Special Investigations Group

What Special Investigations Group does

Special Investigations Group (SIG) is a privately held, family-operated private investigation and security services firm founded around 2010 by James Fannon and headquartered at 2951 Thornhills Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan. The firm is licensed in Michigan and Indiana and is led by CEO/Founder James Fannon (a U.S. Army combat veteran and former vice/undercover detective) and President Erika Fannon (a 28-year Grand Rapids Police Department veteran and 21-year homicide investigator). SIG serves corporate clients (internal investigations, employee misconduct, workplace violence prevention, fraud), legal professionals (litigation support, asset discovery, witness location), family law clients (divorce/custody evidence), and high-net-worth individuals (executive/VIP protection, event security, threat assessment), with select collaboration work for law enforcement agencies.

The company's core offering is organized into three service categories: (1) Private Investigative Services covering more than 30 specialized case types including anti-trust litigation support, corporate espionage, asset location/recovery, physical and electronic surveillance, fraud investigation, digital forensics, wrongful death, embezzlement, sexual harassment, non-compete enforcement, and intellectual property theft; (2) Personal Security Services through the SIG Tactical sub-brand, providing armed VIP/executive protection, workplace violence audits, controlled termination/exit interviews, threat analysis, global travel security, and church/religious organization security; and (3) Surveillance Services spanning physical/covert surveillance, GPS tracking, counter-surveillance (bug sweeps, camera and tracking-device detection), and overt security surveillance using uniformed personnel. Adjacent offerings include NRA/USCCA-certified firearms training, Michigan concealed carry certification, defensive knife training, and information/data services such as national criminal history searches, social media searches, asset locates, and business reports. Technical capabilities are rooted in law enforcement methodologies rather than proprietary technology platforms, with digital forensics covering Windows, Linux/Unix, Macintosh systems, and mobile devices including cell phone forensics and password recovery.

Commercially, SIG operates a sales-led, consultative direct engagement model with quote-based pricing that varies by case complexity, duration, and resources deployed. Free consultations feed the funnel, and multi-year contractual engagements are noted. Marketing is light: thought-leadership content via a blog covering workplace violence, termination management, and case-study analyses, alongside Facebook/Twitter profiles, community nonprofit participation (e.g., SECOM Resource Center), and a referral network anchored by legal partnerships (notably Miller Johnson for employment/labor matters and Debbaudt Investigations for white-collar fraud work). Revenue is undisclosed; the firm has no outside investors, no M&A history, no disclosed funding, and a Wix-hosted web presence — consistent with a lifestyle-scale, owner-operated professional services business rather than a venture-backed or platform-scale enterprise.

Name

Special Investigations Group

Legal name

Special Investigations Group

Website

https://specialinvestigationsgrp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Special Investigations Group is a Michigan-based, family-owned private investigation and security firm providing physical surveillance, digital forensics, litigation support, armed personal protection, and firearms training to corporate, legal, government, and high-net-worth clients across Michigan and Indiana.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Investigation Services

NAICS

Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (561611)

SIC

Services-Detective, Guard & Armored Car Services (7381)

akta.pro primary industry

Investigations & Background Screening Services (IMAIAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workplace Misconduct, Ethics & Compliance Investigations (BPAKAEAH), Fraud Investigations & Claims Support (Insurance/Financial) (BPAKAEAD), Digital/Online Investigations & OSINT (Non-cyber) (BPAKAEAF)

Keywords

• Private investigation services
• Physical surveillance
• Digital forensics
• Executive protection
• Firearms training

Headquarters

HQ city

Grand Rapids

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investigative Services: Project-based professional services including surveillance, background investigations, fraud investigation, digital forensics, litigation support, and asset location. Fees charged per investigation or case.
2. Security Services: Personal security and armed protection services for executives, VIPs, and events. Tactical security teams with law enforcement backgrounds.
3. Training Services: Firearms training, concealed carry certification, knife combat training, and defensive tactics instruction.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Special Investigations Group is a Michigan-based private investigation and security firm that delivers private investigative services, personal/armed security, surveillance, digital forensics, and firearms training to corporate clients, legal professionals, government/law enforcement agencies, and individuals. Service offerings span more than 25 specialized investigation types including anti-trust litigation support, corporate espionage, asset location and recovery, fraud investigation, drug/prescription abuse investigation, divorce/child custody investigation, intellectual property theft, embezzlement, workers compensation fraud, wrongful death, and undercover operations. The firm combines law enforcement-trained personnel with surveillance technology and digital forensics tools to produce court-admissible evidence.

