Jeremy Varhola

I currently work for United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as the Assistant Deputy Director, Marine Operations at the San Diego Air and Marine Branch (SDAMB) for Air and Marine Operations (AMO). I have been employed with CBP for 15 years. For the San Diego Air and Marine Branch, I am entrusted to the following designations: Assistant Deputy Director, Marine Operations DDMO, Supervisory Marine Interdiction Agent (SMIA), Command Duty Officer, Clearance Authority, Confidential Human Source Instructor/Handler/Field Manager, and Covert Electronics Installer.

As the ADDMO, I am responsible for oversight of all maritime operations for the San Diego Marine Unit. I am responsible for managing staff, equipment, budget, facilities, and gear. I lead, mentor, and ensure that our Supervisory Marine Interdiction Agents and Marine Interdiction Agents have an environment where they are fully mission capable and contribute to law enforcement efforts made by CBP. I plan, organize, and lead marine interdiction operations to ensure the success of the mission. I have assisted our Deputy Director of Marine Operations (DDMO) with formulating new local policies, procedures, and guidelines for marine interdiction activities to accomplish the CBP mission. The San Diego Marine Unit was presented with a incredible impasse with other CBP entities where they would be unable to support AMO in any processing of our maritime smuggling cases. I collaboratively worked with CBP partners to create coding in the USEC system, acquire the necessary training and systems access, and set MOUs with various partners. This allowed CBP AMO San Diego to have a location, system, and gear to be able to process smuggling cases. I encourage a positive, healthy, and safe environment for our staff. I believe in streamlining processes and setting my expectations with my agents. I am always looking to move things forward. I provide administrative and technical support by developing technical and operational guidance for our agents.

While serving as an SMIA, I worked for the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) HIDTA San Diego Marine Task Force (MTF) as a Task Force Officer (TFO). I have worked hand in hand with the MTF over the last 6 years and served as the Case Agent and Co-Case Agent of multiple investigations. These investigations involve TCOs that utilize recreational vessels to smuggle narcotics, traffic humans, and goods into the United States. I have opened and led proactive and reactive maritime smuggling cases. I have developed operational plans and determined the investigative priorities for each case. I interrogate persons suspected of violations of law and have organized evidence to present for prosecution. As a Task Force Officer (TFO), I routinely engage in the analysis of raw investigative data and prepare written investigative reports. I routinely investigate suspected crime or alleged fraud by utilizing various investigative methods to gather information and seize evidence that will later be used in judicial proceedings. I prepare detailed Report of Investigation (ROI) and briefings regarding ongoing investigations to agency management, U.S. Attorney's Office and the local District Attorney's Office. I draft and execute search and arrest warrants, criminal complaints, subpoenas, electronic surveillance orders, pen registers, and affidavits. I conduct criminal investigations of businesses, criminal organizations and enterprises that represent a threat to the U.S. National Security. I utilize interviewing skills through rapport building or interrogations to encourage suspects to provide evidence, data, and corroborate what has been observed during surveillance or an arrest. I frequently conduct mobile and static surveillance. I have elicited information from criminal defendants during proffers. I have also provided court room testimony, served as a Grand Jury witness, and have provided expert opinion more multiple proactive smuggling cases. I arrest individuals that have committed violations of Federal law. I am the first agent in Air and Marine Operations while not working on a Task Force or another agency to take a Title 46 case (46 U.S.C. 70503 Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute on Board a Vessel) to prosecution. For this Title 46 case, I analyzed raw investigative data and prepared comprehensive written investigative reports. I am a current Confidential Human Source Handler, Instructor, and Field Manager. I have been the Primary Handler and Alternate Handler for multiple CHS. These CHS have provided invaluable information that has proven to be instrumental in the development of criminal cases to include the dismantlement of Transnational Criminal Organizations, seizures of properties and assets, seizure of narcotics, and the seizure of individuals involved in smuggling. I have attended the Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) along with a plethora of other training programs that have helped to mold and give me the knowledge, skills and experience to handle case work independently and collaboratively.

I have served as the lead SMIA and Marine Operations Supervisor for coordination with other agencies. I have coordinated with Special Agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with Maritime Casework, the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) HIDTA Marine Task Force (MTF), Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS OIG), and intelligence coordination briefs within the Regional Coordinating Mechanism (ReCoM).As an SMIA, I am an Apprentice Electronic Tracking Device (ETD) Installer for Air and Marine Operations. I have installed multiple tracking devices for DEA, Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and HSI that has led to the seizure of tons of narcotics in Southern America. As a sworn law enforcement agent I make arrests, conduct investigations, conduct searches of people, places and things, conduct seizures, bear firearms, I am trained in defensive tactics and use of force, serve any order, warrant or other process.

Prior to working as a Supervisory Marine Interdiction Agent and in the Law Enforcement Division/Investigations at the Air and Marine Operations Center, I worked as a Marine Interdiction Agent at the San Diego Marine Unit for over 7 years. My primary role for the Marine Unit was working Criminal Investigations in the Maritime Targeting Unit (MTU). The MTU is a specialized unit created by the Director of Marine Operations where agents actively investigate both targets that are generated by each individual agent along with those that other agents in the Marine Unit have turned over to the MTU for further investigation. The MTU consists of four agents that have specialized investigative skills and are assigned to a duty roster for a week at a time to respond to interdiction's, seizures, and or investigative detentions. Each one of these stops may lead to the MTU agent taking the case to prosecution, gathering intelligence, or signing up a civilian as a Confidential Human Source (CHS). I served as a liaison for the San Diego Marine Unit and other federal agencies regarding maritime cases that I am currently working and have worked in the past. I developed investigative leads by conducting surveillance in the field, conducting records based checks, de-confliction with partner agencies, and developing further leads with other investigators to further develop the case towards a successful criminal prosecution. I often interviewed Defendants, Targets of Investigations, Marina Managers, Dockmasters, and various other people in the Maritime environment regarding target vessels and people associated to these vessels. I often received phone calls from people in the public about people or things suspected of being involved in criminal activity or fraud.

