John P. Torres heads the firm’s Security and Technology Consulting Practice. He works closely with individuals and businesses on matters related to risk mitigation, anti-money laundering, security assessments, due diligence, investigations, crisis management planning, cross border security, event security management, federal consulting and government compliance. His extensive investigative and security experience provides him with a unique perspective when offering expertise with internal security investigations, cross border cases and Homeland Security compliance issues.
During his tenure with Guidepost Solutions, Mr. Torres has directed multifaceted internal financial investigations for global and domestic clients; coordinated and oversaw the development of comprehensive compliance policies for international and tribal nation clients; and resolved numerous complex immigration and customs cross-border issues for clients. He has also overseen and participated in a host of investigative and fact-gathering assignments for private entities related to allegations of employee dishonesty, fraud, corporate compliance and governance, money laundering, human trafficking and material support for terrorism.
Prior to joining Guidepost Solutions in 2013, Mr. Torres served as the Special Agent in Charge for Homeland Security Investigation in the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia. His professional background includes more than 27 years of experience providing investigative and security management for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice.
Mr. Torres has served in numerous senior leadership roles for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). As its Acting Director from 2008 to 2009, he oversaw 20,000 employees and a budget in excess of $5 billion. Mr. Torres also served as its Deputy Director in early 2008. Prior to leading ICE operations, he served as the Director of the Office of Detention and Removal Operations, the Deputy Assistant Director for Smuggling and Public Safety and as the Special Agent in Charge of the Newark ICE Office.
Highlights of Mr. Torres’ career includes being a decorated member of an undercover investigative unit in Los Angeles in the early 1990s where he was later assigned to the Newton and Rampart divisions of the Los Angeles Police Department during its riots. In 1998, Mr. Torres was assigned to the Federal Bureau of Investigations’ Usama Bin Laden Unit. He also led an INS Contingency at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
Throughout his career, Mr. Torres has testified on Capitol Hill, represented DHS at the Geneva Convention Against Torture and appeared before the media numerous times regarding homeland security issues. As a result of his extraordinary leadership and management contributions, he has received several honors from the U.S. government.
Did You Know?
As a Chicago native and lifelong Cubs fan, John was in the stands as Kris Bryant hit 3 home runs on May 17, 2019, exactly 40 years to the day that he watched Dave Kingman hit 3 home runs in a 23-22 loss to the Phillies on May 17, 1979.
