2025 Fraud & Forensic Accounting Conference

Thursday, July 24 – Friday, July 25
8:00 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. each day

Crowne Plaza Hotel
4728 Constitution Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70808

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A special rate of $110 has been set up at the Crowne Plaza for conference attendees. To receive the special rate, reservations need to be made by Thursday, June 26, 2025.

To make a reservation, call the hotel directly at 225-925-2244 and use the group code "FAF" or let them know you are with the "Fraud & Forensic Accounting Conference." You can also make a reservation online.

CPAs, Certified Fraud Examiners, Certified Internal Auditors, forensic accountants, governmental accountants, other accounting and auditing professionals, educators, financial executives, and lawyers.

The conference qualifies for 16 CPE hours (8 hours per day).

Fred Abrams practices in the asset recovery areas of financial intelligence, financial fraud investigations and forced collection proceedings. As a member of the New York bar since 1990, Mr. Abrams has handled a wide variety of legal matters in which assets were hidden, such as RICO, money laundering, identity theft and tax
fraud. He additionally handled cases in federal court in which his adversaries were Casio Computer Co. Ltd. of Japan; General Motors Corp.; Detroit Diesel Corp; & Lloyds of London.

Additionally, Mr. Abrams located tens of millions of dollars hidden in offshore tax havens; and sought discovery from foreign bank witnesses by filing legal proceedings in Zurich, Geneva, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam and Puerto Rico. He publishes www.assetsearchblog.com which covers: best practices for bank searches; using private investigators; illegal asset searches; money laundering; tax fraud; assets hidden in high-net-worth divorces; etc. Moreover, Mr. Abrams has been cited by Reuters, Forbes Magazine, The New York Times, MoneyLaundering.com and appeared on FoxBusiness News.

Furthermore, since 2007, Mr. Abrams presented more than 18 programs about how assets may be concealed both domestically and abroad. Mr. Abrams presented these programs in Abuja, Nigeria; the United Kingdom; Florida; Massachusetts and New York.

Deniz Appelbaum, Chair and Associate Professor of the Department of Accounting and Finance at the Feliciano School of Business of Montclair State University in New Jersey enriches her academic pursuits with a practical view, after twenty years of experience in operations, credit, and business development in the corporate world. Dr. Appelbaum has published over 25 manuscripts in Accounting Horizons, Journal of Emerging Technologies in Accounting, Auditing: Journal of Practice and Theory, Journal of information Systems, and in other academic and practitioner journals, based on her research regarding analytics, AI and machine learning, big data, blockchain, municipal reporting, ESG, and fraud detection.

Dr. Appelbaum has conducted research with Proctor & Gamble, Dunn & Bradstreet, AICPA, GASB, the Volcker Alliance, the Asian Development Bank, and KPMG. Dr. Appelbaum emphasizes the use of data analytics and appropriate software tools in the classroom, to prepare accounting and auditing students for the technically advanced modern business environment. The accounting and auditing professions are currently undergoing huge disruptions due to technical innovations, and Dr. Appelbaum is devoted to preparing her students and the profession for these changes.

Gil Ben-Ezra investigates and litigates complex claims for a wide range of clients, including trustees, fiduciaries, whistleblowers, shareholders, and victims of fraud. He has played a pivotal role in securing over $100 million in client recoveries from national and international accounting firms, auditors, banks, an Am Law 100 law firm, and industry-leading defendants. Prior to joining Meland Budwick P.A., Gil conducted internal investigations of fraud, corruption, bid-rigging, money laundering and other matters for large, multinational clients, including “supermajor” oil and leading aerospace and defense companies. Gil is fluent in Hebrew.

Angela Brown is an Auditor Supervisor for the Louisiana State Police Gaming Audit Section, where she specializes in ensuring gaming operators comply with regulatory standards and industry best practices. With over 29 years of experience in the gaming sector, Angela has conducted and supervised audits in Louisiana, helping operators align with state laws. She has developed a deep understanding of the complexities of gaming regulations and the methods used to identify, investigate, and prevent fraudulent activities in gaming operations. Angela holds a Bachelor’s in Accounting from LSU and a Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) as well as being a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Angela has worked with gaming regulators and operators to streamline compliance processes and implement robust internal controls, ensuring the integrity and fairness of gaming operations. She has also worked closely with law enforcement to investigate suspicious financial activities and to develop strategies to mitigate fraud risks.

