HSI special agent in charge, partners recognized by Women in Federal Law Enforcement

WASHINGTON — During their recent annual leadership training Aug. 8-11, Women in Federal Law Enforcement (WIFLE) recognized a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agent in charge and two HSI partners for their exceptional courage, outstanding accomplishments, and significant contributions to the recruitment, retention, and promotion of women in federal law enforcement.

HSI Special Agent in Charge Angie Salazar received the Outstanding Federal Law Enforcement Employee Award and was recognized as an exemplary role model, not only for women in law enforcement, but for all federal employees. Salazar is credited for working tirelessly to serve the agency and further the mission of HSI, identifying areas for improvement and leading the way to address those challenges.

In September 2021, Salazar served as the only female member of HSI senior leadership appointed as the Federal Coordinator for Operation Allies Welcome at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. Operation Allies Welcome is the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) effort to resettle vulnerable Afghans who worked alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan for two decades. During her time at Fort McCoy, Salazar led a task force of more than 4,000 personnel from over 35 federal, state, and local agencies, non-governmental organizations), and volunteers to collectively achieve operational success. Additionally, in August 2020, Salazar was tasked with establishing the Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) and was assigned as the first interim director. Under her direction, the CCHT was launched two months later by the Secretary of Homeland Security. CCHT leverages component authorities and assets to protect victims, prosecute perpetrators, and partner with organizations to increase overall awareness and prevention of human trafficking.

“These dedicated professionals recognized by Women in Federal Law Enforcement are shining examples of honor, service, and integrity,” said Steve Francis, acting executive associate director of HSI. “They have dedicated their careers to keeping our communities safe, holding accountable those who exploit our most vulnerable, and seeking justice for victims of unthinkable crimes.”

Two nominees by HSI received key partnership awards from WIFLE. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Setzer received the Top Prosecutor award for her work prosecuting federal sex trafficking crimes in collaboration with HSI Baltimore. Detective First Class Kalle James-Wintjen received the WIFLE Partnership Award for Outstanding Contribution of a State or Local Officer Serving on a Federal Task Force, denoting her work with the HSI Baltimore Human Exploitation Group.

Setzer has been the Human Trafficking Coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland since early 2019. Over the last three years, she has secured several convictions totaling 54.5 years of incarceration for four traffickers engaged in sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion, kidnapping, and narcotics distribution. HSI Baltimore’s success in investigating and prosecuting federal sex trafficking crimes is a direct result of Setzer’s trust, commitment, and unwavering support for prosecuting associated cases. Additionally, she has worked several high-profile cases, including a federal trial against a Guatemalan national unlawfully in the United States who caused more than 25 individuals, including minors, to engage in commercial sex acts for his own financial benefit. Setzer’s tireless efforts culminated in the accused receiving a 27-year prison sentence.

James-Wintjen has been a Task Force Officer with the HSI Human Exploitation Group for several years. She excels in recognizing and understanding the challenges of human trafficking investigations as well as providing a human aspect of care needed to assist victims through each stage of the investigation. James-Wintjen has grown and excelled as a human trafficking investigator due to her compassion for victims and survivors. Her keen intuition has contributed to the investigation of perpetrators of human trafficking, drug distribution, sex trafficking (including minors), and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. James-Wintjen embodies a trauma-informed, victim-centered approach to interviewing victims and works to stabilize them through connections with non-profit agencies in Maryland. She can connect and establish strong rapport with victims, gaining critical trust that enables them to share difficult details about their specific victimization by traffickers, instrumental to moving investigations forward for successful prosecution.

About Women in Federal Law Enforcement

WIFLE was originally formed as a task force created by the Office of Personnel Management in 1978, under its predecessor moniker, the Interagency Committee on Women in Federal Law Enforcement (ICWIFLE). WIFLE was established as a nonprofit organization June 28, 1999, as an outgrowth of ICWIFLE to carry forward the mission and vision. From the ICWIFLE period in the 70's to the current-day WIFLE organizations, the entity works with the federal law enforcement community to recruit, promote, and retain women in law enforcement careers, embrace and value diversity, provide empowerment, seek inclusiveness, expect integrity, advocate, and strive for gender equity in federal law enforcement.

About Homeland Security Investigations

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and a directorate of ICE. HSI is responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI’s workforce of over 10,400 employees consists of more than 6,800 special agents assigned to 225 cities throughout the United States, and 86 overseas locations in 55 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’s largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.