Oscar Santamaria: Welcome to the Miami PI Chronicles Podcast, where the world of private investigation comes alive. Joining me all is Francois McKinnon of McKinnon Investigative Group and Oscar Santamaria of Optimum Investigations as they tap into their combined 60 plus years of experience in the industry. From real life cases to insider tips, they bring the stories, insights, and expertise that only seasoned pros can provide. So sit back, listen, and enjoy the show. Well, we’re back. Episode 30 of the Miami PI Chronicles Podcast. Francois, how are you today?
Francois McKinnon: I’m doing well. How about you, buddy?
Oscar Santamaria: I’m doing really good. I’m excited about today’s show. We have Mark Hurwitz of Crossroad Investigations. He’s got a fairly large company down here, probably the biggest investigative agency that we’ve had as far as an owner that we’re interviewing. And I thought it would be a really great idea to have him on the show. So Mark, thank you for coming on. And can you tell our audience a little bit about yourself and your agency?
Mark Hurwitz: Sure. Well, first, thank you guys for having me. I’m very honored to be with you both. I started Crossroads Investigations in 2008 after leaving the Central Intelligence Agency. Before that, I was at the White House for several years. We’ve turned into a full-service private investigation and due diligence agency. We do everything that traditional investigators do, like surveillance and background reports and finding people. We also do some more non-traditional things like international investigations, asset searches, jury vetting, and deep-dive business due diligence. And we love working with the legal and business communities to find the truth.
Oscar Santamaria: How did your experience working with the CIA shape or influence your transition into the private investigative field?
Mark Hurwitz: It goes back to how you collect information and how you share it with your customer. The CIA has one customer—it’s the president. And he’s a very busy person. Our clients are also very busy. So even though we can sometimes give reports that are hundreds of pages long, they want the upfront answer on the first page. We also tend not to talk in absolutes. We give our views on how likely something may be, but very rare is it an absolute truth. It’s about keeping expectations in check and maintaining total professionalism.
Francois McKinnon: I’ve worked with your firm recently and I think you can really see that CIA background in your support staff. When you’re in the field and you need a background check or need to run a tag, your team is on point with an immediate response. It’s refreshing for those of us used to being one-man shops.
Mark Hurwitz: I didn’t have a business background, so I set up my company like a CIA station. We have case managers who each handle their own cases. Many investigators are busy in the car doing surveillance, and it’s helpful to have office support to do map planning or run interference with the client. It leaves the investigator free to do their job.
Oscar Santamaria: How did you come up with the name Crossroads Investigations? I just picked a name that started with an ‘O’ so I could put an eyeball in it!
Mark Hurwitz: I needed a name fast because I had a contract coming in. My cousin is a big Eric Clapton fan and suggested ‘Crossroads.’ I think it’s apropos because many clients are at a crossroads in their marriage or business, and they need facts to make an informed decision.
Oscar Santamaria: Of all your services, which are most requested? Is it your licensed surveillance?
Mark Hurwitz: We do a lot of insurance defense surveillance, which is our bread and butter. But we also get a lot of asset search requests and international investigations. Because of my CIA background and detective network, we’ve developed a solid global network. You have to have boots on the ground for international cases. If you’re in Romania or Argentina, you aren’t going to know how to navigate local corporate records. We also spend $50,000 a year just on data across five or six databases to get a full picture of a subject.
Oscar Santamaria: What are the three most essential characteristics of a successful investigator?
Mark Hurwitz: Integrity is number one. There are a lot of gray areas, and I’m never afraid to turn down a case that isn’t ethical. Second is experience—you either need law enforcement background or a full two-year internship. You can’t serve a client without that prior knowledge.
Francois McKinnon: Dealing with wealthy clients is also a skill. Some try to skip steps to get quicker results, but we have to remain ethical and do things the right way.
Mark Hurwitz: Setting expectations upfront in writing via contracts is critical. I had a client recently who had an issue with ‘all’ my terms, so I had to be firm. You have to outline responsibilities so there is no ‘he said, she said.’
Oscar Santamaria: Do any P.I. shows on TV influence you? I think the Ending of ‘The Americans’ was one of the best of all time.
Mark Hurwitz: I always recommend ‘The Americans.’ The tradecraft—the drops and the rocks they used—is phenomenal and extremely accurate. Street craft will always be needed; it cannot be replaced by AI technology.
Francois McKinnon: People always ask for our wildest stories. What is your most memorable case?
Mark Hurwitz: We had an infidelity case where a client noticed high restaurant bills. We followed the wife to a swingers club called Trapeze. It turned out she had flown in a dog walker 30 years younger than her! We also had an immigration case where we discovered a judge was biased by sending someone inside to listen to their church sermons, which were very inflammatory regarding immigration policy.
Oscar Santamaria: You also mentioned jury vetting. How does that work in real-time?
Mark Hurwitz: We take a team of about six people offline for the day. One person is in the courtroom communicating via WhatsApp, while the others are in the office hitting databases and social media. We catch jurors lying about criminal convictions all the time. One lady said she was an accountant, but she actually worked at a strip club. Those are ‘strikes for cause’ that are gold for attorneys.
Oscar Santamaria: You’re licensed in Florida and Tennessee—any plans to expand?
Mark Hurwitz: I’m an entrepreneur first, so I’m always looking to build. Expansion is challenging due to brick-and-mortar requirements and state tests, but we are looking at it. I also try to keep our name out there through bourbon flight demonstrations and James Bond martini classes for legal bars. It keeps us top-of-mind for our clients.
Francois McKinnon: Mark, how can people reach you for an investigation?
Mark Hurwitz: The best way is email: info at xinvestigations.com. Our phone is 866-976-2371. Our team is super responsive; it’s one of our core values. Thank you guys for having me.
Oscar Santamaria: Thank you, Mark. You are truly a professional. Thank you for listening to the Miami PI Chronicles podcast. For all of your investigative needs in Miami, please contact McKinnon Investigative Group at 954-513-7414. Please remember to share, follow, and like our updates.
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