In his position as special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Honolulu, John F. Tobon oversees criminal investigations in an area of responsibility encompassing the five island counties of the state of Hawaii, four U.S. territories, three freely associated states and 12 Pacific Island nations. Prior to this assignment he completed tours of duty in New York, New York; Bogota, Colombia; and Miami, Florida.
During his over 20-year law enforcement career, Tobon has participated in numerous high-profile money laundering investigations targeting transnational criminal organizations as a case agent, undercover operative and supervisor. He has helped shape international anti-money laundering policy as a member of U.S. delegations to intergovernmental policy-making bodies, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF); he also regularly shares his knowledge and expertise at conferences and training sessions attended by public and private industry personnel from around the world.
Tobon is also an adjunct professor at Florida International University’s School of International and Public Affairs where he lectures on global financial crimes. In 1997, Tobon earned a combined Bachelor of Arts/Master of Arts degree in criminal justice from the City University of New York, John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is also a native Spanish speaker.