JARED K. STERN 

Rockville, MD ◼ 301-279-6700 ◼ jks@prudentialassociates.com ◼ Linked In

COURT-QUALIFIED DIGITAL FORENSICS EXPERT, CYBERCRIME INVESTIGATOR, AND SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CONSULTANT

Accomplished digital forensics examiner and expert witness with 38+ years of success providing attorneys with clear, defensible  analysis across civil, criminal, and federal proceedings. Trusted by law firms, corporations, and government entities for high-risk,  high-complexity matters requiring rigorous forensic methodology. Qualified and accepted as an expert in county, state, federal,  and military courts, with experience that includes 5,000+ digital forensic examinations, fact-witness testimony in over 500 proceedings, expert opinions admitted in 14 cases, and hundreds of additional expert engagements concluded prior to testimony.

Regularly investigates cryptocurrency-enabled fraud schemes, including pig-butchering investment scams and ransomware  incidents, with dozens of matters involving digital asset tracing, extortion communications, and structured ransom negotiations  and payments on behalf of corporate, professional practice, and individual victims, as well as domestic litigation involving asset  concealment, conversion, and dissipation through cryptocurrency.

CREDENTIALS 

Certified Computer Forensic Examiner (CCFE): Information Assurance Certification Review Board, Chicago, IL Nov 2020 Certified Mobile Forensics Examiner (CMFE): Information Assurance Certification Review Board, Chicago, IL Nov 2020 Certified Cyber Crime Examiner (3CE): National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), Fairmont, WV Dec 2024 Certified Cyber Crime Intelligence Analyst (3CIA): National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), Fairmont, WV Sep 2024 AccessData Certified Examiner (ACE) (Computer Forensics): AccessData Group, Inc., Lindon, UT May 2020 Maryland Private Detective Registration (License: #106-2645): Maryland State Police Licensing Division Jan 2000 Maryland Security Guard Agency Licensee: Maryland State Police Licensing Division Jan 2000 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

Prudential Associates | Rockville, MD March 1993-Present CEO, Computer Forensics Examiner, Private Investigator, March 1993-Present 

Leads a multidisciplinary investigative and technology consulting firm delivering digital forensics, cyber investigations, expert testimony, operational security, and executive protection for private-sector, legal, corporate, and government clients. Special emphasis on cybercrime matters involving cryptocurrency-enabled fraud, digital asset tracing, and ransomware response. 

Court Qualifications & Testimony Experience: 

• Qualified and accepted as an expert witness in county, state, federal U.S. District Courts, and military general court martial; designated as a forensic expert in 20+ cases.
• Testified as a fact witness in 400+ proceedings over a 25-year career as a licensed private investigator, supporting criminal,  civil, and administrative cases.

Digital Forensic Leadership & Laboratory Operations: 

• Built and oversees the firm’s Operational Technology Division, including a full-scale digital forensics lab, establishing all  forensic protocols, chain-of-custody standards, examiner training, and QA processes.
• Directed and conducted 5,000+ digital forensic examinations supporting civil, criminal, administrative, and federal  matters, including computers, mobile devices, GPS units, cameras, and other digital media.
• Leads and supervises teams of digital forensic examiners on large-scale investigations, evidence collections, imaging and  analysis efforts, and litigation support projects for law firms, corporations, and government entities. • Provides expert-level digital forensic analysis and reporting, including deleted data recovery, artifact reconstruction,  timeline analysis, device attribution, and legally defensible documentation for attorneys and courts. • Utilizes advanced forensic tools, including FTK, EnCase, BlackLight, Cellebrite UFED, Magnet AXIOM/IEF, Mandiant  Redline, AccessData Summation, and Sumuri Paladin.

Cyber Investigations & Technical Consulting: 

• Delivers cyber investigations and vulnerability assessments for corporate and government clients, advising on security  gaps, incident response, and digital risk mitigation.
• Manages complex technology, forensic, and e-discovery projects, ensuring evidentiary integrity, adherence to legal  standards, and compatibility with attorney case strategies.

• Trains and advises private sector organizations, government agencies, and legal teams on digital forensics, investigative  readiness, evidence handling, and cyber investigation protocols.
• Investigates cryptocurrency-facilitated cybercrimes, including pig-butchering investment scams, fraudulent trading  platforms, and business email compromise cases resulting in digital asset transfers, providing forensic reconstruction of  transaction flows and victim loss.
• Leads ransomware incident investigations for small and mid-sized organizations, including healthcare practices, directly  communicating with threat actors, negotiating ransom demands, coordinating secure payment workflows, and  preserving evidentiary records of extortion activity and cryptocurrency payments.

Criminal & Civil Investigations: 

• Conducts civil and criminal investigations into violations of state and federal law, assisting counsel with evidence  development, digital reconstructions, and expert review of opposing analyses.
• Specializes in fraud, intellectual property (IP) theft, financial crimes, missing persons, homicide, cyberstalking/harassment,  and other cybercrimes.

