JKE Texas Private Investigations
Dallas, TX Private Investigation Services
Our Story
Fraud & Litigation Investigations Experts
JKE Texas is staffed by retired FBI & DEA Agents giving you a combined 100 years of high-level investigation experience. With those years of experience comes unparalleled levels of professionalism and integrity.
Jim Ellis, a retired FBI Agent and Certified Fraud Examiner, formed JKE Texas in October 2017 to serve the North Texas legal and business communities. Since that time, JKE Texas has grown in both clients and investigators and has earned the reputation as the PI firm which can handle the most complex and toughest cases. We have satisfied clients across the metroplex, across Texas, and across the country.
Our Investigation Team
Certified Fraud Examiners, Legal Investigators, Forensic Experts & Expert Witnesses
JIM ELLIS
Founder, Primary Investigator & Expert Witness
Jim Ellis is a retired FBI Special Agent with more than 28 years of service. He is also a Certified Fraud Examiner and a FINRA Arbitrator. While an FBI Agent, Jim led investigations of complex criminal violations including fraud, money laundering, violent crime, homicide, and narcotics trafficking.
Jim was a member of the FBI’s highly regarded Evidence Response Team (ERT) conducting crime scene investigations at local, national, and international locations. Jim is also an expert on RICO violations, Title III wiretaps, and undercover operations.
Since forming JKE Texas Private Investigations, Jim has overseen the firm as it has provided high quality investigative services for complex matters. These include numerous civil and criminal investigations, fraud investigations for businesses, asset investigations, and due diligence investigations.
Jim has been retained as an Expert Witness multiple times to provide expert opinions in both criminal and civil cases involving fraud and crime scene analysis.
DIANNA STRAIN
Investigator & Expert Witness
Dianna Strain retired from the FBI in 2021 after a successful 22-year career as a Special Agent. Dianna spent most of her career on the FBI’s highly regarded Evidence Response Team (ERT) conducting crime scene investigations involving murders, robberies, kidnappings, mass shootings, and acts of terrorism. Her work on the ERT has taken her across the country. In 2019 Dianna became the Senior Team Leader of the Dallas ERT coordinating and leading her team on multiple crime scene investigations.
While in the FBI, Dianna led investigations as the case agent on matters involving white collar crime, crimes against children, domestic terrorism, and international terrorism. She has worked as an undercover agent and has testified over 100 times in federal and state court.
Since leaving the FBI, Dianna designed the first Forensic Evidence course for Abilene Christian University and teaches that course as an Adjunct Professor.
In addition to her work as a private investigator, Dianna has been retained numerous times as an Expert Witness in crime scene forensics.
DANIEL RUTLEDGE
Senior Investigator & Expert Witness
Daniel Rutledge is a retired DEA Agent, having served as a Special Agent for more than 23 years. Prior to joining the DEA, Daniel served as a police officer and detective for the Bryan, TX Police Department for over 5 years.
Throughout his law enforcement career Daniel worked investigations involving homicide, sexual assault, robbery and theft, complex narcotics investigations, money laundering investigations, and crime scene investigations.
Daniel has expertise in undercover operations, Title III wiretaps, and cellular device tracking, and surveillance. He has testified over 100 times in both federal and state court.
As Senior Investigator Daniel takes on our more complex investigative matters. He has been highly successful in his work from surveillance, to interviews, to getting the hard to get answers our clients are looking for.
Read What Our Clients Say
“JKE TEXAS USES THEIR YEARS OF FBI EXPERIENCE TO SOLVE THE DIFFICULT ISSUES”
As the CEO of a large multinational company, I have called upon JKE Texas on several occasions to protect our business and employees from unethical behavior by other parties. Jim & his team use their years of FBI experience to solve the difficult issues. I highly recommend JKE Texas for your business’ concerns.
CLAUDIA MIRZA
CEO, Akorbi
“I WOULD RECCOMEND THIS FIRM TO ANY ATTORNEY THAT NEEDS A FIRST CLASS EFFORT”
I’ve been a practicing trial attorney for over 50 years, and recently began using the team at JKE Texas. Their expertise and professionalism have been outstanding. I have been especially impressed by Dianna Strain, and her thoroughness of her investigations. Her grasp of issues and her due diligence has been amazing. I would highly recommend this firm to any attorney that is in need of a first class effort.”
Michael J. Rogers
Attorney
Cleburne, TX
“LITTERALLY FOUND A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.”
Jim Ellis has worked on multiple federal cases with intriguing complexities and large volumes of discovery for me. He is always inciteful, thorough and prompt. He has literally found a needle in a haystack and traveled across the country chasing leads in search of the truth.
DAPHNE SILVERMAN
Attorney
Austin, TX
“JKE TEXAS IS THOROUGH, RELIABLE, AND DISCREET”
We have worked with JKE Texas for several years. We do not make new hires without first obtaining a background report from JKE. They are thorough, reliable, and discreet.
MIKE SALIM
CenterOak LLC Partner & General Counsel
“UNQUESTIONED INTEGRITY”
Jim is the most professional investigator I have worked with and quickly became my go to PI. He helps me formulate the most effective way to go about my investigations for my cases. His knowledge of fraud, electronic discovery and forensics has been instrumental on my more intricate cases. Jim has unquestioned integrity and always asks if there is more he can do to help. Lastly, he is cost conscious, he has a job to do, but he doesn’t try and take advantage of people like some PI’s I have dealt with.
MARK CLASBY
Attorney
Dallas, TX
“HIS ACTIONS SAVED ME TIME, MONEY AND FRUSTRATION”
Jim Ellis was instrumental in helping us get an oil and gas deal closed. Working off a 1960 California death certificate, Jim was able to locate the heir to mineral rights that we couldn’t find. He didn’t just find the heir but using his network of professional investigators he was able to make contact with the heir and secure the sale of the mineral rights. His actions saved me time, money and frustration. Jim displayed professionalism, tenacity, ingenuity, and a cooperative spirit in his actions. He is my go-to private investigator.
BILLY C. BOWDEN
Oil & Gas Mineral Buyer
Dallas, TX
“PROFESSIONALISM AND THOROUGHNESS… IN EVERY CASE”
Jim and his team at JKE Texas Private Investigations has become our firm’s “go-to” investigation company. Their unique experience as former FBI Agents have been evident in the professionalism and thoroughness they practice in every case. They not only quickly finish the tasks we ask them to do, but they frequently see other investigative steps that are valuable to our clients. I highly recommend JKE Texas Private Investigations for any civil litigation matter.
JOANNA MARTIN
Senior Attorney, Kennedy Attorneys & Counselors
Dallas, TX
“WHEN WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR SHAREHOLDERS AND EMPLOYEES FROM ILLEGAL BEHAVIOR, WE CALL JKE TEXAS.”
The business world is very complex. As the CEO of a mid-sized Dallas business it has been necessary on several occasions to protect shareholders and other employees from possible unethical or illegal behavior by other persons. To help us do that we hired JKE Texas Private Investigations. If you have any concerns in your business, I urge you to schedule a consultation with Jim Ellis. He brings his decades of FBI experience to your issue. Take his advice. His fees are reasonable and worth every penny.
H.G.
Dallas, TX