Our People

We are a network of former members of the DEA, FBI, Secret Service, CIA, ATF, Military Special Operators, IRS, and Detectives from the New York Police Department and Miami Police Agencies; we are proven and recognized subject matter experts in our respective fields.

5 Stones intelligence (5Si) is comprised of globally experienced Special Agents, Case Officers, Detectives, Military Special Operators, Operational Intelligence Commanders, Intelligence Analysts and HUMINT assets, who are fiercely loyal, spiritually strong, and intellectually driven.

Through our strong commitment to our faith, our country and Judeo-Christian principles, we have actualized our core beliefs and passions into our professional services.

5Si was developed to function as a “State-of-the-Art” private intelligence Agency and protective intelligence Service, with a central mission to protect Jewish and Christian worship centers, schools, and businesses.

5Si specialists bring unique skill-sets to capture the advantage for our Clients ensuring the mitigation of risk and the maximization of profits and provide a safe harbor for Judeo-Christian worship centers, schools and businesses.

Mr. tinsley is the Founder and Chairman of 5 Stones. He is a retired United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Supervisory Special Agent with a total of 32 years combined Law Enforcement and Intelligence experience. Over 20 of those years were spent as a DEA Supervisory Special Agent and DEA Special Agent based in Miami, Florida. Mr. tinsley was responsible for the development, strategic leadership, management, and execution of – Financial Investigations, Undercover Money Laundering Investigations, and related DEA Enforcement Operations. He also conducted covert and overt investigative and intelligence operations on behalf of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) and other elements of the U.S. Intelligence Community.

Mr. tinsley was the original architect and manager of 12 Attorney General Exempted Operations (AGEO) Financial Undercover Investigations. He was the lead DEA Case Agent for undercover Money Laundering SARC/AGEO operations, which extended to the 10 largest U.S. cities and 15 Foreign Countries. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States, The Middle East, Asia, Africa, Mexico, Central / South America, and Europe providing leadership and direction for many of DEA’s most successful and landmark operations. During this phase of his career, Mr. tinsley perfected unique skill-sets with regard to Intelligence Collection, Financial Intelligence, Money Laundering, Counter Terrorism, International Business-Banking acumen and the development of an extraordinary Global Network of contacts.

Mr. tinsley managed the largest and one of the most successful DEA Enforcement Groups in the history of the agency, which was recognized for outstanding performance and consistently received the DEA’s highest award for Group accomplishment every year. In addition, Mr. tinsley served as the DEA-Miami Principal point of contact for Foreign Liaison Operational Law Enforcement Directors for – the United Kingdom, the Caribbean; Central and South America; Europe; The Middle East and Israel. Mr. Tinsley was selected to lead joint DEA/CIA financial intelligence teams that targeted global clandestine networks at the highest echelon of narco-traffickers, money launderers and terrorist organizations. Mr. Tinsley managed and coordinated global investigations that were sanctioned at the highest levels of the U.S. Government.

Mr. tinsley is a world-renowned thought leader regarding emerging Financial Threats and trends, as well as one of the leading Subject Matter Experts (SME) concerning Financial investigations, Undercover Money Laundering Operations, International Banking investigations, Clandestine payment systems, and Intelligence collection.

He is a pioneer in the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) arena, designing one of the first Governmental and Financial Industry Threat Assessment programs. Mr. tinsley authored the original Financial Threat Assessment for the DEA concerning the Blended Threat of emerging Radical Terrorist Groups, Drug Cartels and Black-Market Payment Systems” and their threat to the U.S. Banking and Financial communities. Mr. tinsley is highly capable in the identification and neutralization of emerging financial threats and possesses extensive expertise in BSA/AML/OFAC, PATRIOT Act and Compliance GAAP analysis. He developed unique leadership and management abilities while overseeing Special Agents, Intelligence Analysts, Administrative Staff, Contract Employees and Foreign Counterparts throughout the world.

Mr. tinsley has testified before the U.S. Congress and Senate Sub-Committees regarding Money Laundering Issues, International Currencies, Monetary Risk and Intelligence matters. He represented the DEA at the 1997, World Chamber of Commerce for Gold Manufacturers and Distributors in Rome, Italy, regarding Financial Threats, International Money Laundering, and The Black-Market Peso Exchange. He has served as an Instructor to Special Agents, Case Officers and Intelligence Analysts in the United States, as well as Europe, the United Kingdom and South America. Mr. tinsley also developed Anti-Money Laundering Programs for the DEA, FBI, IRS, ICE, CIA, and the United States Attorney’s School of Advocacy.

Mr. tinsley maintains an extraordinary network of Contacts with access to global financial intelligence, emerging markets, strategic economic trends and Geo-political-shifts. He currently represents 5Si by providing consultation to the U.S. Government and the United Kingdom concerning Undercover and Overt Financial Investigations in the United States, Europe, The Middle East, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

While serving with the DEA, Mr. tinsley received the DEA’s highest award – The Administrator’s Award of Honor for Investigations, on seven occasions. He has attended over two hundred (200) Specialized Training Schools in Special Operations, Financial Investigations, Intelligence Collection, Communications Interceptions, Voice and Data Security, Advanced Internet Investigations, Security and Interception, Methodologies for the Collection of Information and Intelligence, International Finance, International Banking, Management and Leadership, and development and recruitment of Human Intelligence Assets (HUMINT). Mr. tinsley completed advanced studies at MIT regarding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain technology and leadership development at Cornell University.

Mr. tinsley holds a BS/MS in Criminal Justice, Completed Post Graduate studies at Wharton Business School, and a PhD student in Global Business at Regent University. He is presently a student in the Global Business Program at Oxford University Saïd Business School, and a 2024 Graduate of the Yale School of Business.

Mr. Talay is the CEO for 5 Stones intelligence, Inc. As CEO, Mr. Talay oversees the overall direction, culture and performance of the company. He directs the company in keeping with the corporate vision outlined by the Founder and Chairman. He oversees the quality control throughout the company, establishing goals for each department and project and regularly interacting with all Clients. He partners with high-level officers to grow the company, strengthen it and ensure its sustainability. Mr. Talay represents the company as required, including attendance of important functions, industry events and public meetings.

Mr. Talay is a career and recently retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer with 30 years of service. Mr. Talay also possesses over 20 years of executive business experience with a track record of successful leadership in both the commercial and federal markets. As CEO, Mr. Talay assists the Chairman with all facets of managing the daily and long-term operations of the company. Mr. Talay leads the 5 Stones Washington DC office where his focus is 5 Stones’ Federal programs and pursuits to include serving as the Program Manager for several sensitive programs for DoD and the Intelligence Community.

