Principle Forensics

Principle Forensics is a national media forensics laboratory. We recover, authenticate, enhance, and analyze all types of recorded evidence, including video, audio, and digital images. And we back all our work with experienced, highly trained, expert testimony. Our Chief Forensic Analyst, Nick Barreiro, was a police officer in California for 15 years.

Nick is a certified Audio Video Forensic Analyst (AVFA) and an FBI-trained member of the Digital Imaging and Video Recovery Team (DIVRT). Nick is an expert with tremendous technical knowledge and training, but also extensive experience on the witness stand. Nick has enhanced and analyzed thousands of recordings from simple slip-and-fall cases and traffic accidents to complex investigations such as homicides and officer-involved shootings.

Nick is a court-certified expert and has provided testimony in criminal cases, civil litigation, and arbitrations.

Services

Principle Forensics offers the following services:

Video, Audio, and Image Forensics
• Expert Testimony
• Evidence Recovery
• Authentication
• Enhancement
• Synchronization
• Analysis
• Redaction
• Photogrammetry
• Facial Recognition
• License Plate Recognition
• Public/Media Release
• Court Exhibit Preparation
• Consulting

- Video
With the proliferation of CCTV cameras, Ring cameras, Nest cameras, Arlo cameras, cell phone cameras, traffic cameras, dash cameras, body-worn cameras, and more, it is becoming increasingly rare for significant events to occur without being captured on at least one camera. Principle Forensics can help make sense of it all.

- Audio
There are many sources of audio that Principle Forensics can authenticate, enhance, and analyze. These sources include audio tracks from videos, voice recorders, wiretaps, mobile voice memos, 911 calls, dispatch radio traffic, voicemails, body wires, and countless other audio recording devices.

- Image
An average person's cell phone contains over 600 digital photographs. When digital images need to be professionally authenticated, enhanced, or analyzed, Principle Forensics can help.

Litigation Support Services

Mr. Barreiro has conducted hundreds of forensic audio, video, and image investigations in the United States and internationally. He has enhanced and analyzed thousands of digital files, ranging from simple slip-and-fall cases and minor traffic accidents to complex investigations such as homicides and officer involved shootings. He is a court-certified expert and has provided testimony in criminal cases, civil litigation, and arbitrations.

Areas of Expertise

Additional Expertise:

Crime Scene Analysis, Evidence Analysis & Preservation, Surveillance, Forensic Video, Forensic Audio, Voice Forensics, Voice Enhancement, Image Forensics, Image Enhancement.

Profile

Nick Barreiro, BAC, AVFA, DIVRT is a certified Audio Video Forensic Analyst and the founder of Principle Forensics. He is an FBI-trained member of the Digital Imaging and Video Recovery Team and he holds a bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of California at Davis. Mr. Barreiro has received advanced training from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation, the California Department of Justice, the Central California Intelligence Center, the Department of Homeland Security, Resolution Video, and the University of Colorado Denver.

Mr. Barreiro has conducted countless forensic audio, video, and image investigations in the United States and internationally. He has enhanced and analyzed thousands of digital files, from simple slip-and-fall cases and minor traffic accidents to complex investigations such as homicides and officer-involved shootings.

Prior to becoming a full-time Forensic Analyst, Mr. Barreiro spent 15 years as a law enforcement officer in California. He worked for the West Sacramento Police Department as a Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, Detective, and Patrol Sergeant. He was heavily involved in all aspects of technology and innovation at the department, including implementation and management of a digital evidence system, facial recognition technology, license plate readers, dash cameras and body-worn cameras.

While working as a Detective in the Investigations Unit, Mr. Barreiro handled all media forensics including collecting, enhancing, and analyzing video footage from surveillance cameras, cell phones, traffic cameras, body-worn cameras, and dash cameras.

Prior to his career in law enforcement, Mr. Barreiro was an audio engineer and producer in California. He also worked for KBMB radio in Sacramento. He has extensive experience and training in audio enhancement and analysis.

Mr. Barreiro is an active member of the International Association for Identification, Audio Engineering Society, and Electronics Technicians Association International.

Mr. Barreiro is a court-certified expert and has testified hundreds of times in criminal cases, civil litigation, and arbitrations.

