About Paladin Bail Bonds

Mathew Smith

(Owner and managing agent of Paladin Bail Bonds, LLP)

National Producer# 19107187—Wyoming License# 399103—Montana License# 3000626946

Mathew started his investigative career in 1996 working with the D.E.A. (Drug Enforcement Administration) as a contracted undercover agent. Mathew was the first contracted undercover agent authorized by the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Department of Justice to be a paid operative for the U.S. and a foreign government at the same time and authorized to share intelligence with and have direct contact with U.S. agents and agents of a foreign government while working in an undercover capacity for the U.S. and a foreign government. As far as we know he is still the only one that has ever been authorized to do this as a contracted agent for the U.S.

In mid 1996, Mathew had received intelligence on an international drug trafficker. The U.S. was unwilling to work the operation. This was due to the fact they did not have the resources or relationships in, and with the countries involved to work the operation.

Mathew contacted foreign government embassies in D.C. and helped bring together a collation to work together on the operation.

While working as the undercover agent/informant on this case, Mathew collected the intelligence need to catch the traffickers, drug producers, and a corrupt judge in the African nation of Morocco.

This operation spanned across almost every country in Europe. Russia even lent a helping hand with intelligence on the main target of the operation. The details of this operation and much of Mathew’s background and involvement with law enforcement is still classified.

The success of this operation importantly improved relations between the U.S. and many European nations, and the African nation of Morocco. The success of this case was the major contributing factor in the King of Morocco’s visit to the White House and President Bill Clinton in June of 2000.

In 2002 Mathew was working on gathering intelligence on a local drug dealer in Polk County Florida. During the investigation, a person that was involved with the drug dealer Mathew was investigating was involved in a homicide. Mathew was able to obtain critical information that led the homicide unit to the blood-soaked clothes of one of the suspects. About a week later the sergeant over the homicide unit contacted Mathew for additional help. After countless hours of interviews and interrogations of the suspects the detectives were unable to get the location of the murder weapon. Mathew went to one of the suspects and identified who he was and who the agencies he was working with. He asked the suspect to submit to an interview and interrogation that he would perform. The suspect agreed to the interview and interrogation. During the interview and interrogation Mathew was able to obtain the location of the murder weapon. The murder weapon was recovered.

Mathew continued over the next 12 and 1/2 years assisting local and federal law enforcement. His assistance included working undercover on drug trafficking, international terrorism intelligence collection, homicide, attempted murder investigations, interrogation and interviews, (gaining information from suspects that law enforcement was unable) the collection of intelligence on terrorist activity, the identifying of companies involved in money laundering, victim/witness personal protection, criminal tracking and location.

In 2017, Boