Good day my friends! Welcome to the America’s Criminologist Podcast for February 28, 2025. This is Dr Currie Myers with some interesting criminal justice news and events that have occurred in the United States recently.
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My new book, “The Advent of Feral Man” is now available on Substack drcurriemyers.substack.com for all paid subscribers. In this book, I present compelling evidence that within the last decade, America is going into a quick decent into the “wilding” of human beings. A phenomenon that is perpetuated by the lack of faith, family, and formation in our human development. If you are a paid subscriber to my Substack you will have access to my book and all my other published works. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Don’t forget my podcast also available on Spotify on America’s Criminologist with Dr. Currie Myers. And please join me on X. This is a very important platform for distributing my work. @DrCurrieMyers. I also have a new podcast out dedicated to reigniting faith, family, and formation in our lives. It called the St Michaels Group Podcast that’s stmichaelsgroup.substack.com and it is also available on Spotify. This podcast is once a week and totally free for listeners.
This Tuesday on the Lou Desmond & Company Show, I was the guest host for the drive time slot for the California Inland Empire station of KMET, San Bernardino. Our guest this week on the Lou Desmond & Company Show, drive time on KMET in the great California Inland Empire was Kenneth R. Strange Jr. Ken joined the FBI in 1989, where he landed on the C-10 squad, a Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) in the Newark, NJ Field Office. An Arabist and Spanish speaking Special Agent, Kenneth Strange served with three distinct and distinguished US Government Agencies pursuing criminals and bad actors including some of the most heinous criminals on the planet. His service to those agencies brought him into direct conflict with Jihadists, International Fraudsters, and the Cartels. Ken's newest book, "A Cop's Son: One G-Man's Fight Against Jihad, Global Fraud and the Cartels," is a raw and honest portrayal of being part of a high profile, “HIGH OCTANE,” FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) known as C-10, an elite overseas fraud unit with the State Department, and as supervisor of a DOJ OIG Internal Affairs group on the Southwest Border.
On this show we discussed Ken’s growing up as a cop’s son to becoming an FBI agent and being assigned to the C-10 squad in Newark’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. Ken is an Arabist (Arab Culture Expert with 5 years in Saudi Arabia) and fluent in Spanish, which means he was uniquely positioned to deal with both Jihadist threats and the Cartels. So, we discussed how those two worlds compare in terms of danger and complexity. We discussed his new book, “A Cop’s Son’, which details his work against international fraudsters, Jihadists, and cartels. And finally, I asked the question, “Looking at the threats we face today—terrorism, fraud, cartels—what concerns you the most about America’s national security in the next five to ten years?” You can also view the video of the show here!
Here are my pressing issues that I have offered an opinion on as an applied criminologist, ethicist and career law enforcement officer at the local, state, and federal level:
THE appointment of Dan Bongino as the Deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) under the leadership of Director Kash Patel marks a pivotal moment for American law enforcement and national security. Bongino, a seasoned public servant with a distinguished career in the NYPD and the Secret Service, brings a wealth of experience to the role, making his appointment both significant and necessary. His commitment to upholding the rule of law, ensuring institutional integrity, and strengthening national security institutions makes him an ideal choice for this critical position. Check out my perspective on this appointment here!
THE security of the United States depends not only on technological superiority and strategic intelligence but also on the integrity of those entrusted with sensitive positions. These positions, spanning national security agencies, law enforcement, intelligence, and high-level government operations, require individuals who are above reproach, resistant to compromise, and immune to manipulation. Yet, recent revelations about employees of the National Security Agency (NSA) engaging in discussions of abhorrent sexual practices during work hours raise serious concerns about the vetting processes for those with top-secret security clearances. Sensitive positions require a higher level of scrutiny than other government jobs. Intelligence agencies conduct background investigations that include financial history, personal relationships, and drug use. However, the recent NSA scandal suggests that these checks are either insufficient or inconsistently applied. Comprehensive background investigations must include Psychological Profiles, Personal Interviews on Sexual Behavior and Relationships, Monitoring of Workplace Conduct, and Regular Re-evaluations. The United States is engaged in a global competition against adversaries who exploit every weakness, from technological vulnerabilities to human frailties. Those in sensitive positions must be held to the highest possible standard, ensuring that their personal lives cannot be used against them. Background checks, psychological screenings, and ongoing evaluations must reflect the gravity of these roles. The recent NSA scandal is not an isolated incident. It is, once again, another example of a symptom deeper cultural shifts that prioritizes personal expression over professional discipline. It is time for the intelligence community to refocus on its core mission: protecting the United States from threats foreign and domestic. That mission requires employees who are beyond reproach, whose personal lives do not create security risks, and who dedicate themselves to the serious responsibility of safeguarding national secrets. If intelligence professionals cannot be trusted to maintain professional conduct during work hours, how can they be trusted with the nation’s most sensitive information? The answer is simple: they cannot. Check out my perspective on this appointment here!