Christine Ann Botosan was appointed to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) on July 1, 2016, and later reappointed to a second term that extends to June 30, 2026. Prior to joining the FASB, Ms. Botosan served as a professor of accounting at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah.

An award-winning professor and researcher, Ms. Botosan has a broad knowledge of accounting issues, with particular expertise in the areas of financial statement analysis and valuation. Ms. Botosan served in a variety of roles during her tenure at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah including as a leadership fellow in the office of the vice president, as the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Presidential Chair in Ethical Financial Reporting and as the associate dean of graduate affairs.

Prior to joining the University of Utah in 1999, Ms. Botosan was an assistant professor of accounting at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Previously, she served as a lecturer at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. Ms. Botosan has served the academic community in numerous ways including as president of the American Accounting Association from 2014–2015.

A chartered professional accountant of Canada, Ms. Botosan received her Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Michigan and received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Wilfrid Laurier University in Ontario, Canada.

Roger W. Harris, JD, CCEP, CFI is Executive Counsel, Assistant Legislative Auditor for Investigations, and Chief AI Governance Officer for the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office, where he supervises a 16-person, award-winning investigative audit unit and oversees a 16-person AI Governance Advisory Team. Roger has over 30 years of experience handling fraud and compliance matters as a law enforcement officer, a commercial banker, an investigative auditor and an attorney.  Roger is a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional and a Certified Forensic Interviewer, and holds degrees in finance and law from Louisiana State University.

Oscar Harvin is an associate professor of accounting at Sam Houston State University. Dr. Harvin obtained his PhD from Florida Atlantic University and is a certified public accountant as well as a certified fraud examiner. His academic research examines the various factors that impair the ability of auditors to detect financial fraud. Another objective of his research is to inform both academicians and practioneers of the various fraudulent schemes that are being conducted by criminals.

He has over two decades of auditing and fraud related professional experience. His expertise in conducting investigations from a financial perspective was developed during his many years as a Special Agent with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service. During his years as a special agent, he investigated crimes that involve tax fraud, Ponzi schemes, child pornography, domestic terrorism, money laundering and other criminal activities. Professor Harvin leverages his vast professional experiences to prepare students for careers that involve fraud examination such as auditors, investigators, cyber security, law enforcement and other fraud related careers.

Jason MacMorran is a Partner in EisnerAmper’s Financial Advisory Services Group with more than 25 years of experience. He specializes in business valuation, transaction advisory services and commercial litigation across a range of industries, and leads the firm’s Forensic, Litigation, and Valuation Services Group.

Jason provides valuation and transaction consulting services to individuals, growing companies and private equity, including financial due diligence and transaction support, financial reporting valuations, and tax valuations. He also serves clients and attorneys in complex valuation and economic damage matters, serving as a court appointed neutral, and providing testimony in a range of venues, including federal district court, federal bankruptcy court, state court, and international arbitration.

Jason has been an active member in the profession, having served nationally on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) Business Valuation Committee, and as faculty for both the AICPA’s ABV Exam Review Course and Expert Witness Skills Workshop. He has also served on AICPA conference planning committees, various technical task forces, and he speaks nationally and locally on technical valuation and litigation topics. Jason was honored as the AICPA’s 2014 Business Valuation Volunteer of the Year and was in the AICPA’s inaugural Standing Ovation class for forensic accounting and business valuation professionals. Locally, Jason has served on the Society of Louisiana CPA’s board of directors, was its 2019-2020 chair, and has served on its Forensic and Valuation Services Committee since 2009, chairing that committee in 2013 and 2014.

Eman Momeni is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Northern State University (NSU) in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where he has been a tenure-track faculty member since 2020. His research focuses on accounting education, fraud and forensic accounting, and financial practices in emerging markets. He has initiated and published multiple sole-authored and collaborative research projects in these areas, and his scholarly work was recognized with the NSU’s Sanford Faculty Development Awards in 2022 and 2025.