Prior to joining 5 Stones, Mr. Talay led a successful practice for Deloitte Financial Advisory Services specializing in the field of Financial Intelligence, Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Fraud, Business Intelligence, and risk mitigation through unique research capabilities and situational customer analysis. Mr. Talay led a multi-disciplinary team in the execution of commercial and financial research and analysis for a variety of public sector clients. Mr. Talay developed and implemented a methodology designed to address challenging operational and intelligence problems through the use of commercial and financial due diligence techniques. Mr. Talay has a deep history of providing these services to DoD, Law Enforcement, and the Intelligence Community.

Mr. Talay is a career Special Operations officer with extensive experience with respect to intelligence collection/exploitation, Counter-Terrorism, irregular warfare, and Counter-Proliferation. Mr. Talay has researched and assessed a wide range of classified and unclassified information and intelligence in support of 5 Stones’ government and commercial Clients. In addition, Mr. Talay has vast investigative experience with respect to the identification, tracking, and disruption of illicit criminal and Terrorist Networks, weapons of mass destruction and weapons trafficking proliferators, and Anti-Money Laundering (AML)activities. Mr. Talay’s previous military deployments include leading sensitive Special Operations elements in Somalia, Bosnia, Turkey and throughout the Middle East.

Mr. Talay holds the rank of Captain in the Navy Reserve and has held a variety of command and non-command positions. This role gives Mr. Talay unique insight into DoD and the Special Operations community.

Mr. Talay’s strong leadership and oversight of 5 Stones’ Global Client Services ensures key brand deliverables, Service Excellence | Extraordinary Capabilities | Client Satisfaction, all of which must exceed our Client’s expectations and experience.

Education and Certifications

Johns Hopkins University, Master of Business Administration (MBA)
Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain – Post Graduate Study
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
University of Chicago, Master’s Certificate, Business Strategy
U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, Master of Arts in National Security Affairs, emphasis in Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Proliferation
University of California at Santa Barbara, Bachelor of Arts, Economics
US Navy SEAL Training, Basic Underwater Demolition School
US Army Ranger School

As Chief Operating Officer (COO), Mr. Love assists the CEO with the management of the daily and long-term operations of 5 Stones. He assists with designing and implementing business operations, establishing policies that promote company culture and vision and overseeing operations of the company and the work of executives.

Mr. Love works from the Washington, D.C. office, where his focus is on Federal programs and Client relations to include programs for the Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Defense (DoD), Department of State (DoS), and the Intelligence Community.

Mr. Love is a retired U.S. DOJ, ATF Senior Special Agent who served twenty-seven years. During his tenure, he gained broad-based knowledge and proven experience in international training, program management, multi-agency/multi-government international investigations and collaboration, risk assessment, crisis management, and logistics.

While assigned to ATF’s Washington D.C. Headquarters, Mr. Love led International Training Programs for the Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information (OSII) and coordinated ATF’s global training and enforcement operations with U.S. Counterparts, Embassies, and Global Law Enforcement partners. He authored curriculum for the U.S. DOJ and Department of State, providing high-quality training in environments with shifting regional economic, social, and political circumstances.

As a Special Agent, Mr. Love led complex and highly sensitive Attorney General Exempted (AGEO) investigations targeting Terrorist Networks and Weapons Proliferation. These investigations were international in scope, covert/undercover operations that focused on Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) organizations, and their relationship with global Terrorist Networks. Mr. Love specialized in investigating groups engaged in complex financial and criminal conspiracies that spanned transnational legal and physical boundaries. In this role, he frequently worked with fellow stakeholders and law enforcement partners and routinely conducted classified briefings for U.S. Senators, Congressmen, staffers, Ambassadors, and Deputy Chiefs of Mission.

Mr. Love served for seven years within the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) and led investigative, and intelligence operations focused on Terrorism. He is a recognized Subject Matter Expert (SME) in complex global investigations, weapons, explosives, and Counter-Terrorism Operations.

Mr. Love’s career is defined by distinguished leadership experiences. He received several awards while serving in ATF, including that agency’s Superior Performance Award, Distinguished Service Award, and numerous Special Act Awards. Mr. Love holds his undergraduate degree in Business Administration and has completed Harvard Business School Executive Education courses, including Risk Management for Corporate Leaders and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Sloan School of Management courses in Blockchain Technologies: Business Innovation and Application.

Mr. Love represents the renowned qualities of innovation, drive, relentless work ethic, and specialized skill sets for which ATF Special Agents are known and invests those capabilities in providing an intense commitment to 5 Stones’ Clients.

Brian M. McKnight is the Chief Innovation Officer for 5 Stones intelligence. Mr. McKnight also serves as the Director of the Project Management Office (PMO) to ensure comprehensive execution of Government and Commercial Contracts.

Mr. McKnight served as a career United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Senior Executive with a total of 34 years combined Law Enforcement and Intelligence experience. Over 25 of those years were spent as a Special Agent in Charge, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Supervisory Special Agent and Special Agent in DEA Field Offices and at DEA Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. Mr. McKnight successfully worked in concert with federal, state, local and international partners to thwart criminal networks globally. Over his career, Mr. McKnight managed multi-million-dollar budgets, and pioneered undercover initiatives to augment operational efficiency.

Mr. McKnight served as the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) leading the Chicago Field Division, which spanned over 650 personnel in thirteen (13) offices in three (3) states, including Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Mr. McKnight led numerous Multi-Agency Strike Force Groups of Federal Agents as well as Task Force Officers investigating transnational criminal organizations and “Cartel Heads” that were identified as shipping multi-ton quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine into the Midwest region of the United States.

Mr. McKnight also served in key field leadership positions in the DEA Miami as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge and Supervisory Special Agent where he spearheaded Attorney General Exempt Operations (AGEO) investigating money laundering components and transnational criminal organizations operating in Central and South America as well as the Middle East and Europe. As a result, global criminal networks were dismantled and hundreds of millions of dollars in assets were seized.

Mr. McKnight served as the Chief of Global Financial Operations at DEA Headquarters where he oversaw Undercover Money Laundering Operations and Financial Programs. In this capacity, he coordinated US Treasury, OFAC designations against criminal networks responsible for laundering hundreds of millions of dollars in illicit money world-wide. Over his career, Mr. McKnight led global teams of Special Agents who were responsible for extraditions of top-tier international drug traffickers and money launderers.
Mr. McKnight is highly skilled and has extensive experience in Anti-Money Laundering Investigations, Trade Based Money Laundering and Compliance matters.

More recently, Mr. McKnight served as DEA’s Chief Inspector overseeing sensitive programs and four (4) hundred DEA employees and contractors. He also led DEA’s “Insider Threat Program”, and Three (3) offices at DEA Headquarters including the Office of Inspections, Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Office of Security Programs. In this capacity, he was responsible for overseeing all employee integrity matters, inspection processes, building security processes, and security matters for over 220 DEA Domestic Offices and 93 Foreign Offices and over ten thousand DEA employees.