While working as an Air Enforcement Agent in the Law Enforcement Division/Investigations at the Air and Marine Operations Center, I was responsible for developing investigative leads for Aviation and Maritime Cases with the Detection Enforcement Officers (DEO) and the Intelligence Unit that is monitoring targets utilizing the CBP AMOSS system. I actively assisted agents on a national and international scale from the FBI, DEA, and HSI with aviation targets that led to the seizure of multiple aircraft and hangars in the United States, South America, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Canada. I was also responsible for making enforcement command decisions regarding a Law Enforcement Response (Federal and State) for both domestic and international Targets of Interest. At the Air and Marine Operations Center, we provided Domain Awareness for Aviation targets to both our State and Federal partners. I was designated as a Tasking, Operations, and Management Information System (TOMIS) Administrator that is responsible for assisting CBP Headquarters with unified stats from the Air and Marine Operations Center, Caribbean Air and Marine Operations Center, and the Information Analysis Center at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. When I arrived at the Law Enforcement Division/Investigations they did not have a Confidential Human Source Program (CHS). I created the tactics, techniques, and procedures that our Handlers would employ to identify, assess, and recruit Confidential Human Sources while following CBP CHS Policy. I brought AMOC Domain Awareness of the Maritime Domain to AMOC. I was able to gain a seat at the table and become a member of the Incident Planning Team with the San Diego Regional Coordinating Mechanism (ReCoM) as the only representative from AMOC. The AMOC Law Enforcement Division did not participate in any ReCoM Operations until I became a part of the Incident Planning Team with the San Diego ReCoM.

I actively collaborate and building partnerships with Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies to further investigations. Collaboration is one of the key elements to being successful in criminal investigations. I have created my own networks of individuals so if I have any questions, I can contact them and have these questions answered. I think outside of the box to resolve issues that need more than a linear solution. The maritime smuggling domain is an extremely dynamic world that changes daily and I regularly transition from a land side surveillance to working a surveillance patrol on the AMO boat or aircraft.

Additional training include Confidential Human Source Handler (CHS), Confidential Human Source Handler Instructor (CHS-T3), CBP Intelligence Support to Operations Course (CISOC), and the Passenger Analysis Unit (PAU) targeting unit. I am currently the primary and secondary handler for multiple CHS. These CHS have provided information that fills intelligence gaps that multiple agencies are struggling to fill. I have led the interdiction of multiple vessels that have resulted in the arrest and seizure of narcotics and undocumented aliens. After every contact that is made with a CHS, I prepare contact reports. Handling sources of information is an art as it involves building rapport and managing conflict while remaining professional. As a Confidential Human Source Handler Instructor T3, I teach new Confidential Human Source Handlers CBP CHS Policy and tradecraft to be utilized in assessing, developing, and recruiting potential Confidential Human Sources for CBP. During the Covert Electronics Surveillance Program (CESP) at FLETC, I was trained to use covert cameras for surveillance and on the installation of electronic surveillance devices on persons and concealed enclosures. I also have experience and knowledge of TIII intercepts of data. I have built and installed covert camera and recording devices for use in undercover operations. I have installed multiple trackers on planes, vehicles, vessels, and trailers that have led to furthering investigations by gleaning additional intelligence which resulted in increased criminal asset forfeitures.

When I worked for CBP Office of Field Operations (OFO), I was an Officer assigned to the San Diego Airport/Seaport Port of Entry. I worked Primarily in the Passenger Analysis Unit (Targeting Unit). I also worked Primary and Secondary for both Immigration and Customs. While in the PAU, I would target both Commercial Aircraft, Private Aircraft, Commercial Vessels, and Private Vessels. After targeting these conveyances, I would be assigned to either Primary or Secondary to process passengers for Immigration and/or Customs. I led the boarding teams when inspecting Cruise Ships for subjects with active warrants. I would place the subject under arrest and turn the individual over to State and Local Police to confirm and book the subject. At the San Diego Airport/Seaport Port of Entry, I led the Port of Entry in the number of seizures of illicit goods from 2009-2011. I was certified as a Counter Terrorism Response (CTR) Officer. I would coordinate with the CBP JTTF Officer or the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Duty agent to interview people suspected of being involved in Terrorism. I was trained and certified to utilize the CBP Celebrite Triage system to complete an electronic analysis (dump) of the passengers cell phone, laptop, or other electronics.

Reif Smith, CBP AMO, Deputy Director of Marine Operations, (619) 577-3521

Arian Linscott, CBP OPR, Criminal Investigator, (206) 898-5721

Tony Williams, CBP AMO, Supervisory Air Enforcement Agent, (619) 519-6115

Joseph Ward, CBP AMO, Supervisory Marine Interdiction Agent, (619) 787-0547

Mike Prado, HSI, Special Agent, (619) 852-2684