NICOLE JOHNSON, Special Agent / National Program Manager, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

Special Agent (SA) Nicole Johnson is a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) National Program Manager for the Intellectual Property Unit (IPU) within the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center). In this position, SA Johnson manages multiple programs that combat counterfeit products impacting public safety such as:

•   Operation Apothecary – counterfeit pharmaceuticals
•   Operation Body Armor – counterfeit medical devices, surgical supplies, and cosmetics
•   Operation Genuine Valor – counterfeit medical supplies in the Veterans Affairs supply chain
•   Operation Stolen Promise – counterfeit covid related products like masks, vaccinations, and fraud

SA Johnson works closely with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and brand holders to identify bad actors, supply chain vulnerabilities, and government contract fraud, in addition to developing leads and providing investigative case support. Another significant IPU responsibility is leading training and outreach. The IPR Center combats counterfeits through public / private partnerships, requiring frequent communication with the brand holders, key stakeholders, and the public at large on best practices. Additionally, SA Johnson works globally to collaborate with and train law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges on current trends and standards of intellectual property violation enforcement.

In 2008, SA Johnson began her career with HSI and was stationed in Los Angeles, CA for 13 years. During her tenure in Los Angeles, she conducted complex investigations into human trafficking, gangs and organized crime, intellectual property rights, and trade-based money laundering. Based on her interest in public safety investigations, she transferred to the IPR Center in 2022 to manage programs that directly affect the health and safety of consumers and medical patients.

SA Johnson holds a Master’s in Social Ecology; Law, Criminology, and Society from the University of California, Irvine, and a Bachelor’s in Cultural Anthropology from Vanguard University of Southern California (VUSC). SA Johnson is also an adjunct professor at VUSC and instructs courses on identifying and investigating human trafficking for the Global Center for Women and Justice. SA Johnson is a Colorado native and enjoys the outdoors.