May 20 2026 Meeting

Thank you all who attended the St. Patrick’s Day event at Ballydoyle Irish Pub. It was a great event with great food and fellowship. Thanks to The Chicago Garda Pipes and Drums corps for a great performance. There were people throughout the restaurant peeking in to see the performance.

Our meeting this month will be on the 18th and will be at the Pompei Elmwood Park, 22 W. Conti Pkwy, Elmwood Park, IL. Social time starts at 6:00pm with dinner shortly after. Thank you to Emily Sandberg for setting up this month’s event to include guest speakers from Motorola.

For our May meeting – please register and pay online as soon as possible.

Look for more information regarding other upcoming events soon.

Hope to see everyone next week,

Mike

March 12 2026 Meeting

Congratulations to our new president and board for 2026!

My thanks to everyone over these Covid years for their assistance and support. We have survived, become more efficient, downsized and began to thrive. With best wishes to everyone and their families for this holiday season a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy 2026! Thanks! – John

SAA 2026 Officers:
President: Mike Wilt
1st V.P.: Hector Rodriguez
2nd V.P.: Emily Sandberg
Treasurer: Jill Longmire
Comptroller: John Manella
Director: Jim Keating
Director: Mike Carroll
Director: Stan Mocek
Director: John Lucki

THINK SPRING! SAVE THE DATE! PLAN TO ATTEND!!!!!

Hosted by Special Agents Assoc. in support of the Chicago Police Memorial
Foundation. Corned beef dinner and fundraiser!

On Thursday, March 12th , 2026 at the Ballydoyle Irish Pub and Restaurant 5157 Main
Street Downers Grove Il. 6pm to 9pm.

Entertainment by “The Chicago Garda Pipes and Drums”
Reserve on-line $60 or $70 at the door. (speaker TBD)

St. Pat’s Flyer

December Meeting

We had a great turnout for our last meeting at the Weber Grill. Thanks to Mark Soloman for his insight on the new dimension AI brings to the investigative world and the types of crimes it is already facilitating.
Time to plan our wrap up meeting for the year and review our board member election for 2026 and business meeting.

Next meeting will be at the Great Escape, 9540 W. Irving Park, Shiller Park Il.
On Thursday December 4th, 5:30 TO 8:30 PM. Possible speaker on Gov Corruption TBD

THIS WILL BE A GENERAL MEETING WITH ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS

Our current Board of Directors presents the following slate of officers for 2026:
President: Mike Wilt
1st V.P.: Hector Rodriguez
2nd V.P.: Emily Staerk-Sandberg
Treasurer: Jill Longmire
Comptroller: John Manella
Director: Jim Keating
Director: Mike Carroll
Director: Stan Mocek
Director: John Lucki

Pay online at https://specialagentsassociation.com/meeting-payment

SAVE THE DATE, PLAN TO ATTEND!!!!! 2026 Dues are now payable and please update your information if needed.

Pay dues online at https://specialagentsassociation.com/dues

October Meeting

Hope everyone is doing well and recovering from long and warm summer!

That is still hanging with us. Our baseball outing was blessed with outstanding weather and great company. We had a good family crowd with us this year and were treated to a pretty good ballgame as well.

Time to finish the summer and announce our October Meeting is October 14th, 6pm to 9pm.

Since the meeting is next Tuesday, I would ask you to confirm online as soon as possible so we can set our menu and number with The Weber Grill. They have done a great job for our meetings and provided some great meals. As always bring a friend.

Our guest speaker this month will be Mark Solomon, President of the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators.

TITLE: How AI Could Destroy the Multi-Factor Authentication Process for Fls & Cause a Tsunami of High-Tech Enabled Crimes

SUMMARY: Mark will look at how AI enabled deepfakes and voice cloning may impact multi-factor authentication for financial and retail institutions. We will also explore how these weaponized tools can further enhance criminals’ successes in luring victims into a deeper spell when it comes to romance, investment and other related fraud schemes.

The Weber Grill, Lombard Il., 6pm to 9pm

Pay online at https://specialagentsassociation.com/meeting-payment

SAVE THE DATE, PLAN TO ATTEND!!!!!

June Meeting and August Baseball Outing

We are pleased to present Detective Jose Mendez of the Skokie Police Department and Lieutenant Ryan Bitch of the Glencoe Police Department as our guest speakers.

They will be presenting on the South American burglary ring hitting Asian households in the Chicago area. There will also be an overview on current trends on home repair scams and ruse burglaries.

