In This Issue
Operations: Successful Missions in Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri
SGS Speaking & Community Engagement: Conference on Crimes Against Women (CCAW)
Task Force Expedition XIX: Ybor City, FL
Volunteer Spotlight: Candice Spangler
Leadership Spotlight: Cary DeJean
Who We Are
The Skull Games Task Force employs Open Source Intelligence to IDENTIFY sexual predators and their victims, enabling law enforcement to INTERDICT the cycle of abuse. Our mission is to liberate survivors and EMPOWER them with the opportunity for a life of hope, healing, and freedom. The Task Force provides direct support to law enforcement through small teams or as a massive expedition, bringing together the collective capability of more than 400 elite volunteers. This counter-sexual exploitation offensive leverages considerable expertise and resources to fight human trafficking and sexual exploitation. With us as the HUNTERS, we get into the heads of predators, in our own “SKULL GAME”…
May Operations
by Olinda Cardenas
- Predators and Victims Identified: 111
- Predators Arrested: 46
- Individuals Trained in Countertrafficking: 345
Lawton, Oklahoma | May 1, 2026
Skull Games Solutions provided remote intelligence support to a Bureau of Indian Affairs-led operation in Lawton, Oklahoma. The operation focused on victim recovery, trafficker targeting, and demand reduction efforts, resulting in the recovery of one victim and the arrest of six buyers.
Results:
- 1 victim recovered
- 6 buyers arrested
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma | May 14, 2026
Skull Games Solutions partnered with the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Human Trafficking Response Unit to deliver Advanced Human Trafficking Training to local, tribal, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in northeastern Oklahoma.
Participating agencies included Northeastern State University Police Department, Glenpool Police Department, Cherokee Nation Marshal Service, Citizen Potawatomi Nation Tribal Police, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Miami Police Department, Absentee Shawnee Tribal Police, Tahlequah Police Department, and Wyandotte Tribal Police.
Following the training, agencies immediately put their new skills into action during live operations. The effort resulted in one arrest for solicitation and computer crimes violations, as well as the recovery of three potential victims of trafficking who were connected with services and support.
This operation demonstrated the power of collaboration, bringing local, tribal, state, and federal partners together with a shared mission: protecting victims and holding offenders accountable.
We also extend our appreciation to DATAPILOT and Whooster, Inc. for providing technology and intelligence resources that support victim identification and investigative efforts.
Results:
- 3 victims recovered
- 1 buyer arrested
Fannin County, Texas | May 25, 2026
Over Memorial Day weekend, Skull Games Solutions supported the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office and the Fannin County Criminal District Attorney’s Office during a multi-day operation focused on reducing demand and disrupting commercial sexual exploitation. The operation resulted in ten felony solicitation of prostitution arrests, along with additional narcotics, theft, and resisting arrest charges.
Commercial sexual exploitation does not exist in isolation. Demand fuels trafficking, exploitation, violence, and abuse. By targeting buyers, law enforcement agencies disrupt the market that enables traffickers to profit from vulnerable individuals. We are grateful to the Fannin County Sheriff’s Office and all participating partners for their leadership and commitment to protecting their community.
Results:
- 10 felony solicitation arrests
- Additional narcotics, theft, and resisting charges
St. Louis Metropolitan Area, Missouri | May 28, 2026
Skull Games Solutions delivered Advanced Human Trafficking Investigations Training in Maryland Heights, Missouri, while also supporting operational activities throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. Throughout the week, investigators, analysts, and law enforcement professionals worked together to identify victims, develop actionable intelligence, and target those responsible for exploitation. Human trafficking investigations require a coordinated, multidisciplinary approach, and the collaboration demonstrated by participating agencies exemplified that commitment. We are grateful to Our Rescue, host agencies, and all participating partners for their dedication to protecting vulnerable individuals and strengthening the response to human trafficking throughout the region.
SGS Speaking & Community Engagement: Conference on Crimes
Against Women (CCAW) | Dallas, Texas
by Olinda Cardenas
During May, Joseph Scaramucci represented Skull Games Solutions at the Conference on Crimes Against Women (CCAW), where he delivered training on leveraging Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) to identify trafficking victims and offenders. His presentation, From Hashtags to Handcuffs: Tracking Traffickers with OSINT, provided investigators with practical, low-cost techniques for developing actionable intelligence in human trafficking investigations.
Task Force Expedition XIX | Ybor City, FL
by Olinda Cardenas
From May 15–17, 2026, 55 Skull Games Solutions volunteer analysts gathered in Ybor City, Florida, and remotely from across the country for Task Force Expedition XIX. Their mission was clear: identify victims, target traffickers, and develop actionable intelligence to support future law enforcement operations.
