Associate Special Agent in Charge
United States Department of Homeland Security
Office of Investigations
Houston, Texas

Mr. Gonzalez was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. He is the recipient of a certificate from the U.S. Customs Graduate School of Management, National-Louis University, McLean, Virginia. Mr. Gonzalez is also a graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Mr. Gonzalez began his Federal law enforcement career in 1979 as a United States Border Patrol Agent in El Paso, Texas, interdicting both contraband and people attempting to enter the United States illegally.

In 1980, he transferred to the U.S. Customs Service as a Patrol Officer in New York City. He provided a constant vigil and presence at various maritime and aviation ports of entry within the metropolitan area for the purpose of interdicting narcotics, and other dangerous contraband.

From 1983 through 1987, he was a Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms in New York City, and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He was responsible for conducting investigations of illicit weapons and explosives trafficking to domestic and international criminal enterprises, as well as performing in numerous covert operative roles for the purpose of gathering intelligence on international terrorist entities.

Mr. Gonzalez returned to the U.S. Customs Service in 1987 as a Special Agent in Miami, Florida, conducting numerous notable conspiracy investigations of international drug trafficking/smuggling enterprises operating in the south Florida area. In 1990, as a Senior Special Agent with the Office of Internal Affairs, conducted investigations of workforce breaches of professional ethical standards and integrity. As a result, prescribed countermeasures for assuring and enhancing effective integrity standards.

Mr. Gonzalez was promoted to the Resident Agent in Charge, Roosevelt Roads Naval Installation, Fajardo, Puerto Rico in 1994. He was responsible for managing multiple conspiratorial investigations of maritime based narcotic smuggling activity. Developed and assessed actionable intelligence pertaining to the maritime smuggling threat, and managed all investigative activities in support of the designated High Intensity Drug Trafficking Initiative in his area of responsibility. This included the production of comprehensive threat assessments addressing areas of vulnerability and distribution network.

In 1996, Mr. Gonzalez transferred to the U.S. Customs Headquarters, Washington D.C. He was interim Director for the Administration Division and responsible for the development of objectives, policies, and procedures for administrative activities in the areas of human resource planning, financial management, management controls, training, recruitment, and resource allocation. He identified, formulated and implemented alternatives to improve productivity, efficiency, and compliance. He also served as National Special Agent Recruitment Manager, and National Program Manager in the Smuggling Investigations Division. During his time with the Smuggling Division, he exercised comprehensive operational oversight of all national aspects of the counter-narcotic, and other contraband smuggling initiatives. In his assignment as the National Program Manager in the Financial Investigations Division, he exercised comprehensive operational oversight of money laundering activities that included cataloging and assessing financial infrastructure vulnerabilities and correcting those vulnerabilities.

In 2002, Mr. Gonzalez was promoted as Associate Special Agent in Charge with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (formerly the U.S. Customs Service), in Houston, Texas. Mr. Gonzalez exercises strategic daily oversight of all investigative operations pertaining to counter-terrorism/strategic investigations, narcotics smuggling, trade fraud, money laundering and cybersmuggling within the Houston area of responsibility.

Mr. Gonzalez is also a recipient of numerous Law Enforcement awards and honors.