Aviation & Business Journal

"If You Only Knew," Warns Orange County PI

by Karen Di Piazza

He might not be able to tell you exactly what happened to Amelia Earhart or why Amy Johnson's plane went down in the Thames Estuary, but Thomas G. Martin has helped many with slightly less complicated cases.

A former federal agent of the Drug Enforcement Administration (formally known as the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs), he was responsible at one time for drug detection at Los Angeles International Airport. Presently, Martin is president and CEO of Martin Investigative Services, based in Anaheim, Calif., a full-service investigative agency licensed by the State of California (under license PI 9077) with a network of former DEA, FBI, IRS and Secret Service agents in all 50 states and over 60 foreign countries. Besides that, it is the home of the world's largest database of public information.

Operating since 1969, Martin Investigative Services specializes in finding missing persons (friends, family, runaways) and assets; electronic eavesdropping detection sweep; security risk analysis/corporate security; family law/child custody matters; background investigations for personal and corporate use, and cold murder investigations.

Martin, who has had varied assignments as both an agent and a supervisor with the U.S. Department of Justice, has represented the department in over 50 foreign countries and throughout the United States. Based upon his expertise and efforts, he has received numerous domestic and foreign awards and citations and was the recipient of two U.S. Department of Justice Special Achievement Awards.

"We've provided sensitive technical services to officials at the highest levels of government and industry," he said. "Unfortunately, more than ever, we're in a world where uncertainly and fraudulent behaviors prevail, but they don't have to."

Martin, an expert in his field who has been featured in many of the nation's leading newspapers and has appeared on "20/20," "CNN National News" and all three major television networks, also gives practical advice on such matters as avoiding financial scams, and warns the public about hiring private investigators from the local "gin mill."

"There are so many areas in which the public gets ripped off," he said.

One piece of advice from Martin is not to hire any PI if they want to meet you "at the bar, coffee shop or your home."

"Find out their credentials, check and make sure they are licensed and in good standing, and ask for references," he said, adding that another area of concern is finding the right attorney.

"It can be a costly mistake if you don't," he said. "We've served the legal profession for years; we know who are the upper echelons of attorneys."