Investigators of the Year
Special Agent Daniel Dyer
OCDESF
A two year investigation that started with little information, evolved into one of the largest comprehensive assaults against the leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Starting in March, 2004 through March 2006 Special Agent Dan Dyer from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Strike Force (OCDESF), compiled enough evidence to indict 60 FARC leaders of which 6 have been extradited and three are pending extradition. SA Dyer traveled to Bogota to work with the Bogota Country Office (BCO) and gather evidence against the leaders of the FARC throughout the two year investigation. Most of this evidence was in the form of witness testimony. The witnesses, known as “Reinsurtados”, were made available to the agents by the Colombian Central Military Intelligence (CIME) office. The witnesses came from a joint US / Colombian initiative known as “Reinsertion” whereby FARC guerillas that deserted and surrendered to Colombian government officials were; debriefed, offered temporary housing, job training and schooling in an effort to “reinsert” them into mainstream Colombian society. After an initial debriefing by CIME, more than 100 reinsurtados, thought to have information about FARC drug trafficking, were provided to the agents for interviews. The agents also compiled Colombian phone and high frequency intercepts of FARC leaders as well as evidence found during raids of FARC cocaine laboratories and FARC encampments. Open source media statements by FARC leaders have also been exploited as evidence. On October 1, 2004, after grand jury testimony an indictment of the top 50 leaders of the FARC was returned in Washington, DC. The NY OCDESF incorporated the 6 FARC leaders and collaborators previously indicted by the DOJ Office of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (NDDS). NY OCDESF agents presided over the extradition of five of those indicted by NDDS and is currently preparing for trials against four of the six. On March 1, 2006, SA Dyer testified in the grand jury in Washington, DC and a superseding “speaking” indictment was returned. The “speaking” indictment more clearly told the story of the FARC as a drug trafficking cartel. On March 22, 2006, the indictment was unsealed in an announcement by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and DEA Administrator Karen Tandy. At that announcement, the US Department of State announced a 5 million dollar reward for information leading to the capture of each of the top 7 leaders (Secretariat members) and 2.5 million dollars for information leading to the capture of the next 17 leaders (General Staff).
John R. McGlynn
United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations
This award is presented in recognition of more than 40 years of dedicated law enforcement service to the City of New York and the United States Government. Serving for more than twenty-one years with the Police Department of the City of New York, John McGlynn distinguished himself as a Patrolman and Detective. During his tenure with the United States Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations (OLRFI), he served as a Special Agent and accepted leadership positions, ultimately being appointed as the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Region. In this position he spearheaded positive change, embraced the concept of collaborative law enforcement and led the New York Region to unprecedented successes in the investigation of labor racketeering and related offenses. John’s vision and expertise led to his most recent appointment as the Special Assistant to the Inspector General, United States Department of Labor, where he further distinguished himself by providing leadership and guidance that will aid the labor racketeering mission of the OLRFI immeasurably.
Alexis Castillo
Deputy Director, NYC Department of Correction, Investigation Division
Deputy Director Alexis Castillo’s 30 year career in law enforcement began while serving within the elite Security Guard Detachment within the United States Marine Corps. After three years of active service, he then joined the Marine Corps reserve for an additional eight years of service. Deputy Director Castillo began his career with the New York City Department of Correction in 1981, as a Correction Officer assigned to the Eric M. Taylor Center (E.MT.C.). In 1987, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. Then serving as a Security Investigation Captain at Anna M. Kross Center (A.M.K.C.), one of the largest detention facilities in the United States, he developed a violence forecasting and tracking system, later named “Track and Chase.” This proved to be an effective tool for the recovery of dangerous contraband and weapons, thus, adding in the overall reduction of violent incidents. Further, in 1994, he was nominated by the Department as its Correctional Supervisor of the year.. In 1999, he requested and was granted an assignment to the Department’s elite investigation Division. Rising quickly within their ranks, in 2001, he was appointed to the position of Deputy Director of Investigation and as such, has been responsible for the planning, coordination, and implementation of special apprehension operations for the Department. In March 2005, he was promoted to the position of Deputy Director of Administration and Special Operations. In that capacity he has personally planned and coordinated numerous joint surveillance and eavesdropping operations with the New York City Police Department and Federal agencies that have involved counterfeiting with the U.S. Secret Service, passport forgery with the U.S. State Department, conspiracy to murder an Assistant District Attorney with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, conspiracy to murder witnesses with the Kings and Queens County District Attorney; all of which lead to convictions. During the year 2006, Deputy Director Castillo had planned and implemented twelve separate apprehension operations involving inmates who had been erroneously released from jail. Each operation required significant coordination and surveillance that lead not only to the successful capture of all twelve inmates, but was done without incident or injury to either staff or inmate. Deputy Director Castillo is a member of National Technical Investigative Association, the Association of Inspector Generals, and is certified as an expert witness in Uses of Force by the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings. Deputy Castillo has been trained an certified in various fields of investigation by NYPD, HIDTA, and the FBI. Deputy Castillo is an active instructor at the NYPD Police Academy, where he instructs at both the Internal Affairs and Criminal Investigation courses.