Agent Alber
Thomas R. Alber is the “US Crypto Cop” serving as an Enforcement Agent with the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, Agent Alber is also an instructor, leading crypto crimes investigator and gaming investigator.
Investigator / FBI LEEDA Executive Board of Directors / Officer & Staff Supervision / Training & Evaluation / Multi-jurisdictional Investigations / Police Operations / Policies & Procedures Development / Public Information Officer / Volunteers in Police Service Program / Crime Free Programs / Chief of Police / Budget Development / Administration / Presentations / Adjunct Instructor / Undercover Surveillance / Background Investigations (Criminal & Financial) / Terrorism SME / U.S. Army & Marine Corps Veteran / Statistical Data & Reporting / Missouri & Kansas Peace Officers License/ Cryptocurrency Investigations / Human Trafficking / Money Laundering Investigations / Gaming Crimes Investigations / Gaming Regulations / International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI)
Know Crypto
Standards and Regulation
Thomas shares insights to shape standards and regulations in consideration of crypto
Cryptology & Crime
Thomas is Certified in Advanced Cryptocurrency Investigations, a Certified Crypto Compliance Specialist, A Certified Fire and Explosion Investigator, a Certified Firearms Instructor, and a Certified Glock Armorer
Law Enforcement & Training
With more than 35 years of law enforcement and global military experience, Thomas offers a distinctive blend of skills and insights to the classroom, presented in clear, straightforward language.
US Crypto Cop Knowledge Base
USCryptoCop.com provides a wealth of resources aimed at educating your stakeholders, jurisdiction, office, or organization about prevalent scams, threats, and gaming-related crimes. Our platform is continuously curating content and generating innovative ideas to actively involve the public, its representatives, regulators, and enforcement agencies in the shared mission of safeguarding our communities from malicious actors operating within the gaming and crypto realms.
OUTREACH
GAMING AGENCIES
FEDERAL AGENCIES
STATE & LOCAL DEPARTMENTS
More About Thomas
Recent Speaking Engagements
2020-Present
Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission (KRGC)
- Kansas Racing and Gaming, Kansas Crossing Casino, Cryptocurrency for the Patrol Officer, Pittsburg, Kansas
- –Park City, Kansas Police Department, Cryptocurrency for the Police Officer, Park City, Kansas
- –Kansas City ACAMS Chapter, BSA/Money Laundering Compliance and Investigations, Kansas City, Missouri
- –Kansas City DEA and Midwest HIDTA, Kansas City, Cryptocurrency for the Patrol Officer, Kansas City, Missouri
- –Wyandotte County, Kansas District Attorney’s Office, Cryptocurrency for the Patrol Officer, Kansas City, Kansas
- –Mission Kansas Police Department, Cryptocurrency for the Patrol Officer Course Mission, Kansas
- –Johnson County, Kansas District Attorney’s Office, Cryptocurrency for the Patrol Officer Course, Olathe, Kansas
- –Kansas Racing and Gaming, Kansas Star Field Office, Cryptocurrency for the Patrol Officer Course, Mulvane, Kansas
- –Kansas Racing and Gaming HQ, Cryptocurrency for the Patrol Officer Course, Topeka, Kansas
2013-2019
FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development (LEEDA)
–FBI LEEDA Executive Training Conference, Virginia Beach, Virginia, 2019
–FBI LEEDA Executive Training Conference, Birmingham, Alabama, 2018
–FBI LEEDA Executive Training Conference, Jacksonville, Florida 2017
–FBI LEEDA Executive Training Conference, Memphis, Tennessee, 2016
–FBI LEEDA Executive Training Conference, Austin, Texas, 2015
–FBI LEEDA Executive Training Conference, San Antonio, Texas, 2014
–FBI LEEDA Executive Training Conference, Louisville, Kentucky, 2013
Work Experience
2020 - Present
Enforcement Agent
Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission
Currently Assigned to Hollywood Casino at the Kansas Speedway Field Office, Kansas City, Kansas
• Monitor gaming activity at both Hollywood Casino and external facilities throughout state of Kansas, via Field Office (located at Hollywood Casino).
o Plan, develop, and conduct onsite criminal felony, misdemeanor, and procedural investigations of illegal activities, including electronic gaming devices and other gaming equipment, ensuring all people and equipment involved adhere to procedures, and authorized and unauthorized individuals in and around facility, identification of counterfeit money, identity theft, prostitution and sex trafficking, assault/domestic disputes, and money laundering (and monitoring of financial transactions) issues, coordinating with federal agencies in money laundering activities and mitigation.
o Manage and participate in undercover surveillance and sting operations, including utilization of external casino Enforcement Agents for onsite employee undercover investigations.
o Make arrests, conduct search and seizures, and enforce all Kansas criminal law.
o Investigate complaints of alleged violations of the Expanded Lottery Act, regulatory violations, and criminal violations, including Geofencing for sports betting, blocking thousands of bets weekly with technology.
o Appear and testify as witness in court or at hearings.
o Identify areas of vulnerability in policy, crime conducive conditions, and other deficiencies placing public or employees at risk.
• Direct or collaborate on both small and large scall joint multijurisdictional/task force criminal investigations with federal, state and local law enforcement throughout the 50 states, in regulatory investigations, procedural investigations, and undercover investigations involving money laundering, human trafficking and cryptocurrency related investigations. Coordination includes coordinating with prosecuting attorney.
• Perform background investigations for gaming licenses (employees and vendors), including criminal and financial background, authoring full report for distribution to Human Resources and facility hiring authorities.
• Execute onsite internal procedural control audits, and compliance inspections and investigations.
• Partner with gaming regulators to coordinate enforcement activities and training, encompassing employee training for observing and identifying impaired individuals, recognizing counterfeit money, and potential for human trafficking and prostitution.
