Press Release  IG Shapiro Appoints Two Senior Investigators

Boston, MA — Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro today announced the appointment a long-time DEA Special Agent and a seasoned investigative journalist as senior investigators.  Dan Atkinson and Dennis Barton will serve as senior investigators in the Audit, Oversight & Investigations Division.

“As the leader of an agency with oversight of an estimated $120 billion in municipal and state spending and the work of over 300,000 public employees, I am committed to building a strong team of experienced professionals to carry out our mission to prevent and detect waste, fraud and abuse of public resources,” IG Shapiro said.

“Dennis and Dan each bring a unique perspective and skills to our investigative team that will undoubtedly enhance our ability to fulfill our mandate,” IG Shapiro said.  “Both of them have shown a passion for good and fair government, which will add depth to our already focused team and will contribute to our rigorous pursuit of fraud, waste and abuse.”

Dennis Barton is a former Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent with over 37 years of investigative experience. While serving in the DEA Boston Division Office, Barton led the Financial Investigations Team, specializing in international money laundering, complex fraud, tax and cybercrimes investigations. He is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist and has provided extensive instruction on financial investigations at the DEA Academy in Quantico, VA. He has worked extensively with state and federal prosecutors to coordinate investigations, gather and present evidence and testify in civil and criminal proceedings.

Barton earned B.S. in Criminal Justice and Political Science from Stonehill College.

Daniel Atkinson is a former investigative journalist, with over 20 years of experience in the greater Boston area, including at the Boston Herald and WHDH-TV. Atkinson has done in-depth reporting on the MBTA, the use of sole source contracts by state agencies and other stories related to government waste.

Atkinson earned a B.S. in Journalism from Boston University.

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