Vincent Pankoke

10/02/2025

Last evening I had the honor of attending and speaking at the Penn Highlands Community College Police Academy graduation in my hometown of Johnstown PA. It was a very special ceremony which included the presentation of the first annual Chief James Mock Memorial Achievement Award to one of the cadets by the chief’s daughter, Catherine Rager (Mock). I owe so very much to Chief Mock for giving me my start in law enforcement.

09/15/2025

I am proud to post this story about my partner, Martin Suarez, whose book is now available on Amazon. If you want to know what is was like to work Colombian Drug cases in Miami, then this is a must read!

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/inside-the-cartel-martin-suarez-excerpt-1235423518/?fbclid=IwY2xjawM1DqZleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF0ejZJbnpQdWdvMXJBN0RJAR43gankEkjjKr4DWlhrzS9kNYuNUmwGZGiw4Q85N6xWrv2Wv1GZY5gkAbU3fQ_aem_kjYIfm6aS3OKvk5kkCHN1A

In his new memoir 'Inside the Cartel,' former FBI agent Martin Suarez recounts his years with dangerous Colombian drug-smuggling gangs.

09/04/2025

The rare painting was recovered! I am betting she has more hidden somewhere else.

The daughter of N**i official Friedrich Kadgien, Patricia Kadgien, has handed over a painting looted by her father to the Argentinian justice department until its ownership can be established, local media reported. The artwork, A Lady’s Portrait by the 17th-century Italian master Giuseppe Ghisland...

08/27/2025

Evidence still being found 80 years later! This painting was part of the collection Hermann Goering “aquired” in a transaction officiated by the man we suspect betrayed Anne Frank’s location.

The painting is among hundreds looted from Dutch art dealer Jacques Goudstikker.

10/17/2024

Part 2 of the FBI Retired Case File Podcast about Operation Dilido just posted. Again, thank you to Retired SA Jerri Williams for showcasing one of our Miami Division Colombian drug investigations on these episodes.

In part two of this two-part episode of FBI Retired Case File Review, retired agents Vincent Pankoke Jr., Jr. and Tom Myers continue their review of Operation…

10/10/2024

Thank you to Jerri Williams for sharing one of our most challenging Colombian Drug Investigations on her FBI Retired Case File Podcast. It was only through the tireless efforts of my Miami D3 Squad members, the USAO, and all our law enforcement partners that we prevailed at dismantling one of the most prolific Cali based drug organizations. Attached is Part 1 of the story.

In part one of this two-part FBI Retired Case File Review episode, retired agents Vincent Pankoke Jr. and Tom Myers review Operation Dilido, a Group I…

05/03/2024

It is such a small world! Last week I met this amazing man while presenting at the Criminal Justice Institute of Wilmington University's, Violent Crime Symposium. Walt Hunter III, Master of Ceremonies for the event, was an Emmy award winning reporter for CBS 3 for 36 years covering virtually every major news event in Philadelphia. Prior to his television career, Walt was a radio reporter for a Philadelphia station. One of his first assignments was in my hometown of Johnstown, PA, for coverage of the 1977 flood. The flood claimed 84 lives and the city was devastated by flood waters for an unprecedented third time in its history (1889, 1936, 1977). He vividly recalled visiting the makeshift morgue at a school in Richland Township, which coincidentally happens to be where I began my law enforcement career as coverage of the disaster was winding down. One of my closest friends from the police department, Joe Vella, was assigned to the morgue and would have certainly interacted with Walt! Small world!

04/22/2024

Honored to be part of this cadre of incredibly talented investigators presenting at this week’s Violent Crime Symposium presented by the Criminal Justice Institute of Wilmington University at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Wilmington, Delaware. Thanks to CJI Director Scott Duffey for always leading the way in investigative education for our law enforcement professionals!

01/14/2024

So hard to believe it was two years ago tonight that the 60 Minutes show about our cold case investigation premiered. Since then it has received over 3 million views on YouTube, becoming one of their most watched episodes. In many ways it seems like it was such a long time ago.

01/09/2024

In 2023, there were 124 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. You will never hear about this in most of the national news media coverage, but this calculates to 2.4 officers killed/dying every week.
https://www.odmp.org/search/year/2023

11/04/2023

To conclude my trip to Argentina, I was invited to tour the Anne Frank Center, Buenos Aires. A big thank you to AFC Director Hector Shalom, who is so passionate about educating people, especially the youth, about the Anne Frank story and the Holocaust. Established in 2009, the Centro Ana Frank Argentina spreads the message of resistance, hope and strength, in order to confront prejudice and banish discrimination. If you are ever in Buenos Aires, a tour of the center should be on your "must do" list. Anne Frank Center, USA

10/31/2023

Today I had the honor of presenting Marc Stanley, US Ambassador to Argentina, with a copy of Rosemary Sullivan's book about our investigation. Ambassador Stanley is a big supporter of Holocaust education and is extremely active with Argentina's Jewish community, the largest in Latin America. Although estimates differ, informed sources report that there are approximately 200 Holocaust survivors remaining in Argentina.