Tuesday, June 10, 2025 6 to 9pm – $50 per person

At Weber Grill, 2331 Fountain Square Drive, Lombard IL

Pay online at https://specialagentsassociation.com/meeting-payment

Evening at the ballpark in August, Dogs v Dockhounds, Impact field Rosemont

Thursday August 21st, beginning at 530pm we will warming up in the Miller Lite Bullpen. Impact Field, 9800 Balmoral Ave. Rosemont IL, (just off of 294, either Balmoral or Irving Park exits from 294.) Parking is attached to the ballpark and party area is a short walk.

Ballpark menu, ticket and team giveaways. Parking $3 north lot

We have a required minimum for this event, please advise us as soon as possible if you can attend and the number of tickets you would like.

August 12th and 13th Annual Fraud Conference

This year we are partnering with Cook County Organized Crime Task Force, ACFE Chicago Chapter, Midwest Fraud Investigators Network, IAFCI and Coalition Against Financial Crime. Registration is $110 for the two days. Be sure to check your email for a copy of the flyer with a QR code for registration online.

After registration, attendees will pick which sessions they will attend. Lunch and snacks are served both days. See more details below.

2025 St. Patrick’s Day Meeting

Tuesday, March 11th, 6 to 9pm – Dinner at 7:15pm
at Jen’s Guest House, 8989 S. Archer Ave. Willow Springs IL.

Hosted by Special Agents Association in support of the Chicago Police Memorial Foundation on 3-11-2025

Network and cocktails begin at 6pm in the main dining room.

Entertainment by “The Chicago Garda Pipes & Drums” at 7pm “Chicago’s Preeminent Bagpipe Band”

Dinner will be served in the main dining room at 7:15 pm (plated St. Patrick Special)

Pay on line at-

Pay online at https://specialagentsassociation.com/meeting-payment

Cost at the door will be $70

2025 Nominations

The Nominating Committee is putting forward the following slate for consideration as 2025 Officers and Directors:

President – John Lucki

1st VP – Jim Keating

2nd VP – Hector Rodriquez

Secretary / Treasurer – Mike Wilt

Directors – Stan Mocek, Mike Carroll, James Kelly

December Meeting

Our Next meeting is December 10, 2024 – 6pm to 9pm

The Great Escape
9540 W. Irving Park Road
Schiller Park IL

We hope to have a member of the CPD Chaplains unit join us for our holiday meeting. Ugly sweaters encouraged!
Hope you are able to make it, this will be our final meet for 2024.

Pay and register online at https://specialagentsassociation.com/meeting-payment

October Meeting and Upcoming Elections

Ooops, there goes summer! A holiday weekend, time for school bells, college football and the turning of leaves!
Our thanks to everyone who attended our outing in Rosemont to watch the Chicago Dogs last week. A great day with plenty of sunshine, humidity, ballpark food and drinks followed by a little bit of baseball, some great downpours and gale force winds followed by more baseball.

Although the game was rain delayed, the Chicago Dog staff had a great contingent plan that put our group up into the luxury party suite to wait out the weather with an open bar. After the delay for those who toughed it out the Dogs went on to score 12 runs and win the game!

A nice event we hope to repeat! Thanks to all who attended and their guests!

SAVE THE DATE, PLAN TO ATTEND

Bring a friend, October 8th at the Weber Grill, 6-9pm
@ the Weber Grill in Lombard, 6 to 9pm, dinner and real estate taxes.

Pay online at https://specialagentsassociation.com/meeting-payment

Everyone love taxes here in Illinois, right? We are working on a speaker from an assessors office or a real estate tax attorney to do a presentation. Having just done my own tax appeal I am sure I am not alone in my interest in these matters.
RESERVE NOW! BRING A FRIEND!

ELECTION TIME, Board is now accepting any nominations for President and 1st VP?
Let myself or Mike Wilt know of your interest! We are a member driven organization, your participation and input determines our agenda and value to our organization.

Suggestions for venues, speaker’s topics, or items you believe may interest our membership are always welcome. Just drop us an email at specialagentsassn@gmail.com

Hope to see everyone soon!
John

June Meeting and August Baseball Outing

Networking and ID Theft Ring Case Study

Special Agents Association is hosting a networking and investigative training event.

Network over dinner with fellow investigators from the law enforcement and private security sectors at the Weber Grill in Lombard Ilt.

FINANCIAL CRIME INVESTIGATIONS Local Case Study:

Hear about a recent IDENTITY Theft investigation from Will County that uncovered a fake identification ring operating in Illinois for Mexican cartels and also exposed a PPP fraud ring.

From Will County to Lake Forest and several states including New York. A case tied into an active DEA investigation involving money laundering which was exposed in the backyard suburbs of Chicago.

