The Falcon Associates

Lionel Baren has some 30 years of law enforcement experience. Mr. Baren has an MBA with a concentration in Finance from the University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA. Mr. Baren has a BS in Business Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park, MD.

Mr. Baren enjoyed a distinguished career of over 22 years with the FBI where he rose to the position of Supervisory Special Agent; provisionally acting as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) within the Boston office. As a Special Agent, Mr. Baren handled various criminal matters such as Money Laundering, Terrorism, National Security Investigations, narcotics, organized crime, public corruption, and Indian Reservation Matters. Mr. Baren functioned in significant undercover roles during his career and has extensive experience in Police Training.

After retiring from the FBI, Mr. Baren worked for the U.S. Department of The Treasury, Office of Technical Affairs (OTA) with assignments in Afghanistan, Jamaica, and Suriname. In Afghanistan, Mr. Baren was assigned to the Major Crimes Task Force (MCTF) where he facilitated law enforcement capacity assessment and development; focusing upon the strengthening and maturation of the Afghan MCTF to investigate organized crime, narcotics, money laundering, kidnapping, frauds, and terrorism. In Jamaica, Mr. Baren facilitated law enforcement capacity assessment and development; focusing upon the strengthening and maturation of Jamaica’s Constabulary Force (JFU) to investigate public corruption, money laundering, narcotics, tax evasion, and lottery scams in conjunction with foreign police cooperation. Mr. Baren, in-kind, focused upon the strengthening and maturation of Suriname’s national police force, Korps Politie Suriname (KPS) and Customs, to investigate public corruption, narcotics, money laundering, and tax evasion in conjunction with foreign police cooperation. In both assignments, Mr. Baren worked closely with that country’s FINCEN equivalent.

Mr. Baren is the developer of the Work Place Violence (WPV) training program offered by Falcon. Mr. Baren devoted significant time to the development of the WPV training program which also incorporates Active Shooter instruction.

Mr. Baren is a veteran of the U.S. Army and was assigned as a Special Agent, US Army Criminal Investigations Division Command in Germany and the United States. Mr. Baren conducted an investigation of white-collar crimes, domestic abuse, narcotics, homicide and other violent crimes, sex crimes, burglary, auto theft, and general larceny.

Brian Berntson is a veteran of twenty-two years with IRS-Criminal Investigation, during which time he personally conducted numerous complex criminal tax, money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) investigations involving international organized crime, white-collar offenses, drug trafficking organizations, theft of government funds, alien harboring, bank, wire and mail fraud, public corruption, major fraud against the government, and others. Additionally, Brian Berntson was assigned to several different task forces, to include: Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF), Global Illicit Financial Team (GIFT), Operation LOGJAM, and the Federal Gang Task Force (FGTF) and he directed the investigative activities of other task force members. A member of the IRS- Criminal Investigation, Money Laundering Expert Witness (MLEW) cadre for twelve years and testified as an expert in seven criminal trials relating to money laundering and Bank Secrecy Act matters. Mr. Bernston has also provided training to federal and state agents, financial institution personnel, and federal and state prosecutors, relating to conducting financial, money laundering, and BSA investigations. Mr. Bernston is also an Expert Witness in matters involving Money Laundering and Bank Secrecy Act.

Mr. Bernston has a BA in Sociology with an emphasis in Law and Criminology, University of Minnesota. Mr. Bernston is also a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS).

Michael L. Corrado has 32 years of law enforcement experience with 21 years at the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office (ACPO), Mays Landing, NJ.

Mr. Corrado’s last position was Captain with oversight of the Homicide, Forensics, Sex Crimes and Crimes against Children Units. In this position, Mr. Corrado managed eight operational squads, reviewed case investigations and prepared cases for indictment and prosecution, as well as promulgate annual reports, administer budgets and facilitate grants. Mr. Corrado directed both sworn and civilian staff and also coordinated multi-jurisdictional teams.  In addition to his regular duties, he has served as Tactical Commander, a former SWAT member, a member of the FBI ViCAP National Advisory Board, and president of the International Homicide Investigators Association.

