- Nationwide Digital Forensic & Cyber Investigation Services
Digital forensic expert
Cole Popkin is a digital forensic expert and Senior Digital Forensic Examiner at Elite Digital Forensics. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Digital Forensics and previously worked forensic casework as a contractor for federal Homeland Security Investigations, the Michigan State Police, and a corrections education program. He conducts device examinations, open source intelligence work, video and audio analysis, and data recovery, and he prepares the reports that support attorney review and testimony.
His examinations cover Android and iOS mobile devices, Windows and Mac computers, external and loose media, cloud and account data, and network and internet activity. He has also performed hardware level teardowns to recover data from damaged or non booting machines, and he builds custom scripting to parse large data sets when a case volume outgrows manual review.
Practice areas
Cell phone forensics
iPhone forensics
Android forensics
Computer forensics
Video and audio forensics
Data recovery
Open source intelligence
Metadata analysis
Cryptocurrency tracing
Malware analysis
Fraud investigations
Report writing and testimony
Digital forensic expert witness
As a digital forensic expert witness, Cole Popkin explains how digital artifacts were acquired, what they show, and where interpretation ends and speculation begins. His work supports affidavits, motion practice, deposition, and trial, and he prepares counsel for cross examination of opposing examiners and law enforcement analysts.
Court qualified expert witness
Qualification as an expert witness is decided case by case by the presiding judge and turns on education, training, experience, and whether the methods used can be tested and repeated. Cole Popkin's qualification record rests on a digital forensics degree, government forensic casework, and examinations performed under documented chain of custody.
| Qualification factor | What it means | How it applies here |
|---|---|---|
| Education | Formal academic grounding in the discipline | B.S. in Digital Forensics with a minor in information assurance |
| Training | Instruction in forensic acquisition and analysis | Federal and state law enforcement forensic programs and continuing vendor neutral training |
| Experience | Volume and variety of real casework | Homicide, larceny, weapons, fraud, cryptocurrency and insurance theft, parole violations, contraband |
| Methodology | Repeatable, documented, testable process | Verified imaging, hash validation, documented chain of custody, reproducible findings |
| Communication | Ability to explain findings clearly | Report writing, affidavit support, and testimony experience |
Casework and examination approach
Client names, jurisdictions, dates, and identifying case facts are withheld, and no outcomes, verdicts, or settlement figures are stated. Select a matter type to see the kinds of questions his examinations address.
Mobile devices
Android and iOS acquisition and analysis, message and call activity, application databases, deleted data questions, location artifacts, and the difference between what an extraction tool labels and what the underlying data supports.
Computers and media
Windows and Mac artifact analysis, external drive and USB history, file creation and transfer timelines, attribution of files to a user account, and hardware teardown when a machine cannot be imaged normally.
Financial and cryptocurrency
Wallet and exchange artifacts on devices, transaction tracing across public ledgers, insurance and identity fraud patterns, and correlation of device evidence with financial records.
Open source intelligence
Documented collection of publicly available account, profile, and posting data, preservation of that record before it changes, and analysis of online activity relevant to identity and timeline questions.
Examination formats
Full examination
Acquisition, analysis, and reporting of a device or account from the original evidence or a verified image.
Independent review
Review of an existing extraction or forensic report to test whether the stated conclusions follow from the data.
Consulting engagement
Technical support to counsel on scope, preservation, discovery requests, and cross examination of an opposing examiner.
Experience
Elite Digital Forensics
Senior Digital Forensic Examiner and Business Development Manager
- Conducts and oversees investigations spanning device analysis, open source intelligence, metadata, cyber matters, data recovery, and video and audio forensic analysis.
- Writes forensic reports and provides testimony on the analysis and interpretation of digital evidence.
- Advises clients on investigative strategy and supports the preparation of affidavits and other legal filings.
- Manages client relations and firm marketing, and structures engagements with clients and partners.
Department of Homeland Security Investigations
Digital Forensics Contractor
- Supported multiple agents with research, investigations, and special projects across active caseloads.
- Contributed to matters involving cryptocurrency and insurance theft, including open source investigation of cryptocurrency related crime.
