Richard Ernest is an award winning Forensic Scientist and Consultant who has over 31 years of Experience in Analytical Criminalistics and Forensic Ballistics. During his career he has worked literally thousands of forensic cases, and testified hundreds of times. Mr. Ernest is one of a very few private forensic ballistics consultants in the United States. He also owns and operates his own independent forensic firearms laboratory. He has worked cases all across the United States. His clients include law enforcement agencies, district attorney's offices, civil and criminal case lawyers, private individuals, journalists, writers, educators and students.

Mr. Ernest has performed work on such notable cases as the Atlanta Murdered and Missing Children (Georgia vs. Wayne Williams), the Branch Davidian cases from Waco, the Texas Cadets Murder (Texas vs. David Graham and Dianne Zamora), the Miami SWAT case (USA vs. Acuna, et. al. - the Richard Brown case), and the Jayson Williams case (NJ vs. Jayson Williams).

Areas of Expertise:

Firearm Examination and Testing

Bullet and Cartridge Case Examinations and Comparisons

Ammunition Evaluation and Testing

Shooting Scene Reconstructions

Shooting Accident Reconstructions

Shooting Scene Re-enactments

Distance Determinations from Gunshot Wounds and Clothing

Gunshot Residue Analysis (GSR) and GSR Consultation

Tool Mark Examinations and Comparisons

Gun Safety and Design Issues

Serial Number Restorations

Crime Scene Examinations and Consultations

Footwear Identification

Tire Track Identification

Steven Howard provides a wide range of Consulting and Expert Witness Services to the legal professional in an ample variety of Firearms, Ammunition, Knives, Blades, Explosive Devices and many other related subjects. His Primary Area of Experience is Gunsmithing and Certified Public Armorer. Mr. Howard has a college degree in Gunsmithing and is a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan. He is a former Federal Agent with the U.S. Border Patrol and a former Federal Police Officer with the Department of Defense. He has 35 years of Gunsmithing experience and is a Certified Police Armorer.

Services Include:

All Standard Firearms

Almost all Machine Guns

Silencers

Ammunition

Testing

Shooting Scene Reconstruction

Crime Scene Reconstruction

Spears

Knives

Explosive Devices

Gerard Petillo is an Independent Forensic Firearm and Tool Mark Consultant who provides consultation services to Prosecutors, Public Defenders, Private Attorneys, Law Enforcement Agencies, Insurance Companies, Educational Institutions and private individuals in the area of Forensic Firearm Identification and Shooting Incident Reconstruction.

Mr. Petillo is a Criminalist who has worked in the Firearm/Tool Mark Section at the State Forensic Laboratory in Meriden Connecticut. Prior to that Mr. Petillo was a Police Officer, Detective, and Sergeant with the New York City Police Department. After 23 years of service in the NYPD, he retired from the Crime Laboratory in 2005. Mr. Petillo worked in the Firearms Analysis Section and the Evidence Control Section of the NYPD laboratory. He has also been a life long recreational, competition shooter, ammunition hand-loader and firearm enthusiast.

Gerard Petillo has a Bachelor Degree from the State University of New York with his major area of course work in Criminal Justice and Police Science. He has received much forensic training. The most significant forensic training comes from the New York City Police Department, Connecticut Department of Public Safety, Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners, the FBI, ATF, the New York Microscopical Society, and numerous firearm manufacturers. He has performed casework in two ASCLD/LAB accredited Crime Laboratories as well as an independent Laboratory and has been qualified as an expert in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Federal Court. Mr. Petillo has testified as an expert for both the Prosecution as well as the Defense.

He is an active Distinguished member in the Association of Firearm and Tool Mark Examiners as well as a member of the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists, the NRA, and the New York Microscopical Society.

He has presented scientific papers relating to firearm and tool mark identification, shooting incident reconstruction as well as instruct forensic firearm workshops to students of forensic science and professionals in the criminal justice system. His primary area of interest is the examination of firearm related evidence and reconstruction of shooting incidents.

Mr Petillo was trained in and believes in the team approach. The team approach involves a number of scientists with areas of expertise in a variety of forensic disciplines working together in an attempt to understand what h

Mr. Gregory A. Danas is a Certified Expert in Firearms Technology, Design and Use. He is an experienced ammunition manufacturer, licensed custom gunsmith, and teaches advanced firearms training courses to thousands of citizens and law enforcement personnel. He has 15 years daily experience in intensive interaction with the public and law enforcement personnel in the application of firearms technology, design and use for all types of firearms.

Mr. Danas is qualified in the areas of: Instructional Shooting, Taser, Armor, Forensic Firearms Identification, Chemical Mace, Rifle Use, Comparison Microscopy Illumination, Skeet / Trap Shooting, Handgun Retention, Police Firearms, and Home Firearm Responsibility.

Mr. Danas is available to discuss the actual and potential case merits and defenses, identify issues, fields of review and make expert recommendations. He has knowledge in defending a client in a firearm crime, violation of municipal, state or federal firearms statutes, defending or moving a civil plaintiff's case forward.

Services Include:

• Firearms Technology Design and Use
• Self Defense Event Assessment
• Tortuous Liability Assessment
• Negligent Use of Firearms / Ammunition Case Evaluation & Expert Testimony
• Internal Audits of Agency Training, Handling & Choice of Equipment
• Combat Technique & Tactic Analysis
• Assessment of Proper Weapons Handling
• Firearm Discharge Review / Analysis
• Firearms / Ammunition Functioning
• Ammunition Analysis
• Direct Referral Access to the Nation's Foremost Ballistic Laboratories:
  • Ammunition Testing
  • Body Armor Testing
  • Computerized & High Seed Video & Sound Analysis
  • Composites & Mineral Strength Testing
  • Patent Infringement Research & Analysis

James Gannalo is a former NYPD Detective and Forensic Consultant with twenty-three years experience in Firearms Identification. He has assisted attorneys and law enforcement agencies with hundreds of firearms related criminal and civil casework in addition to training dozens of individuals in firearms operability and microscopic analysis of ballistics evidence. He has testified as an expert witness in six hundred trials since 1989.

Areas of Expertise:

Firearms Operability Examination

Microscopic Analysis of Ballistic Evidence

Shooting Incident Reconstruction

Laser Trajectory Analysis of Bullet Paths

Gunshot Residue Distance Determination

Operability and Microscopic Report Review and Evaluation

Trial Preparation and Presentation

Expert Witness Testimony

Witness Interviews and Witness Statement Evaluation