In this episode of Lurking in the Fog, we are joined by Kelby Ballena, a seasoned paralegal specialist with a 20-year career that spans criminal defense, white-collar investigations, and international arbitration battles. Through a deceptively simple question—“What is a crime, really?”—Kelby peels back the legal labels and statistics that politicians manipulate and prosecutors negotiate. He shows how culture, economics, and even dark humor redraw the line between innocence and guilt, from U.S. courthouses to shell companies weaponizing treaty loopholes. He unpacks why perception can make or break a case, how trust becomes a criminal’s favorite tool, and more. Tune in for a conversation on deception, definition, and the human flaws that let crime thrive in plain sight.

In this episode of Lurking in the Fog, we are joined by Bryan Earl, a seasoned attorney, investigator, and former FBI Special Agent with over two decades of experience unraveling financial crime and corruption. From post-Soviet corruption to offshore laundering schemes, Earl walks us through one of the most consequential investigations of his career: the prosecution of a former Ukrainian Prime Minister. He unpacks how millions were siphoned from Ukraine through extortion, shell companies, and offshore banks, eventually landing in U.S. real estate and private bank accounts. We also explore the evolving landscape of Russian and Ukrainian threats, the transformation of organized crime, and how a shrinking window for global cooperation threatens the fight against kleptocracy. Tune in for a riveting journey through corruption, investigation, and the fight against dirty money.

In this harrowing episode of Lurking in the Fog, we are joined by Adam Zarnowski, a former CIA officer and specialist in human trafficking, organized crime, and digital forensics. Drawing from his experience in intelligence and investigations, Zarnowski walks us through the darkest corridors of modern slavery, where victims are trafficked not only across borders but within families, institutions, and nations. He explores how organized crime networks exploit religion, reputation, and even humanitarian crises to traffic organs, bodies, and labor, often with the complicity or blind eye of state actors. From boot camps for 'troubled teens' to the supply of blood and organs from the Global South to the Global North, Zarnowski unpacks the mechanics of control, complicity, and generational trauma that allow trafficking to persist in plain sight. He also discusses the 13th Amendment loophole, detention center labor, and the intersection of intelligence agencies with global mafias. Tune in for a difficult but necessary conversation about how crime thrives behind respectability, and what it takes to expose the fog.

In this episode of Lurking in the Fog, we are joined by Archana Bae, the CEO and founder of Porta Strategies. With nearly 25 years of experience spanning investigations, intelligence analysis, risk management, and consulting across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Archana brings a rich perspective on national security and financial crime. Through a captivating anecdote, she recounts a career-defining case that began as a routine license renewal and unraveled into the discovery of a money laundering network. Archana sheds light on the rise of fraud and money laundering, the growing threat of Chinese money laundering networks, illicit finance fueling Mexican cartels, and the complex geopolitical implications of China’s expanding global influence. Tune in for an exploration of financial crime, international security threats, and the evolving playing field of global risks.

In this gripping episode of Lurking in the Fog, we are joined by Detective Marc Evans, a seasoned financial crimes detective, certified fraud examiner, and co-founder of Fraud Hero. With over 12 years of law enforcement experience, Detective Evans takes us deep into the intricate world of fraud investigation. From identity theft and social engineering to high-stakes financial scams, he unpacks the sophisticated tactics fraudsters use and reveals how financial crime is often the backbone of organized criminal networks. Along the way, he shares his passion for solving complex financial puzzles, the psychological strategies behind fraud, and some of the most challenging cases he's encountered—including the devastating impact of romance scams. Tune in for an eye-opening look at deception, investigation, and the pursuit of justice.

"The Anatomy of Corruption in Mexico"

In this fascinating episode of Lurking in the Mist, we are joined by Estefanía Medina, an accomplished attorney, co-founder of Tohil, and vice-president of the Anti-Corruption Commission of the International Chamber of Commerce of Mexico.

With more than 12 years of experience, Estefania recounts her work investigating criminal networks within the government itself. She recounts startling cases in which federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials were involved in bribery, drug trafficking and human trafficking. One shocking case involves a public official who extorted money to return seized drugs, while another uncovers human trafficking crimes perpetrated by agents of an anti-human trafficking unit.

Her commitment to justice inspired her to co-found Tohil, a non-profit organization dedicated to strategic anti-corruption litigation.

The episode concludes with insights into the intricacies of combating systemic corruption, from verifying the authenticity of documents to identifying the subtle cues that unravel complex criminal schemes.

This episode of Lurking in the Fog features Coleman Flaherty, who shares his gripping journey through the financial industry, marked by substance abuse, regulatory violations, and redemption. Flaherty recounts his early career struggles, starting at Dean Witter in 1989, where substance abuse quickly derailed his path. Over six tumultuous years, he moved between firms, committing unauthorized trades and grappling with personal demons, culminating in a 2005 SEC ban for illicit trading practices.

After founding several penny stock newsletters, Flaherty's success grew but also led to further illegal activities, including offshore accounts to evade regulations. In 2012, an FBI investigation resulted in felony charges, but Flaherty cooperated as a confidential informant, aiding multiple convictions. His narrative sheds light on the darker side of high finance, the personal costs of addiction, and the path to recovery. Flaherty’s candid discussion provides an insider's perspective on the pressures, temptations, and consequences of life "lurking in the fog."

In the shadows of the U.S. visa system, a sinister world of human trafficking and organized crime thrives. Join us for this podcast as we talk with special guest John Freeman who spent 21 years as a special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service, the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. State Department. He worked domestically and internationally protecting dignitaries, securing major events, conducting criminal investigations and leading the creation of an anti-human trafficking portfolio for the agency.

In this analysis we travel to the dark side of global immigration, where desperation and deception converge. From the streets of Eastern Europe to the halls of power in Washington D.C., we expose the shocking truth behind the exploitation of vulnerable populations and the cunning tactics used by traffickers to manipulate the system. Listen as experts and survivors share their stories and insights, and discover the hidden dangers lurking in the world of visa fraud and human trafficking.

Our guest David Cook, is a U.S. Army veteran with expertise in psychological operations and open source intelligence. The analysis focuses on influencing foreign audiences and countering recruitment by groups such as ISIS. It discusses how these tactics are evolving in today's information age, particularly concerning OSINT's role in national security. Cook also tells how misinformation, smokescreens, and confirmation bias affect investigations in the digital world as in real-life intelligence work.

Join us on our seventeenth episode with Ícaro Avelar, a crypto lawyer who developed his career in the corporate environment, working as an in-house legal counsel for large, multinational Japanese and Austrian companies. He has significant experience in providing legal advice for Web3 projects, being responsible for regulatory enforcement in the companies he advises.

Ícaro has made sure to stay on top of all the latest trends in Web3, crypto, and blockchain. He is especially knowledgeable about the role of cryptocurrencies in facilitating illicit activities on the dark web, citing the Silk Road as a cautionary tale of how well-intentioned tech founders can become complicit in crimes such as drug trafficking and arms smuggling should they choose to ignore the illicit activities occurring on their platforms. Most notably, he stresses the importance of being well-versed in the regulatory differences between the U.S. and the EU regarding Web3, crypto, and blockchain.