About.

L F Stephens has been providing quality investigative work to our clients for nearly 30 years. We have built a vast world-wide professional network which enables us to produce unmatched results. Our senior leadership drives our product by focusing on customer needs.

Established in 1989

The firm consists of four principals who collectively have over ninety (90) years of federal investigative experience; almost fifty (50) years of which has involved supervisory responsibilities in the area of program development and evaluation. Each has an interdisciplinary background - with education and training in both the law and criminal investigation, and with experience in such diverse specialties as international terrorism, program fraud, organized crime (traditional and non-traditional), narcotics trafficking (international and street-level) white collar crime, money laundering, and foreign counter-intelligence and security. 

Our Network

The firm utilizes a nationwide network of former state and federal investigations - most of whom are retired FBI agents and all of whom have a demonstrated record of competence. Locally, the network includes a score of former federal, state and local investigators from both sides of the Hudson River who are intimately familiar with local conditions throughout Eastern Pennsylvania and the New York Metropolitan Area. This resource enables the firm to provide the highest quality of service in the most expeditious and cost-effective manner for appropriate assignments.

The firm's core group also includes retired New Jersey State Troopers, a former Prosecutor's Office investigator and a former FBI Agent Supervisor who has over twenty years experience investigating organized crime and mob influence in various New York industries. In addition, the firm has resources in the area of forensic accounting - including two retired Special Agents and a recently retired Revenue Agent from the Internal Revenue Service, all with excellent credentials.

Our Leadership Team

Louis F. Stephens
Founder and CEO

Lou Stephens spent eighteen years as a Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation before founding the firm in 1987. His experience with the FBI includes experience investigating organized crime, money laundering, Medicare fraud, and terrorism.  In the 1980's he had a supervisory position on the FBI's newly evolving international terrorism unit and work on such diverse and sensitive matters as the terrorist hijackings of TWA Flight 853 and the Achille Laura, the sophisticated money laundering and arms smuggling investigations of domestic-based Iranian terrorist, and the evaluation and formulation of a response to the Libyan threats against the President. Among other significant achievements, that program resulted in the first major domestic prosecution of an international terrorist organization on arms smuggling charges. 

He regularly consults with Fortune 500 firms on issues relating to plant protection, protection of intellectual property, industrial espionage, officer integrity, foreign corrupt practices, and crisis management.

John W. Crouthamel
Senior Investigator

John Crouthamel retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation in October 2002 after a thirty year career. He is a trained Bomb Technician and FBI Police Instructor. He has received many awards and commendations, including induction to the New York City Police Department Honor Legion. He coordinated the construction and implementation of the FBI's computer systems infrastructure in Newark, New Jersey. While assigned as Squad Supervisor in New York, he was one of three supervisors in charge of the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center investigation. He supervised an undercover surveillance unit, then took on responsibilities for applicant recruitment and Human Resources efforts for the New York Office. His last assignment was Acting Assistant-in-Charge of the FBI's Administrative Division in New York, supervising some 500 agents and support personnel and managing a $20 Million budget.

Michael P. Stephens
Senior Vice President

Mike Stephens joined our firm in November 2014. Prior to joining the firm he served as the Acting Inspector General/Principal Deputy Inspector General for the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General where he was the senior official responsible for audits, evaluations, investigations and other law enforcement activities relating to the programs and operations of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. 

Prior to joining the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General, Mike served as Acting Inspector General and Deputy Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Additionally he was a senior criminal investigator for the Office of Inspector General for the Resolution Trust Corporation during the Savings and Loan crisis.

Mike began his career in public service with the United States Secret Service, where he held the distinction of assignment to the Presidential Protection Division and held numerous supervisory distinctions.

He is a member of the International Association of the Chiefs of Police, the Association of Former Agents of the United States Secret Service, and the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators, where he also served as a board member.

Jennifer Karve
​​Vice President

Jennifer joined us from the corporate world in 2013. Prior to joining LF Stephens she served as Executive Vice President and Senior Portfolio Manager of Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY) and FIDAC from where she was responsible for managing $5 billion in assets for a publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trust, off-shore mutual funds, and private clients. She was part of the team responsible for designing and overseeing the company's risk management strategy and governance framework, including investment related policies, exposure limits, and key risk indicators.  While at Annaly/FIDAC she developed portfolio management software to capture trades, monitor portfolio risk, provide statements to clients and aided in the preparation of Audited Financial Statements.  As a key member of the Company's leadership she was responsible for evaluating and analyzing potential Mergers and Acquisitions targets, including due diligence, financial statement analysis and building financial models.  She joined FIDAC in 1995 and was part of the team responsible for bringing Annaly to the public market.