Areas Served

Worldwide

Principle Forensics in the Social Networks

LinkedIn

Professional Experience

Forensics
Principle Forensics, Nashville, TN
2020 - (Current) Chief Forensic Analyst
• Forensic Video, Audio, and Image Investigations
• Authentication of Recorded Evidence
• Enhancement and Analysis of Video, Audio, and Images
• Synchronization and Redaction of Exhibits
• Expert Witness Testimony and Professional Litigation Support

Law Enforcement
West Sacramento Police Department, West Sacramento, CA
2019 - 2020 Patrol Sergeant
• Patrol Supervisor
• Technology Project Manager
- Media Forensics
- Body-Worn & Dash Cameras
- Digital Evidence System
- License Plate Readers
- Facial Recognition Technology
2016 - 2019 Detective
• Forensic Video Investigations
• Crimes Against Persons Investigations
- Robbery
- Homicide
- Officer-Involved Shootings
2006 - 2016 Patrol Officer
• Digital Evidence Specialist
• Surveillance Video Recovery

Audio Engineering / Production
2001 - 2003 KBMB Radio, Sacramento, CA
• On-Air Audio Mixing
1998 - 2002 The Graduate, Davis, CA
• Audio Mixing and Production

Licenses

Certifications

Certified Audio Video Forensic Analyst – AVFA
Electronic Technicians Association International

Digital Imaging and Video Recovery Team – DIVRT
Federal Bureau of Investigation

Certified Robbery/Homicide Investigator
Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation

Advanced Peace Officer Certification
California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training

Legal Experience & Services

Hong vs. Yang (FL-2020-768, FL-2021-1434)
Superior Court of California - County of Yolo
Family law case with falsified evidence
• Forensic video and image authentication
• Forensic image analysis
• Detection of evidence tampering
• Demonstrative court exhibit preparation
• Expert witness testimony

State vs. Deangelo Wiggins (21CR0615001)
Circuit Court of Cook County – State of Illinois
Carjacking case
• Forensic video analysis
• Still frame capture
• Forensic image enhancement
• Forensic comparative analysis
• Demonstrative court exhibit preparation
• Expert witness testimony

State vs. Albert Rodriguez Lewis (21-CF-006935AMB)
15th Judicial Circuit of Florida – County of Palm Beach
Attempted homicide case
• Forensic video authentication
• Forensic video analysis
• Expert witness testimony

Crummy vs. Sonoco Products Company (2020-CP-16-00592)
South Carolina Court of Common Pleas – County of Darlington
Wrongful Death Case
• Forensic video authentication and enhancement
• Timeline sequence reconstruction and synchronization
• Distance and speed calculation
• Forensic audio enhancement
• Expert witness testimony

Baxter vs. City of Hemet (5:21-cv-0133-JWH-SP)
US District Court – Central District of California
Law enforcement excessive force allegation
• Opposing expert report analysis
• Forensic video authentication
• Forensic audio authentication
• Chain of custody analysis
• Expert witness testimony

Courtney Christensen vs. Jeffrey Christensen (224902131)
3rd Judicial District Court – State of Utah
Protective order case with falsified evidence
• Forensic video authentication
• Forensic image analysis
• Detection of evidence tampering
• Identification of specific Photoshop edits

State vs. Christian Braun (22-M-00319)
Madison District Court – Commonwealth of Kentucky
Assault case
• Forensic audio authentication and analysis
• Exemplar recording creation
• Detection of evidence tampering
• Expert witness testimony
• Falsified evidence excluded in court

State vs. Albert Rodriguez Lewis (21-CF-006935AMB)
15th Judicial Circuit of Florida – County of Palm Beach
Attempted homicide case
• Forensic video authentication
• Forensic video analysis
• Expert witness testimony

William Sands vs. District of Columbia et al. (2021-CA-000699-B)
Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Law enforcement excessive force allegation
• Forensic video authentication
• Forensic video enhancement and analysis
• Timeline sequence reconstruction and synchronization
• Photogrammetry
• Expert witness testimony

Riffel vs. Redding West Senior Living, LLC (19-7446)
Superior Court of California - County of Shasta
Wrongful death case
• On-site surveillance system analysis
• Forensic digital video recorder examination
• Forensic video authentication and analysis
• Timeline sequence reconstruction

Kenneth Frazier Jr. vs. Norfolk Southern Railway Co. (CA-20-C-69)
Circuit Court of West Virginia – County of Mingo
Personal injury case
• Forensic audio analysis
• Forensic audio enhancement
• Expert witness testimony

