The RIAA has added former senior FBI official Kathy Leodler to its anti-piracy unit as the new director of investigations for its Western region.
Leodler will oversee all anti-piracy RIAA operations in the western United States and assist law enforcement authorities engaged in music piracy investigations. The work includes investigations into music theft both in traditional physical form and also online. Leodler reports to Brad Buckles, who directs all anti-piracy operations as executive VP, anti-piracy.
Leodler has 23 years of leadership and operational experience as a special agent with the FBI. In her most recent role as the Acting Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI’s office in San Diego, Leodler managed a multi-million dollar budget and a 500-person staff. Prior to her tenure as the senior official in that office, Leodler served in several different senior leadership posts for the FBI, including Assistant Special Agent in Charge and Supervisory Special Agent.
“Kathy’s tremendous experience directing teams in sensitive and complex domestic and international investigations is supreme,” says Buckles. “Her ability to utilize sophisticated techniques and tactical response will be a huge asset to the hard work we do to further our mission.”
The RIAA’s anti-piracy unit includes investigators in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country who work with various law enforcement agencies to combat music theft. The Western region unit covers Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Guam.
“The RIAA’s West Coast office is committed to developing strong partnerships with law enforcement, local governments and the private sector to identify, investigate and bring to justice those individuals and organizations who unlawfully prey upon the music industry for their ill gotten financial gain,” Leodler says.