Mr. McKnight is the recipient of numerous law enforcement awards including the United States Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Excellence Award, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Law Enforcement Award, United States Attorney’s Law Enforcement Excellence Awards, Department of Justice, Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Awards and 25 DEA Excellence of Performance Awards, Special Act of Service Awards, and the DEA Administrators Award.

Mr. McKnight is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Executive Institute (NEI), and has attended Executive Leadership Training courses at Harvard University. He also received a certificate in leadership training from the University of Notre Dame, Mendoza School of Business. Mr. McKnight attended Specialized Training Schools in Financial Investigations, Special Weapons and Tactics Training and Special Training Sessions in Communication Exploitation.
Mr. McKnight holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Administration of Justice, and Post-Graduate studies Criminal Justice.

As the Chief Innovation Officer, Mr. McKnight is responsible for leading new processes and technologies, while developing strategies for the benefit of 5 Stones’ Clients. Mr. McKnight possesses the qualities of innovation, drive and relentless work ethic for which DEA Special Agents have achieved international renown. Mr. McKnight is committed to leveraging those capabilities and his vast experience on behalf of 5 Stones’ Clients.

Mr. Thompson serves as a Principal of 5 Stones intelligence and leads the Miami Office. He serves as both the Chief Compliance Officer and as the Director of Domestic intelligence. As Chief Compliance Officer, Mr. Thompson reports directly to the CEO and is responsible for all compliance and regulatory matters for 5 Stones. As Director of Domestic intelligence he leads and coordinates various National and Global intelligence and investigative projects for 5 Stones’ Government and Commercial Clients. Mr. Thompson also serves as the 5 Stones Project Manager for an expansive U.S. Department of Justice program. Mr. Thompson has led 5 Stones Protective Security details in the U.S. and Israel.

Mr. Thompson previously served as an Assistant Director of the FBI, with 25 years of service. Mr. Thompson reorganized and led the FBI’s inspection, audit and compliance process, for FBI offices and operations worldwide. He designed and oversaw the construction of two FBI regional field offices, one of which became the first hybrid convertible FBI Joint Operations Center. This FBI Operations center served as protective intelligence fusion center designed to support complex and challenging intelligence operations. Mr. Thompson has an extensive range of distinguished leadership experience. As an FBI Senior Executive, Mr. Thompson was awarded the prestigious Presidential Meritorious Award and was promoted to the Department of Justice Senior Executive Service (SES-6).

Following a career in the FBI, Mr. Thompson served as a vice president of an ISO 9001 registered international security company with 18,000 employees and after the events of September 11, 2001, returned to government as a Federal Security Director with TSA. In 2005, Mr. Thompson was appointed Chief of Staff and second-in-command of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office (BSO), the 4th largest Sheriff’s Office in America, where he was responsible for a staff of 6,300 and a budget of $700 million. He spent a total of six years with BSO, a public safety agency with Law Enforcement, Detention, and Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, serving at the rank of Colonel before joining 5 Stones intelligence full-time in 2013.

Mr. Thompson is an experienced leader and trainer in Church, Synagogue and School Security, with a decade of Security and Protective intelligence experience in two of the largest churches in the United States. Mr. Thompson has designed and led highly specialized Security and Protective intelligence programs designed for worship centers, schools and international travel. He is a recognized thought leader and respected Subject Matter Expert (SME) in the integration of Protective intelligence and Security operations for Church facilities and events. Mr. Thompson is also an ordained minister of the gospel.

Mr. Thompson previously served 4 appointed terms as a member of the Image and Ethics Committee, International Association of Chiefs of Police, the world’s largest professional organization for law enforcement leaders.

Mr. Thompson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Lincoln University of Missouri and is a graduate of extensive FBI specialized training programs. Mr. Thompson studied advanced course work in Government Management and Strategic Computing and Telecommunications at Harvard University.

Mr. Underwood serves as 5 Stones’ Director of Financial investigations and is a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Financial Fraud and Money Laundering investigations. Mr. Underwood served as an IRS-CID Special Agent for 30 years conducting and leading highly specialized and complex financial investigations. These include serving as the lead Special Agent in international financial investigations related to targeting trade-based money laundering and the Black Market Peso Exchange. He is considered a Subject Matter Expert in international banking and asset tracing related to Terrorist Finance, Drug Trafficking Organizations, and Money Laundering Networks.

Mr. Underwood has an extensive history of success supporting IRS, DEA and FBI Money Laundering investigations which encompassed a wide range of criminal conduct, including drug trafficking, mail fraud, wire fraud, smuggling, visa fraud, interstate transportation of stolen property, and mislabeling and misbranding of prescription drugs. The investigations have targeted drug trafficking organizations, money brokers, automobile dealerships, physicians, pharmacists, importers, and other individuals involved in organized criminal activities. Mr. Underwood has presented his investigative findings as a trial witness in numerous successful federal prosecutions.

Mr. Underwood’s knowledge and skill as a Financial Investigator are well known throughout the Federal Law Enforcement community in the United States and in Europe. As an IRS-CID special agent, his expertise in the areas of forensic accounting and financial investigative techniques was often called upon by prosecutors and other law enforcement agencies. Mr. Underwood shared his knowledge and experience through the development and presentation of financial investigations training programs uniquely tailored to meet the needs of law enforcement officials and prosecutors at all levels.

As Director of Financial investigations, Mr. Underwood leads 5 Stones’ National Security Investigations that focus on Global Financial Fraud and Intelligence, Money Laundering, Terror Threat Finance, Alternate Remittance Systems, and other complex financial matters. In addition, he coordinates and oversee investigations initiated as a result of information received from Financial Industry Whistleblowers. These investigations often identify and illuminate threats to the U.S. and global economies. Mr. Underwood’s duties will also include overseeing engagements with financial institutions and other Clients for the purpose of conducting historical and comprehensive financial lookbacks and other activities relating to AML compliance.

In addition, Mr. Underwood guides and directs both domestic and international investigative efforts focused on money laundering and complex fraud investigations. In this capacity, he develops and implements 5 Stones’ international financial investigative training programs. These programs are uniquely designed to fit the requirements of the Client agencies, and also include mentoring activities and assistance in the development of high-level financial level investigations using a variety of sources of information.

Mr. Underwood hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama in Birmingham and completed advanced coursework in Business Administration at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist as well as a Certified Fraud Examiner. Mr. Underwood exemplifies the tenacity, attention to detail, and outstanding work ethic that have led to the widespread recognition of IRS-CID special agents as the world’s finest financial investigators and applies these traits and skillsets to meet and exceed the expectations of 5 Stones’ Clients.

Mr. Germanowski, a Director for 5 Stones intelligence, oversees the Investigative efforts of 5 Stones in support of the United States Congress and several congressional committees. He provides oversight and support to 5 Stones’ Prime Contract for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and the Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) Special Agent Instructor Support Services (SAISS) contract. He also serves as a Co-Project Manager for 5 Stones’ Department of State – Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs International Training and Mentoring Program contract.