Mr. Corrado is currently serving as the Government Services and Training Coordinator for the International Homicide Investigator’s Association, coordinating nationwide law enforcement training with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, also a consultant with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

Gary has over 25 years of investigative and management experience with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in addition to several years within the physical security and CPA professions. Mr. Dagan is a highly decorated Special Agent with expertise and success in numerous cross-functional areas, including corporate security, financial crimes investigations, anti-money laundering, forensic accounting, audit/risk management, in addition to the development and delivery of training programs to internal and external forums, both domestic and international.     

 While with the FBI, Mr. Dagan held various FBI Headquarters’ positions, to include the management and oversight of the FBI’s Economic Crimes Programs, which encompassed corporate fraud, securities/commodities fraud, insurance fraud, and mass-marketing fraud. He subsequently had oversight of the FBI’s Computer Intrusions Program, where he was a U.S. representative assigned to the G8 High-Tech Crime Subgroup (G8 member countries), that strengthened international efforts to combat computer-related crimes. Mr. Dagan also supervised the first Terrorist Financing Task Force, resulting from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Mr. Dagan led many successful task forces, to include a 10-Agency Corporate Fraud Task Force, an International Prime Bank Fraud Task Force, and the Joint Caribbean White-Collar Crime Investigation Team. Mr. Dagan also has extensive international experience, having led multiple joint investigative matters and providing training to personnel in over 25 countries. Subsequent to his extensive FBI career, Mr. Dagan was responsible for internal investigations and the physical security of over 400 corporate offices and branch locations of a large regional bank.

 Mr. Dagan has a MS in Economic Crime Management, Utica College, and a BA in Business Administration & Accounting, Mercyhurst College. Mr. Dagan is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and has a Certification in Financial Forensics.

B.C. Hamilton is recently retired from the FDIC after serving 26 years as a Commissioned Safety & Soundness Examiner, BSA/AML Subject Matter Expert and Bank Liquidation Specialist.   During his career, Mr. Hamilton provided extensive and in-depth training for the examination, AML and liquidation processes and procedures to FDIC and state regulatory personnel, as well as to regulators, management and counsel from over 50 foreign countries. Since retirement, he has provided the same extensive training in-country to foreign Central Bank staff in the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and Eastern Europe.

Jack Jupin is President and CEO of Jupin International, LLC. Jack Jupin has more than 23 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Jack Jupin has significant experience in white-collar crime, fraud, and internal investigations, as well as international terrorism and intelligence operations. Jack Jupin served as Supervisory Special Agent of both the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and the FBI Newark SWAT Team. In 2010, Jack received the U.S. Attorney General’s Director Award for superior performance by a litigation team. He also previously received the CIA award for outstanding performance in joint activities against the counterterrorism target in 2004. Jack has significant international investigative experience and has served in the role of acting Assistant Legat Attache’ in Amman, Jordan. Jack Jupin graduated from the University of Dayton in 1990 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice.

Vincent Mayo is a 15+ year retired Police Officer and Leader along with strong experience in professional law enforcement and security training. Vincent has a vast level of experience with a diverse range of expertise including investigating and de-escalating situations involving public safety, emergency response, high-risk response, and tactical operations. Vincent worked in both Police Patrol and Criminal Investigation Operations having received multiple awards to include Meritorious Unit Citation and Valor Awards. Vincent was also a member of the County Police SWAT team as both an operator, the Emergency Services Unit as Assistant Commander and part of the Water Search and Recovery Unit as a diver. Vincent is Consultant/Trainer for Awareness Protective Consultants, LLC (DBA: Team APC) where he conducts training, education services for Law Enforcement and, Civilians, Schools and Corporations as well as protective security and surveillance operations.

