Lakes Private Eye Able To Get The Inside Information-  April 1999

Private investigator Juan Rey has nothing to hide. As the founding president of Atlantic Coast Investigations Inc., established eleven years ago in the Miami Lakes area, the seasoned flatfoot was drawn like a magnet to P.I. work nearly 20 years ago. “I just got hooked on the business,” said Rey. His first clue into the world of investigation was watching popular TV crime-solving shows. “I’ve always gravitated towards the whodunit shows,” recalled Rey.

However, Rey said his P.I. experience has taught him that cases don’t always wrap up so neatly in real life. “It really isn’t like anything on TV,” said Rey. “It would be great if all cases get solved in an hour, but it’s not that way.” Rey’s company, located at 15295 N.W. 60th Avenue, in close proximity to the Miami Lakes district police station, specializes in insurance fraud, but also handles domestic cases involving issues ranging from infidelity to missing children.

Oddly, in the near 20 years he’s been in the business, Rey has never been involved in law enforcement and enjoys the clearly drawn line that lies between them. The major difference between the two is the way in which each goes about getting information. While law enforcement officers have the authority to demand information on legal inquiry, Rey said P.I.s, because of their independent status, must employ more creative ways to attain the information they need to solve a case.

Often times, that may mean taking on false identifies. “People aren’t readily going to give you information on most accounts,” said Rey. “You try to get personalities that work well with who you are. You’ve got to try to keep it as simple as possible. If you’re very relaxed, that’s something you gain. You have to be discreet in your agenda.”

He emphasizes the identities he and his staff of investigators assume are completely fictional and do not use another person’s actual name or personal information. “We’ve gotten to look at ourselves as professional liars, but we try to keep it in the white lie category,” said Rey.

Although he keeps his alternate identities closely in tune with his real personality and physical appearance for a believable first impression, evading suspicion doesn’t come with too many close calls. “If you’re good, they never know who you are,” said Rey. He does admit, however, that there have been times when both his public circles and personal ones have almost collided.

“I have, on occasion, been real close to it,” said Rey of having his true identity revealed. These are moments, however, he handles by playing it smooth. “At that point, you just resume your [alternate] personality,” he said. When cases require a more subtle approach, Rey said it’s best to lay low but be obvious about it. “Sometimes it’s like the old saying, ‘hiding in plain sight,’” said Rey. Many of the investigations he conducts requiring a surveillance camera force him to camouflage himself. But even with such intrusive equipment on hand, Rey manages to disappear into his surroundings. “The way you present yourself has to blend with the environment,” said Rey.

Rey started investigating straight out of school with a degree in criminology from Florida State University. “It’s a great help in studying [investigating] a little more in theory,” said Rey. The degree has been a help to him, but he feels the best education results from baptism by fire.

“It’s on-the-job training,” said Rey. “There are a handful of schools that will teach it [investigating] but it’s kind of one of those skills you’ll learn how to do by going along.” Going from theory to actually cracking cases can sometimes make a flatfoot really pound the pavement and occasionally leave him clueless.

“There are some simple cases that involve three to four hours of work,” said Rey. “Then there are some cases that can last for years. Every case is different. It’s never the same case twice.” After so many years of learning the ins and outs of the businesses, the key to making a business out of investigating is no long a mystery for Rey.

“To be a successful investigative agency, the people who are running the agency have to know how to do their best work,” said Rey. As the president of his agency, he’s been able to pass on all his case-solving methods to his new staff of five investigators that cover an area reaching Key West, Jupiter and Naples. Although his secret to success may sound simple, he said it’s really just a matter loving your work. “I’m passionate about my business and my industry,” said Rey. “It gives me an outlet for my personality.”

The cases in which Rey or his staff has used a surveillance camera to obtain hard evidence have had about a 90 percent success rate. But given the extenuating circumstances that sometimes arise, Rey said, some cases can only be taken so far. “Success is based on whether you are able to determine some tangible information based on your investigation,” said Rey. Most of the cases in which surveillance is necessary usually involve issues of infidelity. Rey’s typical client is usually married and has been suspecting his or her mate of betrayal for some time before soliciting his services. “More often than not, by the time someone calls an investigation company, they know in their hearts something is wrong,” he said.

According to Rey, the most telling signs in suspecting infidelity are sudden and blatant changes in your mate’s form of behavior. Among them are working late hours, improved style of dress or personal appearance, an increased number of cell phone calls and disappearing money. “Sometimes it’s just a confirmation of what they already thought,” said Rey. “At that point, there’s no hiding at that point you can’t deny it.” Amazingly, he said the number of husbands calling in to investigate their wives is just as high as the number of suspecting wives.

As a family man with three kids of his own, Rey said he isn’t in danger of straying away, but his life can sometimes get put on the line. “The most uncomfortable [cases] are when you are dealing with drug dealers or illegal activity,” he said. Recent advancements in technology have helped Rey gain easier access to certain aspects of his cases necessary to help solve them.

“Some cameras are like computers,” said Rey. “Now you can link into dozens of sights.” Some of the essential websites Rey uses to link into are the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. “They’re the two telltale signs of an individual,” said Rey. “Your criminal record and your driving record.” Information from you your driving record can provide anyone interested with a list of your traffic offenses and any other drivers in your household to which you are connected.

Rey also uses data companies that cross-check information to help him find out specific details about his subject. “It really comes down to how many sources you link into,” said Rey. “It’s just a matter of how much hunting you want to do.” Of the 500 cases a year his company works on, the one that most disheartened him involved a missing teen. His empathy for children has led his company to become a sponsor of the Missing Children’s Network.

“One young lady got involved with the wrong crowd at age 14,” explained Rey. “When I first met the parents, they had these beautiful pictures of their little girl looking all of 12 years old.” The search to find her resulted in a shattering discovery for all that revealed how quickly her life had changed just by associating with the wrong crowd. After looking for her on the streets of Miami, he found her in the custody of two older men, in their 20s, who had apparently subjected her to more than one kind of abuse. When I found her, she looked like she was 21 years old,” said Rey. “Over a period of two years, this girl went from a lovely little 12 year old to a very worn out 14 year old.”

As an investigator, Rey’s advice to any parent facing trouble with their child is to practice early intervention. “Having kids myself, I guess it’s better to err on the side of caution.” Rey said no matter how his cases may differ from one another, they all have nearly the same underlying theme. “I think they all have kind of the same theme,” said Rey. “The funniest part is how many people, regardless of their age, are trying to live out their [teenage] years.” Insurance fraud cases have a more obvious economic motive, he added.

Rey’s interest in investigating started at an early age. “I’ve always had an inquisitive nature,” said Rey. Growing up in Little Havana, he feels he got an opportunity to test the instincts that came naturally to him. “You have to be inquisitive and you have to have street smarts,” he said. It still remains a mystery to him, however, as to exactly what sparked his initial interest in the field. No matter what the reason, Rey said he plans to continue searching for the answers to his clients’ questions. “I love the changing scenarios,” he said.

In the last five years he’s been in the Miami Lakes area, he said the area’s main concern would be against insurance fraud, a problem that seems well protected against by local law firms defending the insurance companies. “There are several insurance defense firms in the area,” said Rey. “To the benefit of Miami Lakes, there aren’t too many insurance fraud cases in the area.”