MCA, and the Mob (1986); Interference: How Organized Crime Influences Professional Football (1989); The Killing of Robert F. Kennedy (1995); Evidence Dismissed: The Inside Story of the Police Investigation of O.J. Simpson (with Tom Lange and Philip Vannatter, 1997); and A Washington Tragedy: How the Suicide of Vincent Foster Ignited a Political Firestorm (1998, 2014). He recently published his memoir, Confessions of a Guerrilla Writer: Adventures in the Jungles of Crime, Politics and Journalism (2013).

Dan shared highlights from his extensive career as an investigative journalist, described his latest book and signed copies of his books for our members.

 

February 2015 Meeting with speaker Brianna Brumsted of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)

Brianna Brumsted is a senior case management team member in the Critical and Runaway Unit at NCMEC Headquarters in Alexandria, Viriginia. Brianna studied at George Washington University, receiving degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology. In 2003 she started working for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Throughout her career with NCMEC, she has received trainings and certifications to further her knowledge and expertise on missing child cases. Trainings include Responding to Missing and Abducted Children, Investigating Child Abuse and Homicide and most recently taking part in the International Homicide Investigators Association Conference.

Brianna provided us an overview of her organization. For 30 years, NCMEC has been at the forefront of the fight to keep children safer from abduction and sexual exploitation. The organization provides resources needed to help protect children and prevent these devastating crimes from being committed against children. NCMEC has regional offices in Florida, California, Texas and New York, each of which provides child safety programs and case management services.

Brianna discussed how MCMEC works with and assists both parents and law enforcement personnel during crises, and described what every private investigator needs to know about NCMEC.

 

 

January 2015 Meeting with speaker Andrea Borchardt of Bode Technology Group

Andrea Borchardt is a Supervisor of Forensic Casework at Bode Technology. Her team at Bode specializes in cold case and Innocence Project testing and has worked on post-conviction cases in more than 25 states over the past three years. The team handles the most difficult and complex forensic cases, often utilizing innovative testing methods to recover DNA from challenging evidence items. Notable cases tested by her group include the Phillip Thurman exoneration, JonBenet Ramsey murder, the West Memphis Three case, the Donald Gates exoneration and the Kirk Odom exoneration. Ms. Borchardt was previously an adjunct instructor at the Virginia Commonwealth University where she taught Forensic Molecular Biology. She holds a Master of Science degree from the Johns Hopkins University.

 

 

October 2014 Meeting with speaker Jack Mogus of NOVASEC Technologies

Jack Mogus is the Director of Operations of NOVASEC Technical Services, a Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) firm located in Vienna, Virginia. Since 1971, Mr. Mogus has owned this business and has provided electronic eavesdropping detection services for the government, businesses and private individuals.

Jack offered highlights from his extensive career, discussed what every private investigator needs to know about TSCM and descrtibed how our members may utilize his services in conjunction with their assignments. His team brought along practical equipment they use in the field and answered any number of attendee questions about TSCM services.

 

September 2014 Meeting with speaker John Hargett of John Hargett & Associates LLC

John Hargett was Chief Document Examiner for the U.S. Secret Service and has represented the USSS as an expert in at least 23 foreign jurisdictions. John is a published author in domestic and international technical journals in the areas of handwriting identification and document examination. He is recognized domestically and internationally as an expert having testified on more than 450 occassions in courts of law, twice before a U. S. Congressional sub-committee and has appeared at the International Tribunal, The Hague, Netherlands. For 11 years, John provided training and technical assistance in Eastern Europe and South America as a contract Senior Forensic Advisor for the U. S. Departments of Treasury, Justice and State.

 

 

June 2014 Meeting with speaker Graziella Bianchi Esq, Criminal Defense Attorney working in Fairfax VA

Graziella Bianchi is dedicated to defending the rights of the accused across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to forming her own firm, The Law Offices of Graziella Bianchi PLLC, Graziella was recruited to be managing attorney for the criminal defense group at another NoVA boutique law firm. Before entering private practice, Ms. Bianchi was an assistant public defender for Arlington County and the City of Falls Church.

 

 

May 2014 Meeting with speaker Bradley Marshall Esq, Assistant Commonwealth Attorney for Prince William County VA

Bradley Marshall, since 2008, has served as an Assistant Commonwealth Attorney for Prince William County, focusing on criminal street gangs, firearms, violent crimes, and criminal interdiction prosecution. Brad was raised in Prince William County, attended Brentsville High School, graduated from the University of Virginia and earned his law degree from Michigan State University. Brad is deeply involved in the local Bar, as well as numerous civic and charitable groups.

Mr. Marshall described his career, including some of his most challenging cases and discussed some of the things Private Investigators should know when working on criminal defense matters.

 

 

April 2014 Meeting with speaker Tom Jackman from The Washington Post

Tom Jackman is a reporter with The Washington Post and writes a blog named The State of NoVa. Tom was born in NoVA and has been covering the area for the Post since 1998.

Tom discussed his experiences working as reporter over the years, including events he covered with the help of private investigators. He offered advice about private investigator response to media member contacts, and described circumstances in which PIs might wish to consider working with the media to assist their clients.

 

_________________________________________

If you are interested in attending one of our member's meetings please contact our president, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. 

In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), call or e-mail us if you need assistance in attending a meeting.

 

 

Login

Go to top