Presented by members of the Will County Sheriff and Will County State’s Attorney’s Office

TUESDAY, June 18th, 2024, 6 to 9pm ($50 pp)

At Weber Grill 2331 Fountain Sq. Dr. Lombard Il.

Evening at the ballpark in August, Dogs v Milkmen, Impact field Rosemont

Tuesday August 27th, beginning at 530pm we will warming up in the Miller Lite Bullpen. Impact Field, 9800 Balmoral Ave. Rosemont Il, (just off of 294, either Balmoral or Irving Park exits from 294.) Parking is attached to the ballpark and party area is a short walk.

Ballpark menu, ticket and team giveaways. Parking $3 north lot

We have a required minimum for this event, please advise us as soon as possible if you can attend and the number of tickets you would like.

2024 Annual Fraud Conference

Special Agents Association is once again partnering with Midwest Fraud Investigators Network for this year’s Annual Fraud Conference on Friday, May 17th.

Location –

College of DuPage
SSG Miller Homeland Security Education Center
425 Fawell Boulevard
Glen Ellyn IL 60137

You may be eligible for up to 7 CPE

8:00 am to 9:00 am
Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 am to 9:15 am
Intro and opening remarks

9:15 am to 10:30 am
Stop Trafficking—Human Trafficking
Lina Tor—Special Agent
Melissa Sifferman—Special Agent
Homeland Security Investigations

10:30 am to 10:45 am
Morning Break

10:45 am to 12:00 pm
Sim Swapping
Valerie Dozono—Detective
Chicago Police Department

12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Lunch

1:00 pm to 2:15 pm
Emerging Trends & Opportunities to Collaborate Within Credit Card Fraud
Jeremy Bloxson—Principal Investigator
Capital One

2:15 pm to 2:30 pm
Afternoon Break

2:30 pm to 3:45 pm
Generative Artificial Intelligence and Financially Motivated Crime
Sonali Jaykar—Intelligence Analyst
Kaila Griffin—Intelligence Analyst
Federal Bureau of Investigation

Special Agents March 2024 Membership Meeting

Tuesday, March 12th, 6 to 9pm at the “Speakeasy Wine Cellar”
at Jen’s Guest House, 8989 S. Archer Ave. Willow Springs IL.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Special Agents Association 2024 Networking and Continuing Education Program Announcement

Presentation Topic will be:

The Chicago Election Ballot;

Getting on it, Counting it, Verifying it

Presented by William Kresse, Professor Governors State University,
Chicago Election Board
President, Institute of Election Auditors aka: Professor Fraud

Warning:
In the event that SCOTUS allows President Trump to be knocked off the ballots,
ALL BETS are off on the speech topic and length.!

Please make your reservation as soon as possible.

Traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner to be served. We will be caucusing in the
Speakeasy Wine Cellar, a very unique dining room downstairs. Hopefully pipers will join
us we have yet to receive a confirmation to our invitation.

No cigar smoking at this caucus! Invite a friend and please respond soon there will be
limited availability for this event!

Cost $50 per person

Register online at https://specialagentsassociation.com/membership-meeting-payment/

2024 Officers

Congratulations to our newly elected 2024 Officers:

John Lucki – President
Paul Ohm – 1st Vice President
Hector Rodriguez – 2nd Vice President
John Manella – Comptroller
Stan Mocek – Director
Mike Carroll – Director
James Kelly – Director

Special Agents November 2023 Membership Meeting

Wednesday November 15, 6:30 to 9pm
At the Weber Grill, Lombard IL

You are invited to join us for networking, dinner, and election for our 2024 Officers.

The Weber Grill is located at 2331 Fountain Sq. Lombard IL

Cost $50 per person

Register online at https://specialagentsassociation.com/membership-meeting-payment/

SAA 2024 Nominations

The Nominating Committee is putting forward the following slate for consideration as 2024 Officers and Directors:

President – John Lucki

1st VP – Paul Ohm

2nd VP – Hector Rodriquez

Comptroller – John Manella

Directors – Stan Mocek, Mike Carroll, James Kelly

Positions not up for election this year are 3rd VP/Legal Counsel currently occupied by Jeannette Tamayo and Treasurer/Secretary currently occupied by Mike Wilt.

Special Agents September 2023 Membership Meeting

Wednesday September 27, 6 to 9pm
At The Great Escape, Schiller Park IL

You are invited to join us for networking, dinner, and a featured guest speaker, Wayne Jakalski, Assistant State’s Attorney, Cook County, Special Prosecutions Bureau, Public Corruption and Financial Crimes Unit.

