Our highly-trained staff of investigators, coupled with select professional associates, allows Butler & Associates to provide our clients with no-nonsense access to experienced investigative specialists. Our firm is part of a network comprised of former F.B.I., Secret Service, and law enforcement personnel, which means we consistently provide our clients with proven specialists in every field. Whether bringing pedophiles to justice, designing and executing complex undercover stings, investigating workplace crime, or protecting high-profile individuals from violence, Butler & Associates Private Investigations draws upon years of experience coupled with boundless creativity (minus the bureaucratic red tape) to produce results other investigative firms cannot replicate.
Butler & Associates Private Investigations is not a "middleman" agency; we do not process payments and hire other P.I.'s to do your work. Our firm is a member of the California Association of Licensed Investigators, the Professional Investigators of California, the 100 Club of Contra Costa County, and the California Association of Workplace Investigators.
Originally named Corporate Intelligence Resources, our investigative firm was founded by former F.B.I. Special Agent Charles W. Latting. A former Marine Corps Major, Charles has planned tasks and operations from amphibious landings in Vietnam to F.B.I rescue operations during skyjackings and terrorist raids. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry in Vietnam. For 10 years he organized, trained and led the San Francisco F.B.I. SWAT team. Following his retirement from the F.B.I., he served as the Assistant Director of the California Department of Alcohol and Drugs, and as an Assistant Director of the California Department of Corrections. Mr. Latting continues to serve as a special consultant on various cases while offering seminars through Taskmasters. (Click here to view the above CNBC documentary "Marijuana Inc. Inside America's Pot Industry").
Christopher Butler is a former law enforcement officer (1986-1997) with a background in narcotics, S.W.A.T., and high-crime district special assignments. His creative, cutting-edge methods of investigating and arresting criminals, coupled with an intense work ethic, was lauded by prosecutors as extremely effective. Law enforcement administration often had trouble understanding his tactics and drive, as they were well above the standards of routine performance. Christopher now brings those same tactics, drive, and creativity to the private sector. In 1996, prior to leaving law enforcement, he established an investigative relationship with former F.B.I. Special Agent Charles Latting. Mr. Latting introduced Christopher to countless former F.B.I. and Secret Service agents throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 1998, Christopher has designed and implemented strategies for both domestic and international undercover sting cases, high-profile infidelity matters, and internal espionage incidents. He has provided personal bodyguard services to many Hollywood celebrities, international billionaires, corporate CEO's, and their respective families. He has developed and conducted security strategies regarding proprietary information for multiple national corporations. Christopher is a philosophy major with a minor in psychology.
Stephen M. Shirley is a retired U.S. Secret Service agent with 28 years experience in the fields of protection and investigations. Stephen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Administration and is a Vietnam-era veteran of the U.S. Army. His U.S. Secret Service career included assignments at the White House, the U.S.S.S. Training Center as a classroom / firearms instructor, and as a member of the elite U.S.S.S. Counter-Sniper Team. He has protected six United States Presidents, including five years on the Presidential Protection Detail (PPD) with President Ronald Reagan. Stephen performs corporate security consulting, fraud investigations, security assessments, executive protection, and electronic countermeasures. A RAM-w certified agent, Stephen has conducted Homeland Security mandated threat assessments.
Senior Investigator Angelica H. is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley (B.A., Legal Studies). She is currently assigned to bodyguard details, infidelity cases, workers' compensation fraud, background research, and undercover sting assignments. A graduate of the I.T.G. executive protection academy (Academy 13), Angelica holds certification in professional level CPR/AED, emergency vehicle operations and vehicle dynamics (Stockton Police Department). She is also certified in counter-surveillance detection. Angelica is fluent in Spanish and has previously served as an interpreter/translator for Bay Area school districts.
Investigator Michelle A., an experienced "PI-mom" with two children, studied acting at the University of Southern California, attended the Julliard School in NYC, and studied under Robert X. Modica at Carnegie Hall (IMDb). Coupled with several years of working for Greenpeace, Michelle possesses a strong background in character creation, surveillance, and undercover operations. Michelle is currently assigned to direct or assist with staffing, strategizing, and directing undercover sting assignments.
Investigator Denise A. is a graduate of the University of North Carolina (B.A., Criminal Justice), McGeorge School of Law (Juris Doctorate), and Capella University (M.S., Human Services). A "PI-mom" with three children, she is currently assigned to surveillance, undercover operations, background research, mystery shopping, and fraud investigations. Formerly the Director of Human Resources for a Washington domestic violence program, Denise also served as Director of Operations for a nationally-recognized jury analysis and selection firm. She is an adjunct professor at several universities, currently teaching criminal justice courses. Denise is currently serving on the licensing committee of C.A.L.I. and is an affiliate member.
Investigator Yuliya K. is a certified interpreter (Russian language) for the federal government and is a 2000 graduate of Moscow State University in Moscow, Russia (linguistics). Another "PI-Mom", she is currently assigned to covert surveillance, trademark infringement cases, CCTV system design, and undercover sting operations.
Investigator Charmagne P. is a 1993 graduate of the University of California, Davis, earning a bachelor's degree in Rhetoric & Communications. A "PI-mom" with two children, Charmagne is currently assigned to surveillance, undercover sting operations, background research, and infidelity cases. Charmagne also coordinates, schedules, and performs all undercover decoy interviews. Charmagne is an affiliate member of C.A.L.I.
