Presenter Bios
Jason Stanley – Investigative Analyst, United States Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector
General
Jason is an Investigative Analyst at Treasury's Office of the Inspector General supporting
cyber-enabled crime cases. Prior to this he spent two years as an Intelligence Analyst
at FinCEN focusing on illicit use of cryptocurrencies and cyber-enabled crime. He
was a Targeter and Staff Operations Officer at CIA for 10 years covering numerous
topics including financial intelligence and weapons counterproliferation. Jason is
also a former Army officer serving Korea and the Middle East and has a BA in Economics
and Psychology from Lehigh University.
Chris Hersey – Senior Special Agent, United States Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector
General
Chris Hersey was born and raised in North Carolina and has been in law enforcement
for 26 years. Chris graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in
2000, with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. In 2022, Chris also graduated
from the United States Naval War College, with a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic
Studies. In 1997, Chris joined the Huntersville (North Carolina) Police Department,
where he served as a Patrol Officer and Detective. In 2003, Chris joined the United
States Secret Service (USSS) as a Special Agent assigned to the Miami Field Office.
In 2011, Chris was transferred to Washington, DC, and assigned to the Vice Presidential
Protection Division. In 2016, Chris transferred to the U.S. Department of the Treasury,
Office of Inspector General (Treasury OIG), as a Senior Special Agent. At Treasury
OIG, Chris investigates fraud, waste, and abuse of U.S. Treasury systems and programs.
Currently, Chris is assigned to the Pandemic Relief Branch, coordinating cases across
the country involving fraud in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Loren Sciurba – Attorney Advisor, United States Department of the Treasury Office of Inspector General
Loren Sciurba is an Assistant Counsel at the Department of the Treasury Office of
Inspector General. He is a graduate of the George Washington University Law School
and has been an attorney in the IG community for over 20 years serving the Postal
Service and Treasury Inspectors General. While he has handled a wide range of issues,
he mostly concentrates on matters of ethics and employment law. He is the father of
two kids and three cats.
Paula Liss – Senior Special Agent (Retired), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FIN Cen)
Retired from the Federal Government on 12/31/2020 after 33.5 years of service. Currently
holds professional certifications as a certified fraud examiner (CFE) and a certified
anti-money laundering specialist (CAMS) and holds a bachelor's degree in accounting.
An experienced presenter on topics related to investigating and preventing financial
crimes.
For 19 years served in a law enforcement capacity – working as a special agent for
the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) (a bureau of the US Treasury Department),
the Central Intelligence Agency Office of Inspector General, (CIA-OIG), and the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General (FDIC-OIG). Worked on both
civil and criminal investigations associated with various financial frauds, money
laundering, Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) violations and anti-money laundering (AML) program
failures. Also served as a senior law enforcement instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center (FLETC) a division of the Department of Homeland Security. At FLETC,
trained investigators and analysts, from all over the globe, regarding techniques
for investigating financial crimes.
For 14 years served as a risk examiner for the FDIC, conducting all aspects of safety
and soundness bank examinations.
Susan Schmidt – Special Agent, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General (Formerly),
U.S. Department of Treasury, Office of Inspector General (Currently)
Susan Schmidt was born in Minnesota and raised in Texas and has been in law enforcement
for 27 years. Susan graduated from the University of Maryland University College in
2004, with a Bachelor of Science in Social Science. In 2010, Susan also graduated
from Texas Woman’s University, with a Master of Business Administration. In 1993,
Susan joined the United States Army as a Military Police and served seven years as
a Sergeant, Evidence Custodian, Military Police Investigator and Desk Sergeant in
California, South Korea, Kansas and Texas. In 2004, Susan joined the U.S Department
of Education, Office of Inspector General (ED-OIG), as a Special Agent assigned to
the Dallas Field Office. In 2018, Susan transferred to the Internal Revenue Service,
Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), as a Special Agent and served as a Covert Electronic
Surveillance Technician and as the Public Information Officer (PIO) for seven judicial
districts in three states. In 2022, Susan transferred to the U.S. Department of the
Treasury, Office of Inspector General (Treasury OIG), as a Special Agent. At Treasury
OIG, Susan investigates fraud, waste, and abuse of U.S. Treasury systems and programs.
Currently, Susan is assigned as the National Emergency Medicine Program Coordinator
and instructs in the fields of First Aid, CPR, AED and Tactical Medicine, while also
conducting internal and external fraud investigations nationwide. In 2024, Susan earned
a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designation.
J. Branch Walton – Special Agent in Charge (Ret.), United States Secret Service
Mr. Walton is currently a contract instructor for Thompson Consulting and for a DHS-FEMA
program. He retired from the US Secret Service as a Field Office Special Agent in
Charge and serving four presidents. Prior to the USSS, he was a commissioned officer
in the US Marine Corps and a Special Agent with NCIS (formally ONI). Post-retirement
employment included Cummins Engine Company’s Director of Corporate, LECC position
with US Attorney’s Office, Indiana University Criminal Justice faculty, Division Chief
and instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, president-National
Association for Bank Security, Miami Police Dept Training Department and as a consultant
with many security focused companies. He is the author of two books and numerous book
chapters and articles on a wide variety of security topics.
