Professional Experience
Craig C. Winstead

Job History

•   Retired law enforcement
•   Security Specialist Calf. Air National Guard - 5 years
•   Fresno County Deputy Sheriff - 10 years
•   Special Agent - California Department of Justice - 5 years
•   Licensed Private Investigator - since 1991

Investigative Experience

Criminal Defense
Since 1991, I have been investigating State and Federal cases for the Fresno County Public Defender's Office, the Federal Defender's Office, Private Attorneys, and Pro Per defendants. Most of my investigations have involved major felonies, including death penalty, narcotics, fraud and embezzlement. I have testified in both State and Federal courts as an expert witness.

Homicides/Deaths
I have been the lead Defense Investigator in over 9 homicide cases. I am a Capital Case Investigator for the Fresno County Public Defender's Office and was the lead defense investigator in the Ewell and Schuster homicide case's in Fresno County.

Narcotics
I have a combined total of 7 years and 9 months as a Narcotics Investigator and undercover officer with the Fresno County Sheriff's Department and the California Department of Justice. I have worked over 250 cases involving smuggling, illicit laboratories, major trafficking, marijuana cultivation and conspiracy. I have testified as an expert witness in State and Federal courts, and was the Chief Investigating Officer in most of the cases. I have also taught various courses in narcotic investigations at the Calif. Department of Justice Training Center.

Economic/Financial Crimes
From May 5, 1979 until December 1, 1981, I was a Special Agent with the California Department of Justice's Special Operations Unit. I worked on approximately 20 major investigations that involved the tracking of currency and other assets. I also investigated the embezzlement of money and property by government officials.

Major Fraud Cases
From December 1, 1981 until January 10, 1984, I was a Special Agent with the California Department of Justice. My assignment was Coordinator of the Central California Diversion Unit. I worked approximately 10 major fraud cases that involved the diversion of pharmaceutical drugs and medical fraud committed by medical professionals and/or their patients. One of the investigations resulted in a 600-count federal indictment and the incarceration of the guilty physician for 3 years in federal prison.

Search Warrants
I have written over thirty search warrants.

Crime Scene Investigations
I have investigated hundreds of crime scenes, gathered evidence and supervised the gathering of evidence by other investigators and crime scene identification technicians.

Informants
I have supervised and worked with hundreds of informants, both citizen and confidential.

Physical Evidence
The types of evidence I have collected include drugs, currency, legal documents, physical property, financial information, photographs, pharmaceutical records, medical charts and chemicals. All evidence seized by me was appropriately marked and tagged for court identification. Depending on size, value, and potential for contamination, the evidence was sealed in an envelope or other appropriate container. Most of the evidence I have collected was taken to a forensic laboratory for analysis. I kept written records to document the "chain" or handling and storage of evidence and I have testified in State and Federal courts regarding my collection and handling of evidence. Over the years, I have processed hundreds of items of evidence for both the prosecution and the defense.

Vice
From November 29, 1974 until November 29, 1975, I was a Vice/Narcotics Investigator for the Fresno County Sheriff's Department, and worked on approximately 30 cases that involved prostitution, bookmaking, casino-type gambling and pinball gambling.

Burglary
I have been involved in numerous burglary investigations as a Deputy Sheriff and Private Investigator.

Felony Crimes against Persons
I have been involved in approximately 22 investigations, including bank robberies, armed robberies and assaults as a Deputy Sheriff and Private Investigator.

Sexual Assaults
I have been involved in approximately 9 sexual assault investigations as a Private Investigator.

Insurance Fraud
Since 1991, I have conducted insurance fraud investigations for Worker's Compensation, Allstate and Farmer's Insurance companies. This includes AOE/COE and sub Rosa investigations.

Arson
I worked several investigations involving arson as a Deputy Sheriff and Private Investigator.

Additional Expertise

Counter-Measures
I was trained in counter-measures by the California Department of Justice and the Department of the Air force. I have continued to perform counter-measure searches and purchase new equipment as well as staying currant on counter-measures and electronic sweeps throughout my carrier as an Investigator.

Surveillance
I have over 5000 hours of fixed and mobile surveillance experience. The primary tool used was an automobile. I have also used motor homes, vans and airplanes. I have had training in the use of binoculars, 35mm cameras, video cameras, time laps recorders, audio recording devices, infrared night-viewing scopes, S.K.9 body transmitters and tracking systems using transmitters on vehicles or concealed in packages. During my career as an investigator, I have used all of the above-mentioned equipment. I have testified as an expert on surveillance in both State and Federal courts. I also taught courses in surveillance at the Calif. Department of Justice Training Center.

Crime Report and Case Analysis
I review all of the discovery, crime reports, witness statements and all other evidence. Then based on my considerable experience and expertise, prepare an outline with, bates numbers, indicating where critical defense information may be located.

Link Analysis
From May 5, 1979 until August 10, 1984, I was a Special Agent with the California Department of Justice. As a member of the Special Operations Unit and Coordinator of the Central California Diversion Unit, I prepared link analyses on 3 different cases. One was a medical fraud case and the other two were conspiracy cases. I also do link analysis as a Defense Investigator.

Training Officer
I was a field training officer for both the Fresno County Sheriff's Department and the California Department of Justice. I taught various courses in narcotics investigations, undercover techniques, drug and drug user identification and surveillance at the State of California Department of Justice Training Center.

Expert Witness
I have testified as an expert witness on Surveillance and all aspects of Narcotic's Enforcement for both the Prosecution and the Defense in State and federal Courts.