Carolinas Crime Analysis Association upcoming events

Webinar: Privately Manufactured Firearms (PMFs): Trends & Investigations (November 10, 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Privately Manufactured Firearms (PMFs): Trends & Investigations

Privately Manufactured Firearms (PMFs), commonly known as "ghost guns," are becoming an increasing challenge for law enforcement. This webinar will examine the three primary types of PMFs, including 3D-printed firearms, airsoft conversions, and Polymer80-style firearms, and discuss how they are being encountered in criminal investigations. Using real-world case studies from Canada with lessons applicable to the United States, participants will learn about current and emerging trends, investigative considerations, and the evolving threat posed by PMFs.

Presenter

Winston Soriano is a Senior Intelligence Analyst with the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada's largest integrated law enforcement unit focused on gangs and organized crime. During his 25-year career with CFSEU, he has worked investigations involving organized crime, drug trafficking, firearms trafficking, and murder conspiracies, and has participated in joint operations with the DEA, HSI, ATF, and Australian Federal Police. Winston currently serves as the Lead Analyst for CFSEU's Illegal Firearms Intelligence Team and is recognized as a subject matter expert on Privately Manufactured Firearms (PMFs), including 3D-printed firearms, airsoft conversions, and Polymer80-style firearms. He has presented nationally and internationally on PMFs, including at conferences in The Hague, Montreal, and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police Annual Meeting. He also serves as a part-time instructor in the Crime and Intelligence Analysis program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology.

Please note that you must be logged into your CCAA account to receive the free member pricing.

CCAA Power BI Work Group (FREE) (November 12, 2026)

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Welcome to the CCAA Power BI Work Group!

Join our online community for Power BI enthusiasts across the Carolinas. From beginners to experienced users, all skill levels are welcome. Engage in live demos, ask questions, and collaborate with fellow members as we harness the power of data together.

This work group focuses on developing and sharing Power BI dashboards with crime analysts across the region, collaborating on projects, and exchanging best practices for data visualization.

Meetings are held virtually on the second Thursday of every month from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM EST. This is an ongoing event with no scheduled end date.

Presented by: Jacob Riding, Crime Analyst with the Fayette County Sheriff's Office. Jacob has extensive experience in transforming how agencies produce reports and visualize statistical data. His work focuses on supporting officers and command staff, enhancing community safety, and implementing advanced techniques in database management, data visualization, and automation. He has presented at multiple conferences, including the Ohio Violent Crime Consortium.

This work group is open to CCAA Members only.

2026 Meeting Dates:

January 08, 2026

February 12, 2026

April 09, 2026

May 14, 2026

June 11, 2026

July 09, 2026

August 13, 2026

September 10, 2026

October 08, 2026

November 12, 2026

December 10, 2026

CCAA Power BI Work Group (FREE) (December 10, 2026)

Thu, 10 Dec 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Welcome to the CCAA Power BI Work Group!

This work group focuses on developing and sharing Power BI dashboards with crime analysts across the region, collaborating on projects, and exchanging best practices for data visualization.

Meetings are held virtually on the second Thursday of every month from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM EST. This is an ongoing event with no scheduled end date.

This work group is open to CCAA Members only.

2026 Meeting Dates:

January 08, 2026

February 12, 2026

April 09, 2026

May 14, 2026

June 11, 2026

July 09, 2026

August 13, 2026

September 10, 2026

October 08, 2026

November 12, 2026

December 10, 2026

Webinar: Cryptocurrency – It’s Not the End of the Line (January 26, 2027)

Tue, 26 Jan 2027 16:00:00 GMT

Cryptocurrency – It’s Not the End of the Line

When funds move onto a blockchain, the paper trail doesn’t vanish, it evolves. Cryptocurrency is not the end of the line for your case; it is often the most transparent piece of evidence you will find. Because most blockchains are permanent, public ledgers, they provide an unalterable roadmap for a suspect's financial activity. This webinar will discuss foundational skills needed to recognize digital assets and leverage open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools to trace illicit funds.

Presenter

Heather Stroud, CFE is a Special Investigator with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (NCSBI), where she specializes in financial crimes and illicit finance investigations. She began her career as an Intelligence Analyst, supporting property crimes, financial crimes, and fugitive investigations before becoming a Special Investigator in 2013. Heather is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and a Certified Cryptocurrency Investigator, and has served as North Carolina's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Coordinator since 2015. Heather is a member of the U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of North Carolina Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) Review Team and Illicit Finance Team. Her work includes investigating the financial nexus of drug trafficking, homicide, human trafficking, fraud, and embezzlement cases, while also partnering with public and private sector organizations to prevent fraud and elder exploitation. She holds an associate degree in Criminal Justice, a bachelor's degree in Justice and Public Policy, and a master's degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Cybercrime Investigations.

Please note that you must be logged into your CCAA account to receive the free member pricing.

2027 CCAA Conference (March 15, 2027)

Mon, 15 Mar 2027 22:00:00 GMT