Jose L. Medina is a retired 27-year veteran of Law Enforcement Officer, Leader with a strong background in investigations involving illegal drug and guns distribution, sex trafficking and counter-terrorism investigations as well as 19 year owner of Awareness Protective consultants, LLC (DBA Team APC-Medina Tactical Dynamics). Jose has an extensive background in both training and consulting for Law Enforcement, Civilians, Schools and Corporations. In 1999, immediately after the Columbine Shooting, Jose was tasked in creating and developing his former department’s Emergency Services Unit (SWAT) to help respond critical incident mass casualty shootings and events which included his team response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. In, 2002, Jose formed his company where has since created, trained and consulted with law enforcement agencies around the world, large colleges, schools and businesses in both training as well as in the development of threat and risk assessments for facilities, policy development and active shooter operational response plans.

Matt Weachter has 14 years of law enforcement experience after obtaining police certifications in both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (MPOETC) and State of New Jersey (NJPTC). Matt Weacheter served with the Borough of Morton Police Department (Delaware County, Pa) for 3 years as well as the Delaware River Port Authority Police Department (DRPA- PA/NJ) for 12 years. While serving with the DRPA Police Department, Matt Weachter obtained the rank of Acting Corporal of Police. In addition, Matt Weachter trained in several specialty areas (Police Supervision, FBI Investigator, Crime Scene Investigation, Crash Investigation – Crash I & II, Field Training Officer, Juvenile Justice, and Open Water Rescue. Matt Weachter was also a member of the Marine Unit while with the DRPA Police Department. After leaving the DRPA Police Department, Matt Weachter worked as an Executive Protection Specialist with Pinkerton and was detailed to the Democratic National Convention – Philadelphia 2016 and Charlotte Civil Unrest-2016.

Philip Wrona’s 39 years of professional experience covers a wide range of security and investigative specialties. He held positions with a large city police department, populous urban county security and safety department, several federal agencies and the U.S. military. Mr. Wrona earned a Master of Arts in Security Studies from the Naval Postgraduate School, is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and is board-certified and credentialed as Certified Protection Professional (CPP) by ASIS International*. Mr. Wrona also holds licenses from the Ohio Peace Officer Training Council as a Special Subject Instructor and Private Police and Security Training Instructor.

Among positions held during his federal career, Mr. Wrona was a Supervisory Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Special Agent with the Department of Treasury and the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. Mr. Wrona completed assignments in the Middle East, Africa and Europe. He has small business experience in the United States as well as experience working for a Fortune 500 company in Iraq.

As a federal employee, Mr. Wrona was responsible for programs involving Homeland Security Operations, Critical Infrastructure Protection, and Security Program Administration. In 2003, he was responsible for standing up Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices in Michigan and Ohio and being on the team responsible for creating the agency’s 5-Year Strategic Plan. While with ICE, he twice supervised intelligence functions and coordinated agency participation in the Joint Terrorism Task Force. In his final assignment with DHS, he was responsible for managing the DHS, Office of Inspector General offices in Arizona. Mr. Wrona has conducted investigations into all manner of violent and non-violent crime to include matters involving Internal Employee Misconduct and Ethical Compliance, External Fraud and Theft, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Mr. Wrona is an expert in procurement fraud.

*The ASIS CPP certification has been awarded the Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technology (Safety) Act Designation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The purpose of the SAFETY Act of 2002 was to ensure that the threat of liability does not deter the use of services and products to combat terrorism. Therefore, the Act will provide benefits in the event of a terrorist-related incident. There are several benefits in relying on services provided by SAFETY Act Designation personnel from a presumption of dismissal of a lawsuit and a cap on damages awarded to knowing that the guidelines used are Best Practice and also have SAFETY Act status. Clients who use Certified Protection Professional can often walk away from destructive and wasteful lawsuits alleging that not enough was done to defend against or respond to acts of terrorism. Additionally, the Act precludes third party damages against organizations that followed ASIS standards and guidelines which reduces overall litigation exposure. An example of protections afforded against terror-related liability claims is as follows. A CPP follows the ASIS’ Facilities Physical Security Measures Guideline in reviewing your physical security assets and makes recommendations that you follow. A terrorist incident occurs and there is a loss of life and property. Claims alleging that the CPP certification was insufficient or that ASIS’ guidelines were deficient should be immediately dismissed by a federal court.