Executive Protection & Global Security Operations: 

• Provides armed and unarmed executive protection to high-net-worth individuals and senior corporate leaders in the U.S.  and internationally, including work in hostile or active-conflict regions.
• Manages global operational security assignments and acts as a tactical advisor to clients operating in Iraq, Indonesia,  Egypt, Turkey, Mexico, the Caribbean, and multiple Southeast Asian locations.

Division Manager, Jan 1994-Mar 2000 

Operational Leadership & Global Field Management 

• Directed domestic and international field operations, overseeing surveillance, force protection, executive protection, and  corporate investigative missions for major software companies, U.S. government entities, foreign governments, and high net-worth individuals.
• Managed strategic planning and operational execution for complex, multi-jurisdiction assignments involving threat  assessments, asset protection, and cross-border investigative coordination.

Special Operations Team Recruitment & Training 

• Identified, recruited, and led tier-1 special operations personnel, including former CIA, FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Delta  Force, Navy SEAL Team 4/6, and Navy Special Boat Squadron operators.
• Developed and delivered comprehensive training programs in investigations, surveillance, counter-surveillance, risk  management, and contingency planning for elite operational teams.

Investigations & Legal Support 

• Directed and supported corporate and government investigative matters involving surveillance, intelligence gathering,  threat analysis, and operational security.
• Provided fact-witness testimony in 350+ criminal and civil cases, supporting prosecutorial, defense, and corporate legal  strategies across multiple jurisdictions.

International Consulting, Operational Planning, and Management | Global Jul 1989-Jan 2000 Foreign Government and Corporate Client Consultant  

Delivered international security consulting and operational planning services for foreign governments and corporate clients across  South America, Central America, SE Asia, Europe, Africa, and the United States, including specialized training for military and law  enforcement personnel across 25+ global engagements. 

Military & Law Enforcement Training 

• Trained military and law enforcement personnel in protective operations for natural disasters, civil disturbances, public  demonstrations, labor disputes, workplace violence, and high-profile corporate events.
• Delivered instruction to aircrew and maritime units on force protection, counterterrorism awareness, threat recognition,  firearms handling, defensive tactics, survival skills, fire safety, and executive protection.

International Security Consulting & Operational Support 

• Provided international consulting for 25 domestic and overseas projects, advising foreign governments and corporations  on security operations, risk mitigation, investigative procedures, and crisis readiness.
• Supported intelligence and law enforcement missions in peripheral advisory roles, contributing to operational planning,  threat assessments, and investigative strategy development.
• Served as an industry consultant on risk management, crisis management, contingency planning, intelligence acquisition,  investigations, and technical security solutions.

Reconnaissance, Surveillance & Corporate Operations 

• Participated in reconnaissance planning, surveillance operations, asset recovery missions, and corporate intelligence  acquisition initiatives, while supporting organizational acquisitions through due diligence reviews, organizational design,  and post-merger integration planning.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE 

FOX News | Washington, DC Oct 2001-Sep 2004 Media Consultant 

Appeared as a recognized national security analyst on FOX News Channel, offering expert commentary on clandestine warfare,  counterterrorism, intelligence operations, and U.S. military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Tracer, Inc. | Silver Spring, MD Jan 1992-Jan 1994 President 

Spearheaded the operations and growth of an investigative security and consulting firm providing specialized investigative services,  risk assessments, mitigation strategies, and international security consulting for corporate and government clients. 

EXPERT WITNESS & FORENSIC TESTIMONY  

Serves as an expert witness providing independent analysis, written reports, and courtroom testimony across state, federal, and  military courts. Experienced in depositions, trial testimony, administrative hearings, and policy review, and retained by plaintiff,  defense, and government counsel. Testified in more than 20 cases across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.  

Flores-Estrada, M. (Peace Order) – Montgomery County District Court, Rockville, MD – July 2025

Chavez v. Chavez – Montgomery County Circuit Court, Rockville, MD – Oct 2024

Stone v. Miller – Baltimore City Circuit Court, Baltimore, MD – Sep 2024

Maryland State Police Trial Board – C. Black – Maryland State Police, Elkton, MD – Aug 2024

State of Maryland v. Eric Werner – Talbot County Circuit Court, Easton, MD – Sep 2023

Land v. Marx – Howard County Circuit Court, Ellicott City, MD – Jun 2023

Patterson v. Patterson – Frederick County Circuit Court, Frederick, MD – Jun 2023

United States v. Masood et al. – U.S. District Court (8:22-CR-00091-2-PWG), District of Maryland – Aug 2022 Bekele v. Bekele – Montgomery County Circuit Court, Rockville, MD – Mar 2015

Johnson v. BAE Systems – U.S. District Court, Washington, DC – Mar 2015

United States v. R. Rood – U.S. District Court, Alexandria, VA – Mar 2011

PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP & AFFILIATIONS 

The National Defender Investigator Association (NDIA) 

The High Technology Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA) 

The Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) 

The American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS)