2026 CDAIA Annual Conference
August 31 – September 3 • Hilton & Sheraton Universal City
Monday, August 31, 2026
| 10am-5pm | Registration/Check-in Location: Universal Hilton: Sierra Ballroom Foyer |
| 12pm-2pm | Leadership Track: Bureau Chiefs Panel Discussion and Breakout Location: Sheraton: Studio II and III Speakers: Bureau of Investigation Chiefs, Tony Lee, Natasha Crawford, Kristina Perkins, Scott Whitney, Jorge Duran |
| 2pm-5pm | Night Stalker Case Study Location: Sheraton: Studio II and III Speaker: Gil Carrillo |
| 6pm-8pm | CDAIA/CDAA Welcome Reception Location: Universal Hilton |
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
| 7:30am-8:30am | Breakfast Location: Universal Hilton: Sierra Ballroom |
| 8:15am-8:35am | LADA Bureau of Investigation Honor Guard and Welcome Remarks Location: Universal Hilton: Sierra Ballroom |
| 8:30am-12pm | General Session: DNA, a Cold Case and Justice for Baby Nikko Location: Universal Hilton: Sierra Ballroom Speaker: Stephen Jerguson |
| 12pm-1pm | Lunch, Installation of CDAIA Board, Special Recognition Award, and General Membership Meeting Location: Universal Hilton: Sierra Ballroom |
| 1pm-3pm | Assertive Supervision, Accountability, and Leadership for Today’s Leader Location: Sheraton: Studio I Speaker: Chris Cano Perkins Operations and Miranda Location: Sheraton: Studio II Speakers: John Colello, Cynthia Barnes Digital Evidence 101: From Collection to Courtroom Location: Sheraton: Studio III Speaker: Anthony Benitez Cracking Cryptocurrency: Basics for Criminal Investigators Location: Sheraton: Studio IV Speaker: Dave Berry |
| 1pm-5pm | Bureau Chief’s Meeting and Training Location: Sheraton: Terrace C and D |
| 3pm-5pm | Case Study: Terry Cheek Murder Investigation Location: Sheraton: Studio I Speaker: James Campos Crypto and Pig Butchering Case Studies Location: Sheraton: Studio II Speakers: Victor Munoz, Brian Le Follow the Money: Leveraging Forensic Accounting Resources to Uncover Fraud Location: Sheraton: Studio III Speakers: Daniel Annabi, Jose Jurado Leads Online Nighthawk Software Case Study Location: Sheraton: Studio IV Speaker: Brittany Worden Cartel Related Kidnapping and Sexual Assault- Law Enforcement Related Coordination and Prosecution Strategy Location: Sheraton: Studio I Speakers: Drew Garrison, Kelly Stinnette |
| 6pm-9pm | Networking Event sponsored by Peregrine Location: Universal Sheraton: Star View Room |
Wednesday, September 2, 2026
| 7:30am-8:30am | Breakfast Location: Universal Hilton: Sierra Ballroom |
| 8:30am-12pm | General Session: One-on-One with Owen Hanson (Amazon Prime “Cocaine Quarterback: Signal-Caller for the Cartel”) Location: Universal Hilton: Sierra Ballroom Speakers: Owen Hanson, Stephen Murphy |
| 11:40am-12pm | CDAA and CDAIA Investigators of the Year Location: Universal Hilton: Sierra Ballroom |
| 12pm-1pm | Lunch Location: Universal Hilton: Sierra Ballroom |
| 1pm-3pm | Assertive Supervision, Accountability, and Leadership for Today’s Leader Location: Sheraton: Studio I Speaker: Chris Cano Auto Insurance Fraud: Staged Collisions, Tow Truck Schemes AND Organized Crime Vehicle Theft Trends/Staged Losses Location: Sheraton: Studio III Speakers: Todd Hicks, Julian Catano, Ivonne Reyes Transnational Organized Crimes- Indian Gangs Location: Sheraton: Studio IV Speakers: Charanpreet Singh, Laura Giouzelis Organized Crime Mexican Mafia Hit Location: Sheraton: Terrace B and C Speakers: Adam Acuna, August Sage |
| 3pm-5pm | Auto Insurance Fraud: Hit-and-Run to Insurance Fraud Using LeadsOnline Nighthawk Location: Sheraton: Studio III Speakers: Luis Pacheco, Brittany Worden Medical Interpreting Fraud Location: Sheraton: Studio IV Speakers: Justin Edwards, Fernando Sanchez, Julian Catano Behavioral Threat Assessment: A Framework to Prevent Targeted Violence Location: Sheraton: Terrace B and C Speakers: Arlene Macias, Kristy Domingues Follow the Money: Leveraging Forensic Accounting Resources to Uncover Fraud Location: Sheraton: Studio III Speakers: Daniel Annabi, Jose Jurado |
Thursday, September 3, 2026
| 7:30am-8:30am | Breakfast Location: Universal Hilton: Sierra Ballroom |
| 8:30am-12pm | General Session: Monica Sementilli Murder-for-Hire Case Study Location: Universal Hilton: Sierra Ballroom Speakers: Beth Silverman, Ryan Verna, Corey Farell |
| 11:35am-12pm | CDAA and CDAIA Prosecutors of the Year Location: Universal Hilton: Sierra Ballroom |