Rodock vs. Moore et al. (21-2050-DDC-JPO)
US District Court – District of Kansas
Personal injury malpractice case
• Forensic audio analysis
• Forensic audio enhancement
• Expert witness testimony

Rowan Altahrawi vs. Jafar Altahrawi (2019-OP-0002424)
17th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois – County of Winnebago
Family court case with falsified evidence
• Forensic audio authentication and analysis
• Detection of evidence tampering
• Expert witness testimony
• Falsified evidence excluded in court

State of North Carolina vs. James William Durner (21-CR-50487)
Superior Court of North Carolina – County of Carteret
Homicide case
• Forensic video enhancement
• Forensic video analysis
• Demonstrative court exhibit preparation

Officer-Involved Shooting of Jonathan Ramirez (OPD-20-054365)
Oakland Police Department, California
• Forensic video authentication
• Forensic video enhancement and analysis
• Forensic audio analysis
• Timeline sequence reconstruction and synchronization

Provatas vs. Creek House Seafood and Grill, LLC (STCV19-00197)
Georgia State Court – County of Chatham
Wrongful death case
• Forensic video evidence recovery and authentication
• Forensic video enhancement and analysis
• Super-resolution imaging
• Demonstrative court exhibit preparation
• Expert witness testimony

State of North Carolina vs. Ramone Alston (COA-19-346)
Court of Appeals of North Carolina
Homicide conviction appeal
• Forensic video and image authentication
• Forensic video and image enhancement
• Forensic video analysis
• Still frame capture

People vs. Daryoush Sameyah (LAC9CJ04260-01)
Superior Court of California - County of Los Angeles
Assault with a deadly weapon
• Forensic audio analysis
• Forensic audio authentication
• Detection of evidence tampering

McCray vs. Alexander Jr. (2018-164)
Circuit Court of the 21st District – Williamson County, TN
Wrongful death case
• Opposing expert report analysis
• Forensic audio and image analysis
• Forensic video enhancement
• Demonstrative court exhibit preparation

Evans vs. Gorgenkon et al. (0300631/2017)
Superior Court of New York – County of Bronx
Vehicle accident case
• Forensic video enhancement
• Forensic video authentication
• Forensic video analysis

A.W. vs. Stellar Restaurant Group, Inc. (2084-CV-00657)
Superior Court of Massachusetts – County of Suffolk
Personal injury case
• Opposing expert report analysis
• Forensic video authentication
• Forensic video enhancement
• Forensic video analysis

Officer-Involved Shooting of Robert Coleman (DPD-20-03981)
West Sacramento Police Department, California
• Forensic video authentication and analysis
• Forensic video enhancement
• Forensic video synchronization
• Video preparation for public release

State of California vs. Jacob Oehlcke (CR-2020-4149)
Superior Court of California - County of Yolo
Robbery/Homicide case
• Forensic video analysis
• Forensic video enhancement
• Court testimony

Officer-Involved Shooting of Christopher Gray (WSP-19-07523)
Davis Police Department, California
• Forensic video enhancement
• Forensic video synchronization
• Forensic video analysis
• Still frame capture
• Demonstrative court exhibit preparation

State of California vs. Dominique Jackson (CR-2019-6376)
Superior Court of California - County of Yolo
Sexual assault case
• Forensic video evidence recovery
• Forensic video authentication and enhancement
• Forensic video analysis and still frame capture
• Court Testimony

State of California vs. Tuala Auimatagi (CR-2019-4995)
Superior Court of California - County of Yolo
Homicide case involving hundreds of hours of surveillance video
• Forensic video evidence recovery and authentication
• Forensic video enhancement and synchronization
• Forensic video analysis and still frame capture
• Demonstrative court exhibit preparation
• Court testimony

State of California vs. Joshua Bolden (CR-2019-4186)
Superior Court of California - County of Yolo
Armed robbery case
• Forensic video evidence recovery
• Forensic video authentication and analysis
• Court testimony

State of California vs. Steven Ferris (CR-2019-2476)
Superior Court of California - County of Yolo
Robbery case
• Forensic video authentication
• Forensic video enhancement
• Forensic video analysis and still frame capture
• Court testimony

State of California vs. Terrance Ivory (CR-2018-5165)
Superior Court of California - County of Yolo
Child abuse case
• Forensic video authentication
• Forensic video analysis and still frame capture
• Court testimony