Investigator Sharon T. is a former blackjack dealer and security operative for a major casino in Las Vegas. Sharon is a graduate of the I.T.G. executive protection academy (Academy 13, #1 in class). Sharon holds certification in professional level CPR/AED, emergency vehicle operations and vehicle dynamics (Stockton Police Department). She is also certified in counter-surveillance detection. Sharon is currently assigned to bodyguard details, infidelity cases, workers' compensation fraud, and undercover sting assignments. She is also assigned to undercover decoy training.
Investigator-trainee Ty Scalera is a 2006 graduate of the University of Southern California, earning a Master's Degree in professional writing. Ty is currently undergoing training in counter-surveillance, criminal investigations, and undercover sting operations. She currently posts an internet blog at www.tythepi.com detailing her training and experiences working undercover at Butler & Associates. She is fluent in Spanish, French, and Italian.
Investigator Carl M. spent 14 years as a deputy sheriff in the upstate New York region. An accomplished actor and Screen Actors Guild member (IMDb resume), Carl assists in undercover operations, surveillance, and character creation. He currently is assigned to bodyguard details, undercover stings and crime suppression assignments.
Kenneth C. is graduate of Missouri Western State College (B.A., Marketing) and is currently assigned to ongoing bodyguard and security details.
ASSOCIATES
Attorney at Law Hannah E. Sims, LL.M, specializes in divorce and family law matters, including family law tax matters in California. Hannah has been agressively representing clients since 1994 in the following areas:
- Dissolution of Marriage, Legal Separation, and Domestic Partnerships
- Community Property Division and Valuation
- Family Law Tax Consequences and Issues of Divorce
- Spousal Support and Alimony
- Child Support and Child Custody
- Contempt (Violation of a Court Order)
- Domestic Violence Restraining Orders
Hannah holds a Juris Doctor degree from the College of William and Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law in Virginia. She received her Master of Laws degree from Golden Gate University School of Law in San Francisco. Hannah has been admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit and the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. She regularly helps plan investigative strategies for our clients and works with Butler & Associates investigators to insure that the selected investigative tactics are legally and fundamentally sound.
Family Law Attorney Tim McKinley has been a member of the California Bar for thirty-three years. Prior to becoming an attorney, Tim was a Special Agent, SWAT Team member, Supervisory Special Agent, and Division Counsel for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Tim now specializes in child custody and support matters, thoroughly preparing clients for critical mandatory mediation proceedings by Family Court Services. Where further custody proceedings are indicated, Tim's expertise in child custody evaluation is well documented; many professionals often recommend Tim to their clients. As a long time F.B.I. agent in the areas of organized crime and narcotics, Tim is expert at locating concealed assets. He continues to teach and testify as an expert witness. Among his references are attorneys, psychologists, and several judges.
IT Specialist Juraj Brazina has been closely associated with Butler & Associates since 2007. Juraj is a 1997 graduate of Bratislava Technical University in Bratislava, Slovakia, graduating at the top of his class. Juraj is an expert in the design, assembly, installation, and service of custom covert (hidden) camera systems and retail / residential CCTV systems. He has designed and installed systems for national embassies, corporations, and law enforcement.
Background Specialist Tamara Thompson is the owner of Tamara Thompson Investigations in Oakland, CA. As well as providing database and research training classes for all Butler & Associates investigators, Tamara performs in-depth background research and background investigations. She has presented seminars for the State Bar of California, the California Association of Licensed Investigators, the National Lawyers Guild, and the Northern California Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
Certified Polygraph Examiner Michael Schneider has been working with with Butler & Associates since 2006. With a California law enforcement career of over 30 years, including assignments as an undercover narcotics detective, homicide detective, crime scene analyst, SWAT officer, hostage negotiator, and background investigator, Michael lends his tremendous experience to our in-house investigators on various cases. Michael is a member of the American Polygraph Association and the California Association of Polygraph Examiners.
Identity Theft Specialist Don Lawson is the president and senior consultant for D.S. Lawson Consultants. With 26 years experience in law enforcement specializing in identity-related crimes, Don has performed hundreds of workplace proprietary data risk assessments and has provided training, educational workshops and seminars to employees and their customers. Don continues to draft policies and procedures to Butler & Associates clientele, which provide more efficient ways of detouring fraudulent activity, both internally and externally.
Computer Forensic Specialist Jon Berryhill is the owner of Berryhill Computer Forensics. Jon holds a B.S. degree in Engineering Computer Science from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. A former officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Office of Special Investigations, he was a federal agent with formal training in computer security, data recovery, evidence handling and computer crime investigation. Jon has worked as both the lead investigative agent and in support roles in a wide variety of cases including fraud, homicide, theft, drugs, child pornography and counter-intelligence. He has experience testifying in military, federal and state courts. Jon has provided expert testimony in and is certified by California and Federal courts as an expert in the field of computer crime and computer forensic analysis. In addition to forensic media analysis and consulting, Jon was an instructor for the California Department of Justice - Advanced Training Center from 1998 to 2000. Jon developed and taught the D.O.J. Internet Crimes Investigations course, participated in the development of other high tech crime and computer crime investigations courses, and developed POST certified courses for California peace officers.
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