Greenville/Districts 18/20
Richard P. “Phil” Carter is a nationally recognized investigator, security consultant, and retired federal agent with nearly three decades of experience in law enforcement, corporate security, and complex criminal investigations. He is the Founder and Principal of Sierra Consulting LLC, a Greenville-based investigative and risk consulting firm providing domestic and international investigative services to law firms, corporations, and governmental entities.
Professional Background
Carter’s experience covers complex criminal and civil investigations, including major felonies, financial fraud, cybercrime, narcotics trafficking, and protective security for public officials domestically and abroad. He has coordinated multi-jurisdictional operations with agencies such as the DEA, FBI, ATF, and IRS, supervised tactical teams, and led efforts on workplace violence, intellectual property crimes, and identity theft. During his law enforcement career, Carter served on multiple boards and committees, including, the United States Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force (2009 – 2018), the FBI JTTF Executive Committee (2015 – 2022), and the NIST OSAC Crime Scene Investigation & Reconstruction Subcommittee (2019 – 2022). Carter has contributed to national security planning and congressional hearings, maintaining strong relationships with major corporations, security organizations, and governmental entities.
Education and Certifications
Carter holds a Juris Master with Honors in American Legal Studies from Liberty University School of Law and undergraduate degrees from the University of South Carolina. He is a graduate with honors from several respected law enforcement academies, including the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, the U.S. Secret Service Training Center and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. He is certified as a Qualified International Investigator by the Council of International Investigators.
Professional Affiliations
He serves on multiple boards and committees, including the Better Business Bureau and American Bar Association, and is an active member of other organizations such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Overseas Security Advisory Council (Bureau of Diplomatic Security, U.S. Department of State), ASIS International, International Homicide Investigators Association, International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators, and the Council of International Investigators
Honors and Recognition
Carter’s achievements have been recognized with honors such as the Rotary Club Law Enforcement Officer of the Year and the Billy Wilkins Excellence in Law Enforcement Award. He is a sought-after speaker, witness, and educator, offering training and presentations to law enforcement, academic, and corporate audiences.
Media and Public Engagement
He has appeared on national and regional media discussing topics like anti-Semitic attacks, school shootings, major criminal investigations, and international security. Carter also contributed to Smithsonian National Museum exhibitions on fraud and counterfeit memorabilia, emphasizing the cultural and historic significance of law enforcement investigations.