Mr. Germanowski previously served as a DEA Special Agent in key classified positions within the DEA’s Special Operations Division, Office of Professional Responsibility, and Training Center in Quantico, Virginia. He oversaw DEA’s Disciplinary Process as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Professional Conduct, serving as the Senior Deciding Official for internal affairs investigations. Mr. Germanowski, served in the DEA’s Special Operations Division overseeing sensitive and classified Narco-Terrorism and Narco-Money Laundering operations. These operations necessitated extensive coordination with the international intelligence communities and foreign law enforcement agencies, while providing regular briefings to the Attorney General.

Mr. Germanowski designed and instructed courses on Undercover (UC) Operations, UC Techniques, Money Laundering and International Organized Crime in Russia, Thailand, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas, Mexico, England, Panama, Pakistan and Afghanistan. He is a committed Christian and mentor to young adults aspiring to enter government service.

Mr. John Bowman leads the 5 Stones intelligence London office, serving as the Director of Operations for the United Kingdom and Europe. Mr. Bowman is a career law enforcement and intelligence professional with 32 years’ experience serving in the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) intelligence and operations directorate, Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA), the National Crime Squad and the London Metropolitan Police Service.

Mr. Bowman previously served as the United Kingdom’s International Liaison Officer to the Eastern Caribbean, leading the establishment of National Confidential Intelligence Units that significantly enhanced the analytical capabilities of the NCA’s upstream counter narcotic operations. Mr. Bowman was recognized and awarded by the UK and US for his successful leadership in the management of International HUMINT operations, as well as SIGINT Technical intelligence targeting, collection and analysis.

Mr. Bowman worked closely with DEA, FBI, HSI, European law enforcement partners and the intelligence communities to establish an intelligence led strategy that significantly increased the number of firearm seizures and homicides arrests in the region. Mr. Bowman advised on numerous successful murder investigations including the kidnap and murder of a British businessman.

Mr. Bowman also served as the NCA International HUMINT Source Authorizing officer, providing strategic guidance and management of HUMINT Source handlers globally. Mr. Bowman was responsible for the NCA’s HUMINT Source program for intelligence targeting and collection.
During his career, Mr. Bowman served as the SOCA/NCA International HUMINT Source Controller with responsibility for tactical guidance and management of Source handlers posted throughout the world. Mr. Bowman’s leadership led the significant success of UK law enforcement and intelligence efforts designed to counter serious organized crime in the western hemisphere. Mr. Bowman managed HUMINT staff deployments into hostile environments in South America with great success. He developed and implemented a HUMINT Source sharing relationship with International partners such as DEA, FBI, HSI, Dutch Law Enforcement, the intelligence community and foreign law enforcement partners.

Significantly, during 2005 – 2010, Mr. Bowman served as an intelligence manager for the National Crime Squad and SOCA, devising and implementing the confidential HUMINT unit concept, which was adopted as a national best practice methodology for the NCA. Mr. Bowman deployed as the intelligence manager on numerous successful Kidnap investigations, managing the deployment of covert intelligence/evidence gathering techniques, resulting in extraordinary levels of success. He received the SOCA Director General commendation for leadership and dedication to duty during a successful investigation into the kidnapping of a UK citizen in Pakistan. Mr. Bowman deployed as a “post incident manager” with primary responsibility for supporting NCA officers involved in fatal and non fatal shooting incidents.

Mr. Bowman previously served as Detective Inspector on the UK Metropolitan Police Murder Command, qualifying as a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO), while investigating numerous murders within London for which he received numerous commendations for leadership and commitment to duty.

Mr. Bowman has an extraordinary level of experience and success which has qualified him as a renowned Subject Matter Expert (SME) regarding HUMINT intelligence operations and global investigations.

Mr. Bowman provides oversight and leadership for all 5 Stones intelligence services and products to our Clients throughout the United Kingdom and Europe.

Matthew has been promoted to Chief of Staff to enhance coordination of workflow across all government and corporate services to ensure 5 Stones’ Clients receive exceptional service and
results.

Ric Bachour is the Director of International Investigations for 5 Stones intelligence. Mr. Bachour is a retired Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent who served with distinction for 22 years in various leadership positions. During his career, Mr. Bachour held significant leadership positions to include the DEA Headquarters Sensitive Undercover Operations Unit, the Special Operations Division, and leadership positions within DEA’s Foreign and Domestic Field Offices. Mr. Bachour is a highly skilled operator and investigator who has served globally for DEA leading and coordinating numerous sensitive, high-profile undercover operations worldwide. Mr. Bachour is a renowned Subject Matter Expert (SME) in Covert Operations, HUMINT, Financial investigations and U.S. Attorney General Exempt Operations (AGEO).

Mr. Bachour served as DEA’s Country Attaché based in Paris France and other Diplomatic positions resulting in highly successful impactful investigations in coordination with foreign counterparts and the Diplomatic community. Mr. Bachour routinely led DEA’s diplomatic engagements with Ambassadors and senior level foreign government officials. During his tenure abroad, Mr. Bachour was also responsible for all of DEA’s counter-narcotics, narco-terrorism and drug-money laundering investigations in 10 foreign nations located in Europe and West Africa. Mr. Bachour led several global impact high-profile international investigations which led to the dismantlement of transnational criminal organizations as well as OFAC designations against top-tier drug traffickers and narco-terrorists. While overseas, Mr. Bachour forged strong partnerships and alliances with European and African law enforcement and intelligence counterparts. He spearheaded numerous record setting asset seizures from transnational criminal organizations in the United States, South America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. More recently, Mr. Bachour served as the DEA Headquarters Section Chief for Investigative Support for Sensitive Programs including the DEA’s Undercover Program and managed operational budgets exceeding $100 million. Mr. Bachour provided logistical and operational leadership and support to 117 State and Local agencies and 31 federal employees participating in the DEA’s Domestic Cannabis Eradication and Suppression Program, while overseeing the DEA’s State and Local Task Force Program which involves more than 300 State and Local agencies and more than 4,000 Task Force Officers .

Mr. Bachour previously worked as a Staff Coordinator in the DEA’s Counter Narco-Terrorism Operations Center, coordinating several international investigations resulting in U.S. indictments and extraditions of criminals charged with providing material support to terrorist organizations. Mr. Bachour also served as a Supervisory Special Agent in the Miami Field Division where he led a multi-agency task force of Federal Agents and Task Force Officers. He led several highly successful global undercover money laundering investigations, and worked extensively in South America, Central America, the Caribbean and the Levant. Mr. Bachour is a Subject Matter Expert (SME) regarding Lebanon and the Levant region.