State of California vs. Larry Duncan (CR-2018-4948)
Superior Court of California - County of Yolo
Assault with a deadly weapon case
• Forensic video evidence recovery
• Forensic video analysis
• Court testimony

State of California vs. Bryant Coulson (CR-2018-4292)
Superior Court of California - County of Yolo
Burglary case
• Forensic video authentication and analysis
• Still frame capture
• Facial recognition match

Affiliations

International Association for Identification
Audio Engineering Society
Electronics Technicians Association International

Awards & Honors

2021 Audio Video Forensic Analyst Certification
Electronic Technicians Association

2020 Certificate of Commendation
West Sacramento Police Department

2019 ICI Certificate of Achievement in Homicide Investigation
Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation

2019 ICI Certificate of Achievement in Robbery Investigation
Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation

2019 Digital Imaging and Video Recovery Team Member
Federal Bureau of Investigation

2017 Commanding Officer's Citation
West Sacramento Police Department

2012 Advanced POST Certificate
California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training

2011 Team of the Year Award
West Sacramento Police Department

2010 Intermediate POST Certificate
California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training

2008 Basic POST Certificate
California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training

Publications

Publications, Speaking Engagements, Media, & Interviews


Nigerian Military Execution – Video Enhancement and Analysis
March 2023
Media Consultant, Reuters News

Ghislaine Maxwell Photograph Authenticity
January 2023
Media Consultant, Fox News

Understanding Video and Audio Forensics
November 2022
Presenter, Georgia Association of Professional Private Investigators

Why Security Camera Footage Still Sucks – Cheddar Explains
August 2022
Interview, Cheddar News, cheddar.com

Orsolya Gaal Murder, Queens New York
April 2022
Media Consultant, Fox News

Stop posting pictures with your clients
March 2022
Interview, Athena Worldwide, epbacktobasics.com

Photoshop's Deadly Consequences
August 2021
Published Article, eForensics Magazine, ISSN 2300 6986

Professional References

References are available on request.

Education

Yuba College Administration of Justice
Police Academy
Certificate
Law Enforcement Academy
01/2006 - 06/2006

University of California, Davis
Bachelor's Degree
Major in Communications
09/1998 - 03/2002

Continuing Education and Training

Forensic Image and Video Enhancement
March 20 - 24, 2023
Amped Software

Advanced Forensic Audio Analysis & Processing
December 2, 2022
Resolution Video

Adobe Premiere for Forensic Video Analysts
November 8 - 10, 2022
Resolution Video

Advanced Forensic Audio Enhancement & Processing
May 9 - 12, 2022
University of Colorado Denver, National Center for Media Forensics

LEVA Digital Multimedia Evidence Training Symposium
October 18 - 22, 2021
LEVA International, Inc.

Adobe Photoshop for Forensic Video Analysts
May 10 - 13, 2021
Resolution Video

Digital Video Forensics
May 3 - 5, 2021
eForensics, Hakin9 Media

Forensic Analysis and Enhancement of Digital Audio
March 29 - April 1, 2021
University of Colorado Denver, National Center for Media Forensics

Forensic Analysis and Authentication of Digital Audio
March 15 - 18, 2021
University of Colorado Denver, National Center for Media Forensics

Forensic Analysis and Authentication of Digital Images
March 1 - 4, 2021
University of Colorado Denver, National Center for Media Forensics

Digital Imaging and Video Recovery
March 19 - 20, 2019
Federal Bureau of Investigation

Homicide Investigation (ICI)
January 21 - February 1, 2019
Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation

Officer-Involved Shooting/Force Investigation (ICI)
December 10 - 14, 2018
Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation

Death Investigation
May 21 - 22, 2018
3rd Degree Communications

Robbery Investigation
November 14, 2017
3rd Degree Communications

Electronic Surveillance
June 9, 2017
State of California Department of Justice

Criminal Investigation Core Course (ICI)
January 9 - 20, 2017
Robert Presley Institute of Criminal Investigation

FaceSearch Facial Recognition
July 28, 2016
Vigilant Solutions

Critical Incident Response
March 5, 2015
South Bay Regional Public Safety Training Consortium

Cybersecurity
October 28 - 29, 2014
Department of Homeland Security

Automated License Plate Reader
September 26, 2014
Central California Intelligence Center, Sacramento RTAC