• Inspect and investigate possible illegal gaming activities outside casino, including illegal casinos, illegal gaming machines, and illegal gambling/gaming operations.
• Review and prepare reporting and documentation communicating criminal investigations, investigative findings, and recommendations for prevention of future issues, assembling all information obtained through undercover observations and interviews.
o Consolidate and maintain all incoming criminal information, intelligence data, statistical data, and management data for use in follow up actions, prevention programs, criminal proceedings, and investigations.
2000 - 2018
Chief of Police
Garden City Police Department
Chief of Police for city of 1,700 residents, including 10 sworn officers and six to eight civilian volunteers,
encompassing recruitment, interviewing, hiring, dismissal, discipline, performance reviews, Performance
Improvement Plans (PIP’s), quarterly mentoring, coaching, training, arrangement for training, scheduling, task
assignment, and general oversight.
Re-established Garden City Municipal Court System, previously defunct for 28 years, becoming operational
September 2004 (first court), resulting in all forfeitures and fines remaining within community. Inclusive of
violations bureau, coordination in selection of judges and attorneys, and online violations payment.
Achieved significant reduction in variety of crimes during tenure:
o 80.5% reduction in Assaults from 2004 – 2010, and additional reductions through 2018.
o 51% reduction in Burglaries from 2004 – 2010, and additional reductions through 2018.
o 80.5% reduction in Auto Theft from 2004 – 2010, and additional reductions through 2018.
Launched Garden City Police Department Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) in 2005 for expanded community
policing services
Co-Instituted Grandview & Harrisonville Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program, utilizing Garden City
VIPS Program as model.
Implemented Crime Free program, including collaborating with businesses, apartment owners, and other rental
property owners and managers for community policing initiative between rental property owners and police.
Dramatically reduced time spent in landlord tenant disputes, and police calls to rental properties.
Employed (NIXLE) Public Notification System via Twitter, text message or Facebook at no cost to city, providing
weather warnings, crime notifications, amber alerts, and municipal alerts.
Develop and implement the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) program providing specially trained officers to
respond to situations involving citizens in mental health crisis.
2018 - 2020
Adjunct Instructor
Metropolitan Community College-Blue River Public Safety Institute
Adjunct Instructor and Continuing Education Coordinator, co-developing core curricula, scheduling courses, and teaching basic police academy training and continuing education training for veteran police officers serving
approximately 130 law enforcement agencies throughout the Kansas City Metropolitan Area.
Brought FBI-LEEDA Academy Leadership Law Enforcement Executive Training, including Supervisory
Leadership Institute, Command Leadership Institute, and Executive Leadership Institute, giving a presentation to
the head of the police academy.
2014 - 2019
Executive Board of Directors
FBI-Law Enforcement Executive Development Association
Serving as a Past President, having held multiple executive roles as Vice President, FBI-LEEDA members are chief executive officers of law enforcement agencies, directors and commissioners of public safety, and elected sheriffs throughout United States and numerous foreign countries. Members of the association consist of decision-makers from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. In addition to FBI–LEEDA’s mission as the premier provider of leadership and management training, the association strives to provide information to enhance member’s ability to establish and maintain an outstanding quality of life in the communities in which they serve.
FBI-National Academy Youth Leadership Program (YLP) Chairman 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Performed social media outreach and designed marketing strategy increasing followership to over 15,000
followers.
1986-2013
US Army / US Marine Corps
Phycological Operations Officer, Intelligence Officer, Military Police Officer, Military Police NCO, Marine
- 2008 – 2013, Commander, 308th Psychological Operations Company, Belton, Missouri
- 2005 – 2008, Regimental S-2 Intelligence Officer 209th Regional Support Command, Belton,
Missouri - 2004 – 2005, Training Officer 89th Regional Support Command, Wichita, Kansas
- 2003 – 2004, Agent, Drug Suppression Team – Army CIDC, Fort Riley, Kansas
- 2002 – 2003, Deputy Detention Facility Commander Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
- 2000 – 2001, Reserve Provost Marshal – Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas
- 1998 – 2000, Detachment Commander, 346th Military Police Company, Wichita, Kansas
- 1989 –1998, Platoon Sergeant / Military Police NCO (various duty stations throughout tenure)
- 1986-1989, Field Radio Operator / Marine Rifleman, 24th Marines
Testimonials
Crypto for the Patrol Officer is a great introduction for field enforcement personnel. The short course is a foundation which allows the patrol officer or detective to understand what cryptocurrency is, how a patrol officer may encounter it and basic indicators to watch for that will indicate the presence of cryptocurrency in crime. KRGC Agent Alber provides several examples of where cryptocurrency is used in various crime schemes and steps patrol officers and detectives can take to identify, collect and preserve evidence. Agent Alber leaves the attendees with resources that can be employed to get support when signs of crypto related crime are found. Presented by a seasoned police officer in terms they can understand; a must for departments to keep their staff informed of current trends.
John Schrock
Assistant Special Agent in Charge
Drug Enforcement Administration
Kansas City District Office
Thomas brought the Cryptocurrency for Patrol Officers course to my agency and was able to make a complex subject simple to understand. It is good to know there is someone with such a deep knowledge of the topic bringing this information to front line officers. If you are starting to have crypto involved cases within your jurisdiction, I would highly recommend bringing Thomas in to train your officers.
Patrol Corporal at Park City Police Department
“When I saw Thomas was teaching this class, I knew I had to invite him to speak with our front-line officers. Thomas’ class gave critical insight to our patrol officers on what they need to be looking for and what questions they need to be asking when dealing with crypto crime cases.
I recommend this class to front line officers and patrol supervision.”
Aaron Miller Detective Sgt. Park City, Kansas Police Department