Mr. Bachour is a former Massachusetts State Trooper and a former Police Officer for the City of Revere, Massachusetts Police Department, he is fluent in French and Arabic, and studied Spanish. Mr. Bachour has been recognized for his outstanding contributions in drug law enforcement. He is the recipient of dozens of awards to include the US Attorney Generals Excellence Award, two DEA Administrator’s Awards, the Miami-Dade Police Chief’s Federal Agent of the Year Award, the Association of Federal narcotics Agents’ Agent of the Year Award and numerous DEA Performance Awards.

Significantly, Mr. Bachour received the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency’s National Intelligence Meritorious Citation from the Director of National Intelligence for meritorious service. Mr. Bachour was also recognized by the French National Police and received the French (Médaille de la sécurité intérieure) medal for leading global investigations using highly innovative techniques resulting in unprecedented multi-ton cocaine seizures and dismantlement of entire drug trafficking organizations while serving in Paris, France.

Mr. Bachour holds a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement from Western New England University. He is also a United States Marine Corps veteran with multiple combat deployments, and received numerous military recognitions and awards including the Purple Heart Medal and Navy Commendations while serving in the Middle East.

Mr. Bachour will continue his outstanding work ethic and serve 5 Stones Clients globally at the highest levels.

Bailea Tinsley has been appointed Director of Global Investigations and Intelligence Services
serving in our Washington D.C. office. Ms. Tinsley served as an FBI Special Agent for 5 years,
specializing in transnational criminal enterprises and complex money laundering investigations.
Throughout her tenure with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Ms. Tinsley held
assignments in both the Baltimore and Nashville field offices, as well as specialized roles in the
Oklahoma City office. During her time in Oklahoma City, she was instrumental in investigating
significant crimes that transpired on Native American reservations. Ms. Tinsley holds a law
degree from Emory University School of Law and has completed specialized training in law
enforcement and intelligence fields. She is proficient in French and has acquired skills in Arabic
as well.

Prior to her career in law enforcement, Ms. Tinsley practiced law in the field of Finance and
Corporate Restructuring. As Director of Global Investigations and Intelligence Services Ms.
Tinsley will lead complex global investigations and develop litigation strategies for 5Si's
Government and Commercial Clients.

Mack Strong, Director of Global Security – Sensitive Investigations and Intelligence, serves in 5
Stones’ Miami, Florida office. Mr. Strong oversees complex international investigations for
Government, Corporate and Private Clients. Mr. Strong is a renowned HSI Supervisory Special
Agent who led landmark global investigations for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
mission and law enforcement operations.

Mr. Strong has extensive experience and vast knowledge regarding the complexities of
international finance, money laundering and related illicit activities. Mr. Strong is a SME in
“Kleptocracy”; Anti-Money Laundering, Financial Investment Fraud, The Patriot Act, Bank
Secrecy Act, Office of foreign Asset Control (OFAC), Sanctions Enforcement, Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act violations (FCPA), Asset-Identification, Financial Institutional Due Diligence and
Compliance Analysis.

Through his vast experience, Mr. Strong provides exceptional service and guidance to our
Government and National Security initiatives, as well as Commercial and Private Clients.

Mrs. Lori Fernandes is the Director of Analysis for 5 Stones intelligence and manages a comprehensive suite of proprietary software, intelligence collection and management systems. She ensures 5 Stones’ Clients benefit from the most efficient and effective solutions in resolving the challenges of bulk-data and disparity of analysis within diverse data sets. Mrs. Fernandes is a Subject Matter Expert (SME) in designing, implementing, and managing intelligence collection and analysis protocols to illuminate advanced solutions for the most complex investigations. Mrs. Fernandes is a career intelligence professional and holds a Top Secret (TS) clearance. She has extensive leadership experience as a DEA Senior Executive Service (SES) and intelligence community collection manager and Operations Specialist.

Career Highlights:
– DEA SES Intelligence Program Director
– Served as United Nations Advisor on U.S drug policy and intelligence matters
– Served as Intelligence Technical Expert (ITE) for Interagency Intelligence Community (IC)
– Principal Senior Liaison to Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Ms. Fernandes is adept in identifying, collecting, and analyzing multi-source information for implementation of government tactical and strategic plans through the exploitation of intelligence systems and software. Ms. Fernandes is highly experienced in leading diverse Subject Matter Expert teams to reach established goals and achieve required results. She has held several positions requiring TS/SCI clearance to include sensitive foreign assignments. Her background includes having served as a US government, diplomatic and intelligence community liaison.

– Career Senior Intelligence Analyst (SES) & Intelligence Subject Matter Expert (SME)
– SME in leveraging Intelligence Processes and Software Systems
– Managing global intelligence projects
– Counter-Terrorism
– Gap Analysis/Predictive Intelligence
– Financial/Technical/Electronic Intelligence
– Analysis & Investigations
– Criminal Law/Intelligence Collection
– Drug/Chemical Identification
– Threat Assessments
– Signal Intelligence Collection and Evaluation

Mrs. Fernandes is a graduate of Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice with Honors and a graduate of the University of Virginia: Executive Leadership Training Program. She graduated from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) as a Special Agent/Criminal Investigator and the DEA Advanced Intelligence Systems – Software – Process Intelligence program. Mrs. Fernandes is a highly regarded intelligence professional. Mrs. Fernandes possesses the qualities of innovation, drive and relentless work ethic for which DEA Special Agents and Intelligence Analysts have achieved international renown. Mrs. Fernandes provides those capabilities to ensure the highest level of service for 5 Stones’ Clients.

Ms. Helene Miller has been appointed 5 Stones Director of Global Investigations and Risk
Management for the United Kingdom and Europe. Previously Ms. Miller served as a Detective
Chief Inspector for the Metropolitan Police Service in London, England. Helene is a proven
leader in the U.K. Law Enforcement Community, having served with both the MET Police and
England’s National Crime Agency (NCA).

Ms. Miller was selected for and awarded the highly regarded King’s Police Medal for
distinguished service. The King’s Medal is awarded by the Home Office on behalf of King
Charles III. Additionally, while serving as a Detective Inspector with the MET Police Service,
Helene was honored with the “Crime Fighter of the Year” award for her leadership in countering
modern slavery and Human Trafficking while increasing victim lead prosecutions from 33% to
83%. As Detective Chief Inspector, Helene led and managed a team of 120 MET Detectives,
developing extraordinary investigative capabilities and Subject Matter Expertise (SME) in

Complex Investigations, Modern Slavery, Risk Management, Family Liaison and the
management of mass fatality situations. Ms. Miller will provide exceptional service to 5 Stones
intelligence Government and Commercial Clients from our London office.

Steve Ashman is a retired Chief Constable. He began his Policing career in London in 1987
and worked in some of the most challenging areas in UK policing in a career spanning 30
years and three different forces. He spent over 8 years as a chief officer culminating in his
appointment as Chief Constable of Northumbria Police, the 6 th largest force in England and
Wales. He led one of the largest manhunts in UK policing history and successfully led the
prosecution of several hundred offenders for sexual exploitation of vulnerable women and
girls in the largest ever operation of its kind. He has worked extensively overseas as a
serving officer and as a consultant in retirement in the Caribbean, Middle East, Africa and
Europe. He owns a private company delivering training and assessment services to UK police
forces and is a lay member of the Royal College of Surgeon’s invited review team.