THE recent discovery of legendary actor Gene Hackman, 95, and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, 64, deceased in their Santa Fe home has raised numerous questions. Law enforcement has classified their deaths as “suspicious,” with several unsettling details emerging. Hackman’s mummified remains were found in the mudroom, indicating he had been dead for a significant period. Arakawa was discovered in a bathroom near a space heater, with prescription pills scattered on the counter. Her body was also partially mummified. Adding to the mystery, a dog was also found dead at the scene. Check out my perspective on this appointment here!
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Okay here is my five-minute blitz on CJ News and Information for this week:
DEFENSE Secretary Pete Hegseth has not ruled out the possibility of military action against fentanyl labs in Mexico, stating that “nothing’s off the table” when it comes to defending U.S. sovereignty. Hegseth made the remarks during a recent interview with Fox News’s Laura Ingraham, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to securing the border and combating drug cartels. When asked about the possibility of targeting fentanyl production sites in Mexico, Hegseth made it clear that all options are being considered.
Dr C’s Take: These military actions must remain on the table in order to keep the Mexican government engaged in helping us with narco-terrorism. Fentanyl, Carfentanyl, and Xylazine is pouring into our country not to mention transnational gangs in the United States, and sex and labor slavery.
REPUBLICAN Sen. Mike Lee (Utah) suggested Wednesday that Congress and President Trump should allow private citizens, or “pirates,” to take on international cartels to protect national security. Lee appeared on Fox News’s “The Will Cain Show,” where he was asked about his plan to allow people to be deployed but not using the U.S. military.
Dr C’s Take: Letters of marque and reprisal are authorized under Article 1, Section 8, Clause 10 of the Constitution. It also allows the legislative branch to issue letters of marque, “authorizing privateers, pirates essentially … to carry out acts of piracy.” Now it has not been used in centuries. However, if organized and in congruence with the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security there is an opportunity for success. Like in all matters of this importance, privateers need guidelines and guardrails in which to operate.
MEXICO on Thursday extradited 29 cartel members, including a drug lord wanted for the 1985 murder of a U.S. agent, to the United States. Those taken into U.S. custody from Mexico are convicts or others who have been accused of ties to violent drug cartels.
Dr C’s Take: This is huge. Targeted sanctions and tariffs against Mexico are working as forecasted. These 29 drug lords including the torturer and killer of DEA Special Agent Enrique "Kiki" Camarena.
A REPUBLICAN lawmaker's defense of new restrictions proposed on food stamps outraged many liberal critics on social media who lashed out against the spending cuts. Republican Rep. Pat Fallon of Texas was speaking on Fox News about a new House bill that would add work requirements for able-bodied, childless males between 18 and 65 years old. Fallon is a member of the Oversight Committee.
Dr C’s Take: Listen folks, in the years that I worked as an undercover special agent, I can guarantee to all of you that that there have been documented cases of fraud and misuse in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as food stamps that are still occurring to this day. Some recipients sell their benefits for cash, often at a discount (e.g., $100 in SNAP benefits for $50 in cash). This cash can then be used for illicit purposes, including drugs and weapons. Some stores engage in fraud by exchanging SNAP benefits for cash instead of eligible food items. The USDA investigates and disqualifies retailers found guilty of this. Some individuals misreport income or household size to qualify for SNAP benefits they otherwise wouldn’t receive. The USDA estimates that SNAP trafficking accounts for approximately $1 billion annually out of a $70 billion program. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that SNAP fraud had increased as electronic benefits made trafficking easier. And Federal investigations have uncovered large-scale fraud rings involving SNAP benefits used as black-market currency for drugs, guns, and stolen goods. Law enforcement agencies have reported that drug dealers sometimes accept SNAP benefits as a form of payment, especially in areas where electronic benefit cards (EBT) can be used like debit cards. Some users have been caught using their EBT cards in strip clubs, liquor stores, and casinos, despite laws against such practices. Control over SNAP funding has got to be part of this program!
BORDER Czar Tom Homan is pursuing legal action after anti-ICE activists in Southern California posted the names, photos, and addresses of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents operating in the region.
Dr C’s Take: This is plain and simple against the law. Offenders who did this must be held accountable and face the full-throated efforts of the American Judicial System to keep this horrible type of action at bay!
For 2024, the total line of duty deaths in law enforcement was 145 officers. So far in 2025 there have been 13 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty. Here are those that have died in February thus far:
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This is Dr Currie Myers, America’s Criminologist. To view my work please visit drcurriemyers.substack.com and please share and like our page! And please remember my friends at Howard Wagyu for some of the best beef in America. Howard Wagyu, Kansas homegrown Wagyu Beef so tender you can cut your steak with a fork! Stay safe and have a great weekend!
Dr C
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