Wayne has been a prosecutor involved in the investigation and prosecution of complex financial and public corruption criminal cases for 22 years. He is part of a vertical prosecution system wherein cases are handled from the investigation stage through indictment and trial. In this role he has coordinated and directed efforts among local, county, state, and federal agencies as well as private banking, insurance, and mortgage industry representatives. He has been a member of a Federal/State Mortgage Fraud Task Force and Major Medical Fraud Task Force.

Wayne is an accountant and adjunct professor of accounting at DePaul University, and St. Xavier University. He is also a former Chicago Police Officer assigned to the patrol division, special operations group, and detective division administration.

Wayne will be sharing insight and details from the Burr Oak Cemetery investigation from 2015 and the criminal prosecution of the offenders.
A real life CSI thriller case involving a unique collection process and use of exotic forensic evidence in the prosecution of this case in Cook County. Don’t miss it!

The Great Escape is located at 9540 W. Irving Park Rd Schiller Park IL

Cost $50 per person, cash bar

Register online at https://specialagentsassociation.com/june-21-2023-membership-meeting-payment/

Special Agents June 2023 Membership Meeting

Wednesday June 21, 6 to 9pm
At the Weber Grill, Lombard IL

You are invited to join us for networking, dinner, and a featured guest speaker. Learn about PPP Loan Fraud from a subject matter expert, recently retired Federal Special Agent Kathy Enstrom.

Ms. Enstrom, described as “Chicago’s first tax woman, to run Chicago’s IRS criminal investigation unit” by local media will present on PPP loan fraud and do a Q and A afterwards.

Kathy retired as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Chicago Office of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), also a former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Cincinnati Office. She is now in Director of Investigations for the Moore Tax Law Group.

The Weber Grill is located at 2331 Fountain Sq. Lombard IL

Cost $50 per person, cash bar. 6-networking, 7-dinner, 8-speaker

Register online at https://specialagentsassociation.com/june-21-2023-membership-meeting-payment/

2023 MFIN-SAA Fraud Conference

Special Agents Association is partnering with Midwest Fraud Investigators Network for a Fraud Conference.

Register by May 10th at https://mfrin.org/2023-conference

We are back to an in person conference this year at –

College of DuPage
SSG Miller Homeland Security Education Center
425 Fawell Boulevard
Glen Ellyn IL 60137

Registration and Continental breakfast at 8am.

Topics this year –

Business Email compromise and cyber related issues
FBI Supervisory Special Agent Pam McCarthy
FBI Special Agent Matt Osegard

Current Mail Theft Trends and Check Washing
US Postal Inspector Colin Ragland
US Postal Inspector Jerry Phillips

Cyber Fraud Trends and Illicit Use of Digital Assets
Nick Schlereth, Special Agent, United States Secret Service
Mike Rostescu, Special Agent, United States Secret Service

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency 101
Brian Yoshino, Cybersecurity Advisor, CISA Region 5, Chicago
Charles DuShane, Protective Security Advisor, CISA Region 5, Chicago

$95 per person, or $75 if you are a dues paid member of MFIN or SAA

2022 IC3 Report

For Our Members, here is a copy of FBI Internet Crime Report

You can download it here – 2022 IC3 report

Today’s cyber landscape has provided ample opportunities for criminals and adversaries to target U.S. networks,
attack our critical infrastructure, hold our money and data for ransom, facilitate large-scale fraud schemes, and
threaten our national security. At the FBI, we know “cyber risk is business risk” and “cyber security is national security.”
There is no shortage of recent examples showing the wide-ranging economic and national security effects of cyber
crimes. We have seen cyber threats emanate from around the world and witnessed the scope and sophistication of
these scams and attacks deepen. As these threats increase, we continue to encourage victims to report cyber incidents
and cyber-enabled frauds to the FBI so that we may impose risks and consequences on malicious cyber actors.

Special Agents Association looking forward in 2023

Happy New Year to everyone!

Upon surveying our membership recently, we have received sufficient support from the core of our organization to continue in 2023!

At this time, we will resume meetings on a quarterly basis beginning in march of this year. Stay tuned for details!

Remember you can log into the site at https://specialagentsassociation.com/my-account

Here again are the instructions for logging into your account.

https://specialagentsassociation.com/LoginInstructions.pdf

The following were approved by the Board at the Annual Meeting held virtually on January 9, 2023.

President – John Lucki
1st Vice President – Paul Ohm
2nd Vice President – Hector Rodriguez
3rd Vice President – Jeannette Tamayo
Comptroller – John Manella
Treasurer/Secretary – Mike Wilt
Director – Stan Mocek
Director – Michael Carroll
Director – James Kelly

Many thanks to our outgoing President, Rick Perez!

We look forward to an active and successful New Year and will be seeking out partnerships with other organizations.