Mr. Tom Gallagher serves as Director of Explosives, Intelligence, and Training for 5 Stones intelligence and is assigned to Tampa, Florida. In this role, he leads 5 Stones efforts in the field of explosives, training, post-blast, IEDs, and related intelligence. He is a Team Lead for an expansive U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) contract where is a recognized Subject Matter Expert (SME) in the seizure, storage, and preservation of high valued evidence including explosives, weapons, and ammunition.

Mr. Gallagher is a retired U.S. DOJ Supervisory Special Agent who served twenty-eight years in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). During his career, he provided leadership and supervision to multi-agency task forces as a Resident Agent in Charge. He also served a coordinator for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. He was a founding member of the Western Judicial District of Virginia (WJDV) Federal Law Enforcement roundtable focus groups, and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force for the WJDV.

As a Special Agent, Mr. Gallagher was tasked on numerous occasions with conducting substantive criminal investigations. He was a first responder and key leader who managed the investigation of the Virginia Tech Shooting of April 16, 2007. Later, he was appointed to U.S. Senator Mark Warner’s Program for the Prevention of School Violence specifically to provide his leadership, subject matter expertise, experience, and inside knowledge to program participants and policymakers.

Mr. Gallagher served for over a decade as a member of the ATF National Response Team (NRT). The NRT provides immediate assistance to local, state, and federal agency requests to coordinate and provide expert support to major post-blast/post-fire scene examinations. As an NRT member, Mr. Gallagher responded to the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon and worked the scene with fellow first responders. He also coordinated and supervised special response teams for major special events, including the National Football League’s Super Bowl, the Democratic National Convention, Presidential Inaugurations, World Bank Protests, and the DC Sniper Investigation. Mr. Gallagher is a Certified Explosives and HAZMAT Specialist and Special Response Team Operator.

While assigned to ATF’s Washington D.C. Headquarters, Mr. Gallagher was the Program Manager for International Training Programs for the Office of Strategic Intelligence and Information (OSII). He coordinated ATF’s global training and enforcement operations with U.S. Counterparts, Embassies, and Global Law Enforcement partners. Mr. Gallagher conceptualized, taught, and managed instructional courses in law enforcement techniques to vetted foreign nationals in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and Central America.

Mr. Gallagher received numerous awards while serving in ATF, including the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association Distinguished Service Award, International Narcotics Enforcement Agency Special Act Award, National Association of Police Top Cops Nominee, Virginia Tech Distinguished Service Award, multiple U.S Attorney’s Office Special Acts Awards, as well as ATF’s Superior Performance Award, Distinguished Service Award, and numerous Special Act Awards. He received his B.A. from Niagara University in Criminal Justice and his Master’s in Criminal Justice from American University, Washington, D.C.

Mr. Gallagher represents the renowned qualities of innovation, drive, relentless work ethic, and specialized skill sets for which ATF Special Agents are known and invests those capabilities in providing an intense commitment to 5 Stones’ Clients.

Mr. Armstrong currently serves as the Lead Instructor for Firearms Intelligence and Investigations for 5 Stones intelligence.

Mr. Armstrong began his law enforcement career in 1986 as a Special Agent with the U.S. Customs Service in Marathon, Florida where he conducted narcotics investigations and operated a high-speed narcotics interceptor vessel. Mr. Armstrong joined ATF in 1987 as a Special Agent and was assigned to Fort Lauderdale, Florida Field Office where he investigated firearms trafficking, armed violent crime and criminal organizations, arson and bombings. Mr. Armstrong also served as the ATF Violent Crimes and Firearms Trafficking Programs Manager and Branch Chief in Washington, DC for 3 years. Mr. Armstrong served as the Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) of ATF’s Boston Field Division from 2013 to 2015 where he managed 12 criminal enforcement groups comprised of more than 100 Special Agents and Task Force Officers who enforced Federal law related to firearms, explosives, and arson throughout the New England Region. Mr. Armstrong was a member of ATFs Special Agent Supervisory Staff overseeing his agencies role in the initial response and subsequent investigation of the Boston Marathon Bombings in 2013.

Mr. Armstrong’s additional experience includes serving as a member of ATF’s Miami Special Response Tactical Team; the Assistant Team Leader of the Louisville Special Response Tactical Team; Acting Assistant Special Agent in Charge in Louisville, Kentucky; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and the US Virgin Islands; and an instructor at the ATF Special Response Team training facility at Fort McClellan, Alabama, the ATF National Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, the International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest, Hungary, the ATF Firearms Trafficking Course and Complex Investigations Course, and the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. Mr. Armstrong helped pioneer ATF’s efforts to combat Internet based illegal firearms trafficking and Mr. Armstrong’s past investigations resulted in U.S. Supreme Court case law (U.S. v. Smith, 957 F.2d 835 1992, aff’d 508 US 1993) which was covered on Dateline NBC episodes. Mr. Armstrong is a recognized Subject Matter Expert (SME) and distinguished author regarding weapons and explosives. He produced a number of ATF’s National policies as well as the ATF publication entitled “Guide to Investigating Illegal Firearms Trafficking” with editions in 1998 and 2009.

In recognition of accomplishment throughout his career, Mr. Armstrong was the recipient of 18 Sustained Superior Performance Awards, 9 Special Act Awards, the 2008 ATF Supervisor of the Year Award, the Secretary of Treasury’s Certificate Award from Treasury Secretary Rubin in 1997; a Vice Presidential National Performance Review “Hammer” Award presented by Vice President Gore in 1997; and a runner-up finalist in the Harvard University/Ford Foundation – Innovations in American Government Award presented by David Gergen in 1997. In 2016 Mr. Armstrong was inducted into the Westfield State University Criminal Justice Alumni Hall of Fame.

Mr. Armstrong served on a number of committees to include the Federal Executive Association of Southern Maine where he served as President during 2012 and 2013, the Maine Project Safe Neighborhoods Executive Committee, the Maine Chiefs of Police Association, the Palm Beach County Florida Criminal Justice Commission, the Palm Beach County Chiefs of Police Association, the Palm Beach County Law Enforcement Planning Council, the Palm Beach County Weed and Seed Executive Committee, and the Palm Beach County Pandemic Flu Planning Committee.

Mr. Armstrong earned a bachelor’s degree from Westfield State College in 1985 and is a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) through the American Society of Industrial Security (ASIS) as well as a certified Federal instructor. In 2018 Mr. Armstrong published a textbook entitled FIREARMS TRAFFICKING – A Guide for Criminal Investigators that is currently available through lulu.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million and this text is currently in use by several colleges for courses on firearms trafficking and armed crime investigation. Mr. Armstrong also currently serves as an Adjunct Faculty Member at the Southern Maine Community College where he teaches courses on intelligence analysis and security management. Mr. Armstrong is an extraordinary talented leader who delivers exceptional service solutions to 5 Stones’ Clients.