Throughout the three-day expedition, volunteers dedicated countless hours to analyzing data, identifying patterns, and transforming information into intelligence packages that can assist agencies in protecting vulnerable individuals and pursuing those responsible for exploitation.
The collective effort resulted in the identification of 44 potential victims and 19 persons of interest. The intelligence developed during the expedition will support ongoing investigations and future operations across multiple jurisdictions.
This expedition also marked an important milestone in the continued development of the Skull Games volunteer program. For the first time, White Belt and Blue Belt analysts were selected to lead intelligence cells, providing emerging leaders with hands-on experience managing investigative teams, guiding analytical efforts, and mentoring fellow volunteers. The initiative reflects SGS’s commitment to developing future leaders while creating pathways for belt advancement, expanded leadership opportunities, and potential part-time positions within the organization.
Expeditions like these demonstrate the power of collaborative intelligence. Because of the commitment and expertise of these volunteers, more victims have the opportunity to be identified and connected with resources, while those who exploit others move one step closer to accountability.
Expedition Results:
- 55 volunteer analysts participated
- 44 potential victims identified
- 19 persons of interest identified
Volunteer Spotlight | Candice Spangler
Some stories remind us why this mission matters.
By Olinda Cardenas
For Candice Spangler, Skull Games Solutions is more than an organization, it’s an opportunity to help ensure others don’t remain unseen as she once did. Trafficked from the age of 14 until she was 39, Candice spent decades living in a world few can truly understand. Today, nearly eight years after leaving that life behind, she has transformed her lived experience into a powerful asset in the fight against human trafficking.
During Task Force Expedition XIX, Candice reached several significant milestones. She returned as an OSINT analyst, completed her first solo investigation, and successfully led her first Fusion Cell. Her unique perspective continues to help analysts identify victims, recognize subtle indicators of exploitation, and better understand the realities behind the intelligence they develop.
We recently spoke with Candice about her journey, the value of lived experience, and what it means to now stand on the other side of the fight.
Q: For those who may not know your story, can you tell us a little about yourself and what brought you to Skull Games Solutions?
Candice: I was born and raised in Kansas City. I was trafficked from around the age of 14 until I was 39, and I’ve now been out of that life for almost eight years.
As a survivor, I carried the weight of those experiences for a long time. When I learned about Skull Games and its mission, I knew I wanted to be part of it. I had gone unidentified for so many years that simply helping put a true identity to women who are being exploited heals a small part of me.
It is an incredible honor to contribute to investigations and be part of this Task Force. Every victim we identify reminds me why this work matters.
Q: How has your lived experience helped you identify patterns or indicators that may not be obvious to other analysts?
Candice: My lived experience has given me a different lens.
The data tells an important story, but there are often subtle behaviors, language, and patterns that don’t immediately stand out unless you’ve lived in that world. It might be the way an advertisement is written, the relationship between people in a photograph, or inconsistencies that suggest coercion instead of choice.
That doesn’t replace investigative tradecraft or analytical methods—it complements them. I believe my perspective helps me approach investigations with both attention to detail and empathy, allowing me to recognize signs that others might overlook.
Q: During Expedition XIX, you completed your first solo investigation and led your first Fusion Cell. What did those milestones mean to you?
Candice: When I first joined Skull Games, I hunted alongside everyone else—but I had never even owned a computer. I always laugh when I tell people that SGS literally taught me how to turn on my very first laptop.
As the organization grew, so did the technology and the skill level of the analysts around me. Watching everyone advance so quickly, there were times I questioned whether I still had a place. Instead of giving up, I went back to the beginning. I attended onboarding again, continued learning, and committed myself to improving.
Leading my first solo investigation and Fusion Cell reminded me how far I’ve come. There were moments where I questioned myself, but every lead I followed reinforced the importance of the mission. I learned to trust the process, document everything thoroughly, and let the evidence guide the investigation.
Looking around the room during an expedition is incredible. SGS didn’t start with hundreds of analysts, specialized tools, or countless investigative techniques. Today, the talent in those rooms is truly remarkable, and I’m grateful that I continue to learn from some of the very best in OSINT.
Q: You’ve experienced trafficking, survived it, and now help identify victims through intelligence operations. When you reflect on that journey, what does it mean to be sitting on this side of the fight today?
Candice: That question means a lot to me because it reminds me just how far I’ve come.
There was a time when I felt powerless and believed my story would always be defined by what happened to me. Today, I have the opportunity to use my experience to help disrupt traffickers and identify victims. That’s something I never imagined would be part of my future.
This mission isn’t about revenge for me, it’s about restoration. It’s about giving hope to victims who may feel invisible, just as I once did, and doing my part to make exploitation harder for those who profit from it.
If my journey shows anything, it’s that our past doesn’t have to define our future. Healing is possible. Purpose can grow from pain. Survivors have a valuable voice, and being on this side of the fight is an incredible privilege—one I never take for granted.
