Senior Editor

• May 2023 - Present

National Correspondent, Criminal Justice

• Feb 2021 - May 2023

Covered the criminal justice system, with a focus on systemic disparities and inequities. Traveled to Scandinavia, Europe, including Ukraine to cover the fallout of Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Helped cover investigations into Donald Trump, Jan. 6 Committee findings. Covered Derek Chauvin's criminal prosecution in Minneapolis; created video, podcast and radio updates, plus engaged in text message outreach with readers. Tasked with helping cover the federal judiciary in 2023. Selected as executive member of USA TODAY’s Diversity Committee. Show less

Senior reporter

• Dec 2019 - Feb 2021

On the launch team of a technology journalism startup. Covered Paycheck Protection Program payout to successful media company. Reported on diversity and equity in venture capital funding. Reported exclusive five-part narrative investigation into a failed U.S cannabis fund backed by a Russian oligarch. Moderated and appeared in multiple virtually-held panels. On the launch team of a technology journalism startup. Covered Paycheck Protection Program payout to successful media company. Reported on diversity and equity in venture capital funding. Reported exclusive five-part narrative investigation into a failed U.S cannabis fund backed by a Russian oligarch. Moderated and appeared in multiple virtually-held panels.

Cybersecurity & Terrorism Reporter

• Oct 2015 - Dec 2019

Served as first AP cybersecurity reporter and covered the 2016 presidential election. Reported heavily on national security issues and the U.S. Department of Justice. Story subjects have included election security, the government showdown with Apple on encryption with multiple scoops, ransomware’s massive growth, the 2016 presidential election, cyber hacking threats, and the internet of things.Was temporarily tasked in September 2017 with covering President Donald Trump’s business conflicts and ethics. Reported on multiple apparent “pay to play” scenarios, emoluments cases.Also generated enterprise investigative pieces on Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response and recovery to Puerto Rico post-Hurricane Maria. Broke exclusive story on newly-created company awarded $30 million in federal contracts to provide emergency tarps and plastic sheeting, which never materialized. Spurred inspector general’s review and congressional oversight. Resulted in passage of new law regarding contractor vetting and new agency processes.Back on the national security beat including cyber and election security as of June 2019. Show less

Law enforcement reporter

• Jan 2013 - Oct 2015

Covered local, state and federal law enforcement agencies out of the AP's Los Angeles bureau, including the LAPD, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and federal agencies such as the FBI, DHS's HSI, ATF and DEA. Stories have ranged from major criminal acts or actors (a la Christopher Dorner) to policing issues, terrorism to technology, the investigation of the Sony hack, cybersecurity, and many cases in between.Broke a series of exclusive stories on systemic failures during the Nov. 1, 2013 attack of a gunman on the Los Angeles International Airport that led to an on-site congressional hearing. Wrote the first comprehensive look at the increasing use of police body cameras and the lagging or lack of policies governing their use. Covered issues surrounding militarization of police and provisions of surplus military weapons to departments censored by the Justice Department. Detailed exclusive international sex abuse case that led to hundreds of tips to the FBI.Served as weekend news desk supervisor editing and publishing copy directly to the AP wire in Los Angeles and western states including Alaska and Hawaii. Won multiple “Best of the States” prizes for the best national “beat of the week” for breaking news. Represented AP on television, radio and in-person panels. Show less

Education reporter

• Nov 2011 - Dec 2012

Covered all things education and some breaking news — on multiple platforms — for KPCC. KPCC is a local NPR affiliate for Los Angeles. Created and branded the Pass/Fail education blog. Broke story on a $40,000 settlement paid by the Los Angeles Unified School District to a former Miramonte Elementary School teacher charged with lewd acts on children. Broke story that L.A. Unified violated state law by delaying their report of a teacher’s dismissal to the state’s Commission on Teacher Credentialing; led to a district internal investigation into its reporting procedures on accused teachers. Broke story on former Hamilton High School music teacher accused of inappropriate conduct with students; led to reopening of a Los Angeles Police Department investigation. Broke story on the posting of LAPD brass’ personal information online by the international hacker group Anonymous. Wrote online stories, produced radio pieces, took photos, ran branded social media accounts, helped with web production and coordination. Increased web traffic by nearly 400 percent in the first month of reporting. Show less