- Reverse engineered malware used in cyber attacks and documented functionality for investigative use.
- Tracked and analyzed online activity to identify patterns and extract evidence.
- Provided Spanish to English translation support on recorded case communications.
- Prepared and presented written reports supporting the investigative process.
Michigan State Police
Digital Forensics Contractor
- Analyzed Android and iOS devices to extract and examine evidence for active investigations.
- Assisted the investigative team with evidence collection and analysis at crime scenes.
- Performed hardware teardowns of laptops to support accurate data recovery.
- Managed a caseload of more than thirty matters in a single assignment term.
- Produced detailed reports documenting findings, analysis, and interpretation.
Calvin Prison Initiative
Forensic Analyst Contractor
- Examined laptop devices for contraband material, establishing file creation timestamps and distribution paths.
- Cataloged more than fifty contraband files with hash values for each item.
- Built a custom Python application to automate parsing and analysis and reduce manual review time.
- Applied a multi step process of verified imaging followed by independent analysis in two separate platforms.
- Reconstructed removable media history to address smuggling of material by USB device.
Education and technical skills
| Credential | Type | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| B.S. Digital Forensics, Davenport University | Degree | Digital forensic examination, minor in information assurance |
| Accounting coursework, StraighterLine | Coursework | Financial analysis applied to fraud and financial crime matters |
| Mechatronics and Avionics, Kent County Tech Center | Technical program | Electronics and hardware level device work |
Technical skills
- Mobile and computer forensic acquisition, analysis, and verification.
- Hardware teardown and recovery from damaged or non booting devices.
- Python development for parsing and automating large data set review.
- Malware reverse engineering and network and surveillance analysis.
- Open source intelligence collection and documentation.
- Spanish to English translation of case material.
Examinations are performed with the acquisition and analysis platforms used by federal and state forensic laboratories, validated against known data before results are relied on in a report.
How Elite Digital Forensics helps
Elite Digital Forensics provides independent forensic examination and expert witness testimony to attorneys, businesses, and private clients nationwide. Engagements start with a confidential consultation that defines scope and sets realistic expectations before any work is authorized.
- Confidential consultation and scope definition with counsel or the client.
- Evidence acquisition under documented chain of custody, with hash verification.
- Analysis directed at the specific questions the case requires.
- Written report prepared for attorney review, negotiation, or court.
- Deposition and trial testimony where the matter proceeds.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Cole Popkin?
Cole Popkin is a digital forensic expert and Senior Digital Forensic Examiner at Elite Digital Forensics. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Digital Forensics and previously performed forensic casework as a contractor for federal Homeland Security Investigations and the Michigan State Police.
What kinds of cases does he examine?
Homicide, larceny, weapons, fraud, parole violations, cryptocurrency and insurance theft, contraband matters, and civil and family disputes that turn on phone, computer, or online evidence.
Does he provide expert testimony?
Yes. He writes his own reports and testifies to his own findings, and he supports counsel in affidavit preparation and cross examination of opposing examiners.
What devices can he examine?
Android and iOS phones and tablets, Windows and Mac computers, external drives and loose media, cloud and account returns, and damaged devices that require hardware level work.
Does he work for both plaintiff and defense?
Yes. Findings are driven by the evidence, not by the retaining party.
How is a retention started?
Counsel or the client requests a confidential consultation, scope and devices are identified, a written engagement follows, and evidence is acquired under documented chain of custody before analysis begins.
Get in touch with Cole Popkin
Email Cole directly, or book a case update meeting on his calendar.
Email Cole Popkincole@elitedigitalforensics.com
Book a case update meetingPick a time on Cole Popkin's calendar.
Email cole@elitedigitalforensics.com
Book a meeting
References
- Federal Rule of Evidence 702, Testimony by Expert Witnesses
- Federal Rule of Evidence 902(14), Certified Data Copied From an Electronic Device
- NIST Computer Forensics Tool Testing Program
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Elite Digital Forensics provides independent digital forensic services and expert witness testimony; we do not provide legal representation. Every case is fact specific; outcomes depend on the evidence, jurisdiction, and counsel. Retain qualified legal counsel for advice about your matter.
