In the 1990s, David Marwell worked the mean streets of Miami, where money laundering and drug trafficking were part of the day-to-day crimes he fought as a U.S. Customs Service supervisor.
Now he is in Denver, where he finds Colorado’s streets calmer and investigations tougher to build. But Marwell said he and his agents are up for the challenge.
“Denver is an interior office and a little more challenging from an investigative standpoint because there is not a large seaport or border,” he said. “Agents have to work harder to work quality investigations.”
Marwell’s appointment as the new special agent in charge of the Denver field division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations was announced in May.
“Our primary mission is national security, public safety and security of our borders through criminal and civil enforcement of federal law governing border control, customs, trade and immigration,” he said. “Our investigative priorities are focused on illicit finance, illicit trade and illicit travel.”
As acting regional supervisor, Marwell, 45, traveled between Colorado and Washington, D.C., for months. Now that he has been permanently appointed, he will live in Denver.
During his short time in Colorado, Marwell has overseen a number of investigations, including the case involving Dennis Dean Sieving, a state driving-test instructor who is accused of taking money to falsify exam results for students who allegedly did not pass or take the tests.
As a result of the investigation, the Colorado Department of Revenue revoked more than 1,500 driver’s licenses and learner’s permits.
ICE/HSI agents not only focus on illegal immigration, they also work in several groups targeting national security, intellectual-property rights, child predators, document fraud, asset forfeiture, human smuggling, gang enforcement and overall intelligence gathering.
Marwell is based in Denver but is responsible for offices in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming and Utah.
Not only has Marwell worked as a supervisor domestically, he has extensive experience overseas.
He was previously assigned as the ICE attache in Bern, Switzerland. He coordinated ICE’s investigative work with authorities in Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Interpol in Lyon, France.
Marwell earned his bachelor of science degree in criminal justice from Northeastern University in Boston. He also completed a senior executives fellows program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
He and his wife, Ivette, have two children.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
