Ralph Villarruel is a licensed Private Investigator in the state of Colorado with over 30 years of law enforcement experience at the state, federal and international level. Mr. Villarruel brings a vast amount of experience to the Pilum team, is dedicated to serving his clients with the utmost respect, and is prepared to solve complex cases.
Mr. Villarruel is fluent in Spanish and is equipped to serve any Spanish-speaking clients. He has a vast range of expertise – from working undercover, investigating money laundering & drug traffic cases, to dismantling high profile criminals and briefing officials on confidential cases.
Mr. Villarruel has TS/SCI clearance with a CI polygraph security clearance. His training includes JOTC Special Forces Training from Fort Sherman, Panama; Surveillance Detection (SD) from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); International Money Laundering from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Quantico, VA; and Counter Terrorism from Special Forces in Quantico, VA.
Mr. Villarruel mentored and managed Sensitive Intelligence Units (SIU) in Mexico and Peru on how to target and dismantle the highest criminal organizations. He has also worked in undercover operations in both the US and overseas.
Mr. Villarruel has been awarded for numerous DEA Special Performance awards and nominated for the Attorney General Award.
Mr. Villarruel started out as a police officer in Indiana from 1980 to 1983; then was employed as a Special Agent/Group Supervisor with the DEA from 1983 to 2008. During his time with the DEA Mr. Villarruel worked for the Denver Field Division’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Task Force (HIDTA) and was in charge of the Asset Forfeiture Group in Denver, CO.
After retiring from the DEA, Mr. Villarruel transitioned into the private sector. He has worked for Science Application International Corporation (SAIC), Spectre Group International (SGI) and was involved in the Biometric Voice Speaker Identification program. He has also worked with Conduit Language Specialist as a SIGINT Intelligence Supervisor collector in Tucson, Arizona. Prior to joining Pilum, in 2014 Mr. Villarruel worked as a contract investigator with FIS/Altria performing background checks and criminal checks on suspects and businesses. In this position he managed Confidential Informants (CI’s) and coordinated the information provided by the CI’s with the appropriate US authorities and foreign officials.
Mr. Villarruel is proficient in analyzing investigative leads. His experience has given him the ability to make critical decisions and take proper actions when deemed necessary. He has proven his ability to react quickly and calmly in emergency and high-stress situations.
Lastly, to stay fit Mr. Villarruel works as a part-time trainer instructing boxing classes as well as coaching amateur and professional fighters.