David Stephens serves as the Director of Administration for 5 Stones intelligence. As the Director of Administration, Mr. Stephens reports to the CEO and is responsible for the execution of contracts, administrative support and oversees organizational policies, budgets, administrative staff, vendors, audits, and Client services. Mr. Stephens is responsible for ensuring the highest levels of service for all 5 Stones’ Clients and that value-generating growth is mutually beneficial within Client interactions.

Mr. Stephens is a career United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Executive with a total of 30 years combined Law Enforcement and Intelligence experience. Mr. Stephens held leadership positions as an Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Supervisory Special Agent and Special Agent in various DEA Field Offices to include DEA Miami, DEA Los Angeles, and DEA Headquarters. Mr. Stephens has extensive experience leading the highly successful DEA OCDETF Task Force and Multi-Agency Atlanta Strike Force overseeing the management and budgets for over 100 Special Agent and Task Force Agents.

Mr. Stephens also served in key DEA field leadership positions managing the administration of DEA Attorney General Exempt Operations (AGEO) focused on international drug trafficking, money laundering and transnational crime. He is a Certified Polygraph Examiner, graduating from the US Department of Defense Polygraph School. He worked within DEA’s “Insider Threat Program,” DEA Headquarters including the Office of Inspections, Office of Professional Responsibility, and the Office of Security Programs.

Mr. Stephens is the recipient of numerous law enforcement awards throughout his career. He is a graduate of Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice.

As the Director of Administration, Mr. Stephens will focus on ensuring that all 5 Stones’ deliverables meet or exceed Client expectations. Mr. Stephens possesses the qualities of innovation, drive and relentless work ethic for which DEA Special Agents have achieved international renown. He is committed to leveraging those capabilities and his vast experience on behalf of 5 Stones’ Clients.

Terry Sullivan serves as a Senior Executive Operations Specialist for 5 Stones intelligence, providing highly specialized leadership and guidance to 5 Stones’ Clients within the Government and Corporate sectors. Mr. Sullivan previously served as a US Navy SEAL for 21 years and enjoyed an extraordinary career within a range of US Special Operations commands to include, the principal SEAL staff planner in the establishment of the legendary SEAL Team 6 Special Warfare Command.

Mr. Sullivan provided key operations planning and execution during the 1983 American rescue operation in Grenada. He represented the Commander, Naval Surface Force, in Beirut, Lebanon and developed the Counter Terrorism security plan against U.S. ships operating off Beirut.

Mr. Sullivan served as the Operations and Training officer for SEAL Team Two and designed an extensive training program for foreign military personnel in special operations. Mr. Sullivan served in combat and intelligence roles in Vietnam and numerous US Classified Counter Terrorism Operations. Mr. Sullivan assisted in organizing and coordinating a key Counter Terrorism course for Army and Navy special warfare units focusing vulnerabilities within civilian industrial facilities.

Mr. Sullivan possesses unparalleled experience in designing and executing Special Operations Security, Counter Terrorism and intelligence services and training to 5 Stones Clients.

Mr. Sullivan holds an MBA in Finance and Investments and has graduated from the most rigorous and extensive Special Operations training programs within the US Government.

Colonel (Retired) Jon “Kip” Hunter serves as the lead Technical Consultant for 5 Stones intelligence concerning unique Technical Operations issues.

Civilian Service
Since August 2000, Mr. Hunter has specialized in technical and management consulting in areas ranging from Military Information Operations, Specialized Sensors, Space, Intelligence, Counter-Terrorism support, to Command and Control operations. He was the lead engineer for the Northrop Grumman “optical processing” technology assessment study. This study saved millions of dollars for Grumman when it was determined that the manufacturing processes required to make a “cost effect” system were not yet available. He then helped Grumman, assess its available technical collection means and capture a $1 Billion Government contract. He was the director of the Red Team (Technology/Engineering) for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Space Plane project “RASCAL”. DARPA is the central research and development organization for the DOD and Mr. Hunter has had a long history with this organization. The details of the RASCAL program are classified however over $20 million dollars were spent to establish the technology specifications. Mr. Hunter has been an associate of a number of specialized advanced sensor design and manufacturing companies. His ideas on use and processes helped the Omni-Sense “unattended ground sensor” (UGS) to become one of the US Army’s Top 10 new technologies for 2006. These unattended ground sensors are currently helping to increase identification of IED locations and associated devices. One of Mr. Hunter’s other areas of expertise is specialized communications. He was a consultant with the National Security Agency (NSA) tasked to help identify, test and evaluate some of the newest software encryption capability that is entering the DOD. His experience with National Intelligence fusion has made him an acknowledged expert both in data processing and command and control operations. He has been involved in numerous classified counter-terrorism support projects with US Special Operations Command and has participated in several Homeland Security and National Defense Studies. Mr. Hunter retired from the USAF as a full Colonel in 2000, after 26 years of service. His contacts include officials in US Homeland Security agencies, aerospace, defense and intelligence industries. Mr. Hunter maintains a Top Secret (SCI) security clearance which allows him to provide the above services for numerous highly classified programs.

Military Service
From 1995 to 2000 Mr. Hunter worked for the National Reconnaissance Office as the Director of the Data Fusion Facility, and as the Director for Special Projects working directly for the Deputy Director of the NRO. He was the NRO representative to the Joint Staff during the Kosovo Conflict and was designated a “super user” for Joint and Service Information Warfare (IW) programs. He was the National Intelligence community member of the Joint Staff “CISCO” study for the Joint Requirements Board (JRB) on Commercial Satellite capabilities and defenses against them. He coordinated and led a team comprised of members of the NRO, CIA, DIA and USSOCOM to work special projects against deeply buried Underground Targets. From 1992 to 1995 Mr. Hunter was assigned to the Air Force Space Command, where he served as the Director of the USAF “Tactical Exploitation of National Capabilities” (TENCAP) program and finally as the Director of Operations of the Air Force Space Warfare Center. Prior to 1992 he flew over 4000 hrs in 9 different fighters and over 1000 hours in helicopter gunships. He has extensive combat experience as a Fighter Weapons Instructor, Mission Force Leader or flight lead with 56 combat missions during Desert Storm and over 300 combat missions as a Combat Advisor, U.S. Military Group, El Salvador. He was one of 12 “special” up-country regional combat advisors to the Salvadoran Military. He also has extensive experience in flight test and evaluation. During several tours in Nevada and California he flew tactical test and evaluation of various classified projects at Edwards Fight Test Center and in Area 51 or “Dreamland”. He flew the majority of the enemy exploitation programs for the F-4G “Wild Weasel” as it was coming into service.