“This mission isn’t about revenge, it’s about restorations. It’s about giving hope to victims who may feel invisible, like I once did.” – Candice Spangler
Candice’s journey is a powerful reminder that survivors are not defined by what happened to them, they are defined by the strength they show in moving forward. Today, she uses her lived experience to help identify victims, mentor fellow analysts, and support investigations that give others the opportunity for a different future. Her story reflects the heart of Skull Games Solutions: transforming compassion into action and proving that hope, healing, and purpose can emerge from even the darkest circumstances.
Leadership Spotlight | Cary DeJean
From Volunteer to Director
By Olinda Cardenas
As Skull Games Solutions continues to grow its intelligence capabilities and partnerships, we’re proud to welcome Cary DeJean as our new Director of Intelligence Programs and Partnerships. Cary’s journey with SGS began as a volunteer at one of our earliest events and has evolved into a leadership role that will help shape the future of our intelligence programs. Over the years, he has served as a Task Force analyst, supported live operations, and led the Fusion Cell, earning the trust and respect of volunteers, law enforcement partners, and the SGS team alike. We recently sat down with Cary to discuss his path to SGS leadership, his vision for the future, and what continues to drive his commitment to the mission:
Q: Your journey with Skull Games Solutions began as a volunteer during one of the organization’s earliest events. Looking back, what was it about the mission that made you realize this was something you wanted to be part of?
Cary: I first heard about Skull Games while attending an advanced OSINT course. Someone mentioned the organization in passing, and it immediately caught my attention. At the time, I was working the death investigation of a child who had been a victim of human trafficking, so this mission hit very close to home.
As I learned more about Skull Games, I was drawn not only to the mission but also to the people behind it. The mission was straightforward: hunt the predators and protect the vulnerable. That wasn’t just a slogan, it was a purpose I deeply believed in. Seeing volunteers dedicate their time, skills, and expertise to support law enforcement and protect victims made me realize this was something I had to be a part of. Looking back, joining Skull Games is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Q: Throughout your time with SGS, you’ve served as an analyst, Fusion Cell Manager, mentor, and now Director. How have those experiences shaped your leadership, and what message would you like volunteers to hear as the organization continues to grow?
Cary: While my responsibilities have changed over the years, the mission has remained the same: protect the vulnerable by helping identify victims and stop offenders.
Early on, my focus was on conducting investigations and producing intelligence. As my role evolved, I realized I could have an even greater impact by mentoring, training, and empowering others. Today, much of my work is centered on building the capabilities of our volunteers so they can produce high-quality intelligence and effectively support our law enforcement partners.
One lesson I’ve learned is that leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself, it’s about helping others succeed. When you invest in people, you multiply the mission’s impact far beyond what any one analyst could accomplish alone.
To every volunteer who gives their time, expertise, and passion to this mission, thank you. Every intelligence lead developed, every operation supported, and every victim recovered is possible because of your commitment. Even if you don’t always see the outcome of your work, know that it matters. You are making a real difference.
Q: Looking ahead, what’s your vision for Skull Games’ intelligence programs and partnerships, and where do you hope to see the organization in the coming years?
Cary: My immediate priority is strengthening the foundation of our intelligence programs so they can continue to grow. That means streamlining everything from volunteer onboarding and training to expedition planning and operational workflows. By building consistent, efficient processes, we enable our teams to operate at a higher level while allowing our leadership to focus on expanding the organization’s impact.
Another priority is strengthening partnerships with law enforcement agencies that share our commitment to protecting vulnerable people and holding offenders accountable. Strong partnerships are what transform intelligence into real-world results.
Looking further ahead, my vision is ambitious but achievable: to build a trusted network of law enforcement partners in every county across the United States. If we can accomplish that, Skull Games will be positioned to provide intelligence support wherever it’s needed, helping more agencies recover victims, disrupt trafficking networks, and bring offenders to justice.
“Leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself. It’s about investing in people. When you invest in people, you multiply the mission’s impact far beyond what any one analyst could accomplish alone.”
– Cary DeJean
Cary’s vision for the future of Skull Games Solutions is rooted in one simple belief: investing in people strengthens the mission. That philosophy is evident throughout the organization, where volunteers from all backgrounds are empowered to grow, lead, and make a meaningful impact.
Upcoming Events
- Task Force Expedition XX | August 8 – 9 | Gainesville, VA
- Task Force Expedition XXI | November 7 – 8 | Austin, TX
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About the Author
Tom Phelan is an active-duty U.S. Army Intelligence Officer with over five years of experience in OSINT and a dedicated volunteer for Skull Games Task Force.
Olinda Cardenas is a former crime scene investigator turned cybercrime enthusiast. She specializes in OSINT and financial crime investigations and is a dedicated volunteer with Skull Games