Product overview

Special Investigations Group is a private investigation and security services firm operating as a single integrated service provider rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The company offers three core service categories: (1) Private Investigative Services covering over 30 specialized investigation types including anti-trust, corporate espionage, asset location, digital forensics, fraud, litigation support, and wrongful death; (2) Personal Security Services under the SIG Tactical sub-brand providing armed protection, workplace violence prevention, executive/VIP security, and tactical training; and (3) Surveillance Services encompassing physical surveillance, GPS tracking, counter surveillance, and overt security surveillance. Additional specialized services include firearms training, concealed carry training, defensive knife training, and data/information services. The company differentiates through staff with extensive law enforcement backgrounds, serving clients in Michigan and beyond.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Investigative Services Comprehensive investigative services covering more than 25 specialized investigation types including anti-trust litigation support, corporate espionage, asset location and recovery, physical surveillance, litigation support, digital forensics, fraud, drug/prescription medication abuse, divorce/child custody, criminal histories and background investigations, blackmail, bribery, non-compete agreement enforcement, intellectual property theft, embezzlement, sexual harassment, substance abuse, industrial accidents, patent infringement, workers compensation fraud, wrongful death, extortion, employee misconduct, undercover operations, and automobile/trucking accident investigation, for corporate, legal, and individual clients.
• Personal Security Services Comprehensive security services including workplace violence audits, controlled terminations/exit interviews, threat analysis, global travel security, church/religious organization security, special event security, executive/VIP armed protection, armed courier services, situation extraction/safe house protection, and home security and protection training, for executives, VIPs, event organizers, religious organizations, and individuals with personal safety concerns.
• Surveillance Services Surveillance operations including physical surveillance (covert monitoring with video and still image recording), GPS tracking surveillance (using third-party mapping platforms to avoid contamination of results), counter surveillance (bug sweeps, camera detection, tracking device locating), and overt/security surveillance using uniformed personnel and security cameras, for legal, corporate, and individual clients needing evidence collection and threat detection.
• Firearms Training Firearms training services certified by the National Rifle Association and United States Concealed Carry Association, covering firearm selection, use, and storage from beginner to advanced levels including close quarters combat (CQC), shooting on the move, and moving target training, for civilians and armed professionals.
• Concealed Carry Training Michigan Concealed Pistol License training course meeting the 8-hour state requirement (5 hours classroom, 3 hours range) covering ammunition knowledge, pistol shooting fundamentals, firearms law, civil liability, use of deadly force, and practical range instruction, for Michigan residents seeking concealed carry licensure.
• Defensive Knife Training S.R.C. Tactical Knife Course covering edged-weapon techniques, stopping power, muscle targeting, knife ranges (close, middle, long), slashing/stabbing techniques, concealment, and stress reactions, for concerned citizens and armed professionals.
• Digital Forensic Services Digital forensics examination services for Microsoft Windows, Linux/Unix, Macintosh systems, and cell phones, including password recovery, document decryption, computer fraud investigation, email abuse, harassment, intellectual property theft, and insurance fraud cases, for legal, corporate, and insurance clients.
• Information and Data Services Data and information services including national and state criminal history searches, nationwide warrant searches, traffic records, police reports, social security verification, credit checks, asset locates, accident reports, people/vehicle/property locates, bank account information, court records, social media searches, and business reports, for legal, corporate, and individual clients conducting background checks and investigations.
• SIG Tactical Tactical security sub-brand providing armed protection services with security personnel having extensive law enforcement and military training, including SEAL Team tactical trainers, for deployment in various security situations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 39% reduction in index crime rate (robbery, aggravated assault) in areas with proper security lighting per NYC study cited
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Debbaudt Investigations, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance with former FBI Special Agent in Charge Gene Debbaudt's firm. Debbaudt mentored James Fannon after his law enforcement career. The two firms work together daily to provide clients with comprehensive investigative services and 'facts to make a better decision.' Gene Debbaudt serves as white collar fraud investigator for Special Investigations Group clients.
• Miller JohnsonminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEmployment and labor law firm recommended as legal team partner for managing employee terminations. Attorneys Tony Comden and Mary Tabin specialize in representing employers in termination matters. SIG recommends retaining this firm for legal guidance during potentially hostile termination processes.
• SECOM Resource CenterminorOthersCommunity nonprofit organization serving neighbors on the south side of Grand Rapids since 1971. Special Investigations Group participated in SECOM's Annual Fundraising Event - Help & Hope Breakfast at GVSU Eberhard Center. Organization provides Healthy Food Pantry, Little Steps Preschool, and Empowerment Programming serving 400+ households monthly.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Kroll: Global investigations and security consulting firm offering corporate investigations, digital forensics, litigation support, and security consulting — the same core services SIG provides, but at international scale and to Fortune 500 clients.
• Lauth Investigations International: U.S.-headquartered private investigations firm offering surveillance, fraud, background, and digital forensics services; comparable mid-size peer in the same competitive set as SIG.
• Hillard Heintze: U.S. security consulting and investigations firm providing threat assessments, workplace violence prevention, executive protection, and litigation support — a particularly close peer given SIG's emphasis on workplace violence audits and controlled terminations.
• Mintz Group: Specialized corporate investigations firm focused on fraud, asset tracing, due diligence, and litigation support; competes most directly with SIG's investigative and litigation-support practice for sophisticated corporate and law-firm clients.

Broad incumbents

• Control Risks: Global risk consulting firm offering corporate investigations, fraud inquiries, security consulting, and protective services — comparable service mix to SIG but with multinational reach and a primarily enterprise/government client base.
• Pinkerton: Long-established corporate investigations, surveillance, background screening, and security services provider serving enterprises globally; widely overlaps SIG's service catalog but at significantly larger scale and broader geographic coverage.
• FTI Consulting: Global advisory firm with a forensic and litigation consulting segment that includes digital forensics, investigation support, and expert witness services — competing for the higher end of SIG's target market while operating a far broader portfolio.

Regional players

• Cardinal Point Security Group: Midwest-based private security and investigations firm providing uniformed officers, executive protection, and investigative services — comparable in geographic focus to SIG but weighted more toward guarding than investigations.

Emerging players

• The Investigative Group: U.S. private investigations firm offering surveillance, fraud, asset location, and digital forensics for corporate and legal clients; another mid-size peer competing for the same law-firm and corporate engagements as SIG.
• Bishop Direction: Smaller U.S. investigations and security firm offering surveillance, digital forensics, and due diligence; overlaps with SIG's service catalogue at a similar size and regional scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wix
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/special-investigations-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Special Investigations Group