This week at the Salem Rotary Club, we heard from Paul Melican, a Special Agent with the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General.
Paul claims that he never set out to be in law enforcement or a special agent. He got a degree in accounting and ended up in San Francisco as a CPA. He discovered early on that the desk life common in accounting was not for him. One night, while watching television, COPS came on where he saw an Immigration and Naturalization Service special agent. Coincidently, he worked directly across the street from the INS building in San Francisco, so he walked in and asked if they were hiring. The rest is history.
Paul started his federal career in 1992 with the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, where he began as an adjudication officer, interviewing applicants for American citizenship. He spent six months at the academy in Georgia learning about immigration law and properly using firearms. Paul considers the interview process for people applying for citizenship very rewarding for him. In 1996 Paul became an INS special agent in the anti-fraud unit, conducting investigations related to fraud against the government. He found silence was key to getting suspects to talk. He also talked to foreign born inmates where he learned that law enforcement is inherently confrontational, which is not Paul's natural inclination. Paul learned to overcome his fears though.
In 2003, while assigned to INS Portland, Maine, Paul joined the Department of Homeland Security when the department was established as a result of the 9/11 attacks. Paul served full time on Joint Terrorism Task Force in Boston, rejoining the JTTF briefly in 2013 during the manhunt in Watertown MA after the Boston Marathon bombing. He reported fulltime to the FBI while with the JTTF, but cannot really talk about his experience there.
In 2008 Paul transferred to the New England High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Financial Task Force, where he conducted financial fraud, money laundering, and asset forfeiture investigations. While assigned to HIDTA, Paul served as co-case agent on the Telexfree investigation, a pyramid scheme that hit a lot of immigrant communities. It became a $3 billion financial fraud which at that time represented the largest pyramid scheme ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice. Paul handled that asset forfeiture aspect of the investigation, and the seized assets were returned to victims. He also was part of a group that found $20 million under a mattress. This is the kind of case that gets one noticed, so Paul transferred to a diplomatic post in 2017, serving as Assistant Attaché for Homeland Security Investigations at the United States Embassy in South Africa. Paul and his family made the most of their time in southern Africa, having many once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Paul retired and moved with his wife and daughter to the North Shore. He does work for the government tracking down Covid fraudsters.
Our Rotary Foundation Annual Fund SHARE Fundraiser for District 7930 is underway! Get your tickets today!
• 50% of the money raised will be donated to the Annual Fund SHARE of the Rotary Foundation.
• 50% of the money raised will go to one lucky winner of this 50/50 raffle.
Our Annual Fund SHARE needs your help so that we can provide additional funds for our club projects. Our goal is to raise $40,000 through raffle ticket sales which would mean $20,000 to the Annual Fund SHARE and $20,000 to one very lucky raffle winner.
$30 per ticket. Winner will be chosen on June 1, 2024. You do not need to be present to win.
Are you interested in becoming a LEAP for Education Mentor this Summer?
LEAP is seeking dedicated volunteers like you to join our rewarding Summer mentoring program! As a LEAP mentor, you'll be matched with a student for one-on-one support, professional skill building, and personal development.
Here's what you can expect:
Flexible time commitment: Choose a time that works for you, 1 (one-hour) meeting per week for 6 weeks. The total commitment is 10 hours!
Meaningful impact: Make a real difference in a student's life by providing career support, knowledge, and guidance.
Supportive environment: LEAP provides comprehensive training and ongoing support to ensure your success as a mentor.
Guest Brian and Scott Grover played this week. NO WINNER THIS WEEK! There might be drawing next week with only two cards left.
ROTARIAN NEWS
Jason Consalvo went with a not-so-humble brag, noting that he pays $104 annually up front for Happy Dollars. He went golfing in Florida with the fellas where he saw lots of wildlife, including alligators. It was very hot. In other words, he went to Florida...
Bill Henning mentioned that Thomas was out of town in Cambodia, where it is hotter and more humid there than Florida. Bill did not go because it would have been bad for his hair. Thomas leaves again for five weeks, this time he is going to Panama for a Spanish emersion class. Bill will head down for the final week. He is accepting all social invitations for the next four weeks.
Randy Burba went out to see his daughter, a recent graduate from SDSU. It was fun to get out there and have his daughter babysit him at the bars. She is staying in southern California. He then moved his son out of college in North Carolina.
Gerritt Bradley gave us his Bird Report and recommended an application that gives him suggested birds based on their songs. He could only pick out one.
Rinus Oosthoek invited everyone TONIGH to the Welcome Back Salem Ferry event. It is 5-7pm and tickets are available still. The CTE presentation at SHS is also tonight.
18 Washington Square
Salem, MA 01970 United States of America
NOTE: The fourth Tuesday of the month is an evening meeting, beginning at 5:15.
If you are interested in learning more about Salem Rotary, please email president@salemrotary.com.
50:50 Raffle
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