Experience
General Experience
Presently serving as a member of the City Council
Planning and Zoning Commissioner
The Planning and Zoning Commission is charged with making recommendations to the city council regarding plans for the physical development of the city, and for its approval of all plats and re-plats. The Planning and Zoning Commission provides input to a comprehensive plan, which serves as a framework for the land use regulatory process. The commission also advises city council on zoning goals and regulations.
Deputy Assistant Director for DHS International Affairs Foreign Operations where I supervised the day to day operation of fifty-two DHS Investigative Attaché offices located in US Embassies around the world. Duties included foreign government liaison, criminal investigations and supervision of budget execution.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Presently serving as City Council member.
Commissioner in the City of Shenandoah Planning and Zoning Commission.
Extensive investigative, managerial and executive administrative experience
Thirty-two year law enforcement experience.
Twenty year US Army active duty and Reserve leadership experience.
Superlative communication and team-building skills.
Accredited US Army master instructor.
US Treasury Senior Economic Crimes Advisor/Instructor
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) visiting instructor.
Fluent in Spanish language skills.
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
INTERPERSONAL AND TEAMWORK SKILLS
Deputy Assistant Director for International Affairs for Operations, in charge of fifty-six Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Attaché offices located in US embassies and Consulate General offices worldwide.
Direct dialogue with a wide variety of foreign law enforcement representatives located in Washington DC and overseas including Directors General of foreign law enforcement and customs organizations.
Certified as a U.S. Army Reverse Master Instructor specializing in combat leadership and military police subjects where interpersonal and teamwork skills are essential.
MANAGERIAL AND SUPERVISORY SKILLS
Assigned to the DHS/ICE Office of International Affairs, as a first level supervisor, Area Director and second level supervisor,
Deputy Assistant Director in charge of the Foreign Operations Division. Managed the daily investigative and administrative support of fifty-six attaché offices consisting of over 250 criminal investigators and administrative staff located in US embassies in forty countries.
Assigned to the U.S. Customs Service Office of Internal Affairs Management Inspection Division. Led teams of senior level Special Agents and administrative specialists while conducting internal management reviews, audits, inspections and organizational assessments of U.S. Customs overseas and domestic offices.
Conducted complex analysis of operational, investigative and administrative functions. Issued reports providing impartial assessments and recommendations for process improvement options targeting efficiency and compliance with regulations.
Special Agent (Criminal Investigator) U.S. Customs Service. Conducted complex Investigations into violations of federal laws including drug smuggling, general smuggling, money laundering, commercial fraud, illegal exports (munitions, technology and embargo violations) and violations of customs laws and regulations.
Retired U.S. Army Reserve Senior Non Commissioned Officer last assignment was as a Battalion Command Sergeant Major. Have performed at every leadership position in the non-commissioned officer leadership ladder.
Quantitative skills
Conducted complex criminal investigations relating to money laundering, marine and air drug smuggling, trade fraud and illegal export of munitions and dual use technology.
Principal undercover agent in major money laundering and drug smuggling investigations.
Conducted internal conspiracy investigations at the Port of New Orleans.
Participated in Port Security assessments.
Primary Firearms Instructor responsible for inventory and recording of special agents qualifications with issued firearms.
Law enforcement experience at all levels (Military Police, Sheriff’s Office, State Police and Federal jurisdictions)
INSTRUCTIONAL SKILLS
U.S. Army Master Instructor- Instructor for Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC), Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course (BNCOC), Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Course (ANOC), First Sergeant Course (1SGC) and Military Police Course.
Guest Instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (Customs Academy).
U.S. Treasury Office of Technical Assistance Senior Advisor and instructor Provided classroom instruction on financial and corruption investigations to law enforcement authorities in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Paraguay.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Presently Retired
Senior economics crimes advisor for US Treasury Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) Economic Crimes Team as a criminal investigations advisor/instructor. 5/06 to 12/12
Deputy Assistant Director (Supervisory Criminal Investigator) DHS/ICE Office of International Affairs, Foreign Operations Division, Washington D.C. 11/2004 – 12/31/2006 (GS 1811-15)
Area Director (Supervisory Criminal Investigator) DHS/ICE Office of International Affairs Foreign Operations, Washington D.C. 4/2002 to 11/2004 (GS 1811-15)
Criminal Investigator U.S. Customs Service Office of Internal Affairs/Management Inspections Division, Tucson, AZ/Washington D.C. 3/1999 - 4/2002 (GS 1811-14)
Criminal Investigator U.S. Customs Service Office of Investigations, New Orleans, LA 12/1985 – 3/1999 (GS 1811-13)
Louisiana State Police Trooper/Detective, New Orleans, Louisiana 8/1981 – 12/1985
Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputy/Detective, Metairie, LA 9/1976 – 8/1981
U.S. Army Reserve (7/1982 – 11/1998) Platoon Sergeant, First Sergeant, Master Instructor, Director of Instruction, Command Sergeant Major
U.S. Army Active Duty (6/1973 – 9/1976) Military Police Investigator
U.S. Army Active Duty (10/1968 – 9/1970) Combat Infantryman
EDUCATION
Columbia University Graduate School of Business- Customs Leadership Institute Harriman, NY -- 2003
Delgado College New Orleans, LA, Criminal Justice 1982
Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA, Criminal Justice 1976
Personal Information
Married to Eileen Escoto for thirty one years.
Father of Lorraine, Allison and Andrew Escoto.
Grandfather of Penelope and Daphne Escoto.