Mr. Hunter received a Bachelors BS Degree, from Virginia Tech, and a Masters MA in Business, from Webster University. He has attended numerous professional education programs.

Detailed Resume provided to Clients upon request.

Mr. Sanoske is a United States Army veteran with over 20 years of service, fifteen years of which were with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) and Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC). Mr. Sanoske served nearly 7 years with the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-D (1st SFOD-D), which was his last unit of assignment.

While with 1st SOD-D, Mr. Sanoske served as the Principal Advisor for Personnel Recovery Operations to the Commander and Operations Officer. Mr. Sanoske was instrumental in the transformation of US DoD policy in regards to Personnel Recovery Operations. He initiated a complete review of the Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) of Personnel Recovery operations conducted by the USSOCOM and JSOC communities. His efforts resulted in the complete revision of training programs for the JSOC community and he authored a strategy to solve the capability gaps to the DoD Theater Personnel Recovery Plans. Due to his strong Special Operations and Unconventional Warfare background, Mr. Sanoske is extremely knowledgeable in the classified aspects of Unconventional Recovery and Non-conventional Recovery operations. He managed Global Operations for 1st SFOD-D, including Operational Deployments, Research and Development activities / Initiatives, Exchange Training with Foreign Militaries, and Intelligence Operations in support of National Command Authority Objectives. Mr. Sanoske conducted Inter-Agency Coordination with the Office of the SECDEF (OSD), Department of State, Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, US Allies and Coalition Partners. Mr. Sanoske regularly conducted Briefings to Senior General Officers, Ambassadors, Federal, State and Local Government Officials.

Included in Mr. Sanoske’s Special Operations background, are a total of 9 years of subject matter expertise in Counter-Terrorism (CT), Anti-Terrorism, Hostage Rescue, and Counter-Proliferation operations. Mr. Sanoske began his CT career as an Assaulter and Breacher on Counter-Terrorism and Hostage Rescue teams. He was also assigned to the SOUTHERN COMMAND (SOUTHCOM) Regional Survey team where he advised Ambassadors, Diplomatic Security Officers, and Station Chiefs of US Embassies and Consulates in the SOUTHCOM Theater. Mr. Sanoske conducted over 10 x security assessments in the SOUTHCOM region and received Letters of Commendation from the Ambassador’s of Honduras, Ecuador, and El Salvador.

Mr. Sanoske has 3 x combat tours to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. On his first tour, Mr. Sanoske’s team assisted in the training and development of a Kurdish CT force; conducted target reconnaissance of the Ansar Al Islam Terrorist Camp in Sargat, Iraq and subsequently led 1000 Peshmerga on Operation Viking Hammer – the largest Special Operations Assault mission since the Vietnam War. As a result of his team’s actions, they earned three Silver Stars and 6 x Bronze Star w/”V” devices. In the summer of 2003, Mr. Sanoske was selected to personally represent all of Army SOF in a series of individual back briefs on US Army Special Forces Operations in Iraq to the US House and Senate Armed Services Committees; the Deputy Secretary of Defense; the Counter Terrorism Advisor and Director to the National Security Counsel; the Director of Intelligence to the Office of the Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of the Army; the Under Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, and the ASD SOLIC. Along with the aforementioned combat tours, Mr. Sanoske deployed on the first combat deployment to Afghanistan in 2001 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the 1st SFOD-D and served nine months in support of Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990-1991.

Following are some of the awards and badges received by Mr. Sanoske: Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal; Army Commendation Medal (7 Awards); Joint Service Achievement Medal; Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia); Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait); Southwest Asia Service Medal w/2 bronze stars; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal; The Presidential Unit Citation; The Joint Meritorious Unit Citation; Combat Infantryman’s Badge; Master Parachutist Badge; Peruvian Jumpmaster wings; Colombian Operator’s Training Course Badge; and Special Forces Tab.

Mr. Sanoske holds an MBA from George Mason University, a Bachelor’s of Science in Security Management and Terrorism Studies and an Associate of Arts in Spanish.

Detailed Resume provided to Clients upon request.

Mr. Forst serves as the Director of Global Technology Solutions and Services from our
Jerusalem office. Mr. Forst is a third generation American and naturalized Israeli dual citizen,
who served in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) Intelligence Unit 8200 in linguistic, technical,
operational and didactic roles. In the private sector, Mr. Forst has guided, developed, and
operationalized deep technologies and pioneered critical methodologies in defense, HLS, and
intelligence domains for over two decades. His interdisciplinary, strategic approach to complex
geopolitical problems has led to successful start-ups in the appropriately named start-up nation.
Notably, he led impact initiatives on Iran and global terrorist threats and worked extensively in
politically unstable regions and conflict zones.

Mr. Forst, a SME in Technical Covert Operations, maintains unique access to cutting-edge
technological developments in this specialized field. Graduating from the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem with a degree in East Asian Studies, focusing on China, Mr. Forst is multilingual, a
classical baritone singer, and a board member of a non-profit educational theater company. He
also provides logistical support to the Warriors-Walk, a program that trains Warriors in stress
reduction and threat countermeasures.

As Director of Global Technology Solutions and Services, Mr. Forst is well-positioned to provide comprehensive technical guidance and solutions to 5 Stones’ Government and Commercial Clients from our offices in Jerusalem, Israel and Miami, Florida.

Mr. Sastre serves as the Director of Surveillance Operations where he leads global physical
surveillance services. As a former DEA Miami Task Force Agent with 20 years of service, Mr.
Sastre organized and led complex physical surveillance projects across South America, Asia, the
Middle East and throughout the U.S.

Mr. Sastre is a Subject Matter Expert in providing various surveillance technologies through
sensors, video monitoring, and real-time physical coverage to support global surveillance
requirements.

Mr. Blake specializes in Open-Source intelligence (OSINT) research and online investigations,
applying advanced collection techniques to uncover actionable insights for Clients. Mr. Blake
supports 5 Stones investigations by designing OSINT workflows, guiding investigative teams,
and translating complex digital findings into clear, decision-ready intelligence. Mr. Blake is a
recognized thought-leader in AI technology and software-enabled applications tuned to
expanding investigations and intelligence projects.

John Gazzara, a Director for 5 Stones, following a distinguished career in DEA and later with
Coca-Cola as an executive-level Security and Investigations leader. Mr. Gazzara is a Subject
Matter Expert regarding global security, high-threat investigations, risk mitigation, and crisis
management. He is a bilingual English/Spanish speaker who masterfully navigates complex
global investigations. As a former DEA Special Agent, he gained invaluable experience in
international investigations in high-threat regions. Mr. Gazzara is currently directing the
expansion of 5 Stones Commercial and Private Client engagements.

Bio will be coming soon. Thank you.

*5 Stones employs over 200 Specialists to serve our Clients around the world…