Reporter

• Oct 2010 - Feb 2011

Wrote and researched stories while traveling. Covered breaking news on trapped miners in New Zealand for the Los Angeles Times and The Daily Beast. Also wrote about New Zealand's look at legislating new alcohol limits. Wrote and researched stories while traveling. Covered breaking news on trapped miners in New Zealand for the Los Angeles Times and The Daily Beast. Also wrote about New Zealand's look at legislating new alcohol limits.

Reporting Officer

• Nov 2009 - Sep 2010

Researched, documented and monitored progress on more than 1,000 grants geared toward the development and reconstruction of Iraq as part of USAID’s $200-million Iraq Rapid Assistance Program. Created regular reports for the State Department and USAID. Researched, documented and monitored progress on more than 1,000 grants geared toward the development and reconstruction of Iraq as part of USAID’s $200-million Iraq Rapid Assistance Program. Created regular reports for the State Department and USAID.

Reporter

• Oct 2006 - Oct 2009

Former MetPro reporter. Covered criminal justice, law enforcement, environment, government, transportation, general assignment, and breaking news. Reported on nearly every major California fire, earthquake, or flood during the time period. Broke investigative front-page stories on a U.S. Justice Department probe into Orange County’s problematic jail system, a rogue DNA lab operation by the District Attorney’s Office, as well as a Column One about a man’s brutal Christmas massacre of his ex-wife’s family. Broke story on misuse of campaign funds that resulted in California ethics watchdog investigation of a state Assemblyman. Wrote exclusively about the cybersecurity pitfalls of wireless internet, including the FBI ramp up investigating such hacks. Broke story on alleged middle school child-molesting teacher that resulted in major school policy changes. Show less

Reporting Intern

• Jun 2006 - Aug 2006

Worked in the paper's Brussels bureau. Wrote articles analyzing retail trends and seasonal sales. Wrote about philanthropic businesses, retail psychology. Worked in the paper's Brussels bureau. Wrote articles analyzing retail trends and seasonal sales. Wrote about philanthropic businesses, retail psychology.

Business reporting intern/Dow Jones Newspaper Fund intern

• Jun 2004 - Aug 2004

Spent one week at New York University as part of an intense course on business and finance fundamentals. Reported for the business desk in Columbus, Ohio. Wrote enterprise articles on the ease of ID theft from universities after recent hacking at colleges nationwide and the expansion and diminution of regional businesses. Spent one week at New York University as part of an intense course on business and finance fundamentals. Reported for the business desk in Columbus, Ohio. Wrote enterprise articles on the ease of ID theft from universities after recent hacking at colleges nationwide and the expansion and diminution of regional businesses.

Staff Writer

• Sep 2002 - May 2004

Covered Berkeley Unified School District beat reporter, campus activism, among other city and campus issues. Designed pages. Worked with Quark, PageMaker, Adobe Photoshop. Covered Berkeley Unified School District beat reporter, campus activism, among other city and campus issues. Designed pages. Worked with Quark, PageMaker, Adobe Photoshop.

Metro reporting intern

• Jun 2003 - Jul 2003

Wrote about Bob Hope’s death, helped cover Bill Simon’s campaign for governor, among other stories. Wrote about Bob Hope’s death, helped cover Bill Simon’s campaign for governor, among other stories.

Writer

• Jan 2003 - May 2003

Wrote lead magazine article on the new technology of brain fingerprinting and its potential legal uses. Wrote lead magazine article on the new technology of brain fingerprinting and its potential legal uses.