There is one Secret Service field office in Rhode Island located in the capital city of Providence from which agents investigate a wide variety of financial crimes.
In September of 2013 a man from Indiana was sentenced in a Providence, Rhode Island court to 21 months in federal prison for passing altered US currency and inducing a victim to transport $5,000 from Massachusetts to Rhode Island as part of a “black money” scam. Acting Resident Agent in Charge of the Providence Secret Service Office, Brian S. Deck, explained that black money schemes involve convincing a likely victim that large amounts of black bank-note sized papers are really U.S. currency that has been dyed black to avoid detection by customs agents. The victim is then talked into giving the criminal $5,000 for supplies to chemically remove the black dye in return for a generous share of the valid currency. The perpetrator takes the $5,000 to ostensibly buy supplies while the victim is left with pieces of black construction paper.
As the result of quick action by Secret Service agents, a Providence man was sentenced to federal prison in July of 2013 for passing counterfeit money. When agents confronted the suspect in his hotel room he was found in possession of the equipment for making counterfeit money as well as numerous $100 and $50 “bleached” counterfeit bills (higher denominations printed over genuine $5 bills).
Requirements for Obtaining a Job as a Secret Service Agent in Rhode Island
A good education is the first step in becoming a Secret Service agent. The job requires at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with a relevant major such as criminal justice.
Rhode Island has at least eight colleges or universities to choose from, including some very well-know, top-rated schools. Approximately 484 students graduate from Rhode Island schools each year with a degree in criminal justice.
Other requirements for becoming a Secret Service agent are as follows:
- US citizen between the ages of 21 and 37
- Law enforcement or criminal investigation experience
- Excellent health and physical condition
- Good moral character
- Able to qualify for a top secret security clearance
A university in Providence recently hosted a federal government job fair that was attended by over 500 students from nearby colleges and universities. The US Secret Service was among the 40 federal employers eager to tell students about the advantages of working for their agencies. The fair also included a federal job search workshop showing students how to qualify for training and apply for federal jobs.
Providence Secret Service Agents Working Cooperatively with Other Agencies
A joint investigation of the Providence Secret Service and members of the IRS criminal investigation unit led to the sentencing of Elvy Gomez to federal prison for embezzling over $95,559 from stolen tax checks. The former employee of Bank of America used his position at the bank to access a dormant checking account to which he deposited stolen treasury checks and then withdrew the funds for his personal use. Gomez even obtained a bank ATM card in the name of the person on the account.
A joint investigation by the Secret Service and members of both Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Internal Revenue Criminal Investigation Unit led to the November 15, 2013 arrest in Providence of a man accused of being involved in a scheme to steal the identity of 40 persons living in Puerto Rico and using the fraudulently obtained information to obtain federal tax checks worth over $277,300. The checks were deposited in various banks and cash was withdrawn. The suspect faces a possible $250,000 fine and 10 years in federal prison.