PCSO expanding criminal investigation division

Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier has announced the expansion of the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID) with the creation of a financial crimes investigator position. Former deputy Christian Townsend has been promoted to this new position.

Authier said the continual rise in financial crimes necessitated the need to add an investigator’s position whose primary focus is centered in the field.

“Financial crimes and related scams are among some of the fastest growing crimes in Texas,” Authier said.

The Federal Trade Commission reported receiving 2.8 million fraud reports nationwide from consumers in 2021, equaling more than $5.8 billion in losses. That number has surged by over 70 percent within the last four years. 

In 2023 alone, the amount nearly doubled at $10 billion in financial crime loss reported across the United States.

Parker County also saw an uptick in the number of financial crimes reported, where in 2020, the Parker County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) CID received 209 financial crimes cases. By 2023, the number of financial crimes cases received increased by 58 percent to 331 cases involving wire fraud, forgery, counterfeiting, identity theft, ATM fraud/credit card and debit card abuse cases.

Previously, PCSO financial crimes cases received were assigned on a rotating basis to property crimes investigators within the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division. The intricate nature of many financial crimes cases demands a specialized skill set and training as they are often some of the most challenging cases to solve.    

“Following the unanimous approval by the Commissioner’s Court, we conducted assessments to identify the most suitable candidate for the financial crimes investigator role,” Authier remarked. “Deputy Christian Townsend achieved the highest score and was promoted into this new position.”

Townsend came to the PCSO in January 2023. His experience includes seven years of experience with New Mexico law enforcement and working major crimes investigations. 

Townsend has advanced training as a peace officer and holds an undergraduate and graduate degrees in fields of study relating to law enforcement and public safety. He also has experience investigating numerous types of cases ranging from minor property crimes to homicides as well as investigating interstate federal offenses.

“The complexity of many financial crimes requires not only the application of specialized investigative techniques but also the promptness in intercepting transfers and the expertise to electronically trace these transactions,” Authier noted. “Funds can swiftly circulate through various channels, and with the emerging trend of digital currency, there is an urgent need for effective and timely resolutions.”

In just a few short months, Townsend has frozen or recovered more than $60,000 in funds and assets stolen from victims in fraudulent scams and transactions since taking the financial crimes investigator position. In October, Townsend made several arrests stemming from existing case investigations and obtained additional arrest warrants in connection with new financial crimes cases received. 

He also seized over $17,000 from an account used to collect and distribute funds stolen during a financial scheme. Townsend also obtained a seizure warrant on an account totaling more than $43,000, which is believed to have been used in a separate fraud case.

Authier expressed his gratitude to the Parker County Commissioner’s Court for their unwavering support of the sheriff’s office and for approving funding for the financial crimes investigator position.