Brendan Shelley

Brendan Shelley is an Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) assigned to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Philadelphia.  His areas of investigative expertise include violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, federal sex trafficking statutes, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and laws governing money laundering and financial fraud.

From 2021 through 2025, ASAC Shelley was assigned to the Countering Transnational Organized Crime Division at HSI headquarters where he developed national strategies to enhance HSI’s capabilities to conduct complex asset forfeiture and financial investigations.  He also led the HSI Narcotics and Contraband Smuggling Unit and was responsible for executing national strategies to combat drug trafficking organizations and reduce the supply of illicit opioids.

ASAC Shelley previously led the HSI Seattle Border Enforcement Security Task Force and Asset Identification and Removal Group – a multi-agency initiative that combats international contraband smuggling, money laundering, and financial fraud networks in the Pacific Northwest.

From 2007 through 2018, ASAC Shelley was assigned to the HSI DC field office where he served as the lead investigator for over 150 investigations targeting transnational criminal organizations that resulted in arrests, convictions, seizures, money judgements, and forfeiture orders.  He successfully executed complex investigative case strategies that secured federal convictions against members of violent criminal street gangs, money laundering networks, financial fraudsters, and corrupt foreign government officials involved in money laundering activity.

SSA Shelley graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and with a Masters of Science degree from the American University’s School of Public Affairs in Washington D.C.