Dr. Momeni has 14 years of experience in the higher ed and is a member of the International Editorial Board of the Journal of Financial Accounting Research and serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of The Journal of Forensic and Investigative Accounting.

Chad Olivier is an award-winning CEO, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with 29 years of experience in the field.

Chad embarked on his career in the financial services industry nearly 30 years ago, following his graduation from Northeast Louisiana University. Initially starting as a stockbroker, Chad soon recognized that the essence of successful financial planning lies in building meaningful relationships. This insight led him to pursue a career as a financial advisor.

Today, Chad is a prominent CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and the owner of the Olivier Group, an innovative wealth management firm based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Over the past two decades, he has established a distinguished reputation for ethical and client-centered financial planning. Chad holds multiple securities registrations, including Series 7, 24, 52, and 63, and is insurance licensed. His advanced qualifications include Certificates in Family Business and Wealth Advising from the Family Firm Institute and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor designation from the Exit Planning Institute, which enhances his expertise in assisting business owners with complex financial transitions.

Chad’s professional involvement extends to his membership in the Baton Rouge Financial Planning Association and the Baton Rouge Estate and Planning Council. He also contributes to the financial planning community as a writer for the Journal of the Louisiana Dental Association and as the author of The Resourceful Dentist and What Medical School Did Not Teach You About Financial Planning. Additionally, Chad shares his financial expertise through the “Money Talks” segment on a Baton Rouge news broadcast, where he offers valuable insights and practical advice on a range of financial topics.

Outside of his professional achievements, Chad is a dedicated family man. He and his wife Rose are proud parents to Conrad, Cole, Christopher, and Charles Max. Their son Cole is on the Autism Spectrum, and both Chad and Rose are actively involved in the special needs community. Their advocacy includes supporting organizations and programs that provide resources and assistance to individuals with special needs and their families.

Chad’s commitment to his family, his profession, and his community reflects his unwavering dedication to making a positive impact. Whether through his financial planning practice, community involvement, or special needs advocacy, Chad continues to be a trusted and compassionate leader.

Stephen Street has served as Louisiana’s Inspector General since 2008, and served four two year terms as President of the National Association of Inspectors General (AIG). The Louisiana Inspector General is a law enforcement agency with a mission to investigate white collar criminal and public corruption cases, and to root out and prevent fraud and corruption in government.

Mr. Street received his law degree in 1989 from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. Most of his 30 plus years as an attorney have been spent in the field of criminal law at the state and federal levels, first as a criminal staff lawyer with the Third Circuit Court of Appeal in Lake Charles, and then later both defending and prosecuting serious criminal cases. Mr. Street has extensive experience as lead trial counsel in a wide variety of cases, from capital murder to complex white collar and economic crime.

Mr. Street is a Certified Inspector General (CIG), and regularly conducts training for law enforcement, prosecutors, inspectors general and other oversight personnel on white collar and economic crime investigation. He serves on the Board of Directors for the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and also continues to serve as an NW3C Adjunct Instructor, teaching courses on Financial Investigation Practical Skills (FIPS) offered to law enforcement throughout the United States.

Amy Yurko is an Associate Professor of Accounting at the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business. She teaches Data Analytics for Decision Making, Corporate & Partnership Tax Accounting and Financial Accounting to graduate and undergraduate students at Duquesne University. She has taught Individual Tax Accounting & Planning and monitors student participation in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, in which she also serves as a volunteer preparer.

Dr. Yurko's research interests include tax accounting, nonprofit requirements, executive compensation design, corporate governance, executive power, and examining how taxes influence taxpayer decisions, including compensation design and marriage decisions.

Her research interests extend to teaching, specifically examining new teaching methods to improve the classroom environment, incorporate data analytics, and develop students' comprehension and communication skills.

She serves on the editorial board of the ATA Journal of Legal Tax Research and the Journal of Forensic and Investigative Accounting.

Dr. Yurko is an attorney, whose legal career began at Coopers & Lybrand, a predecessor to Price Waterhouse Coopers. She practiced as an attorney for more than twenty years, specializing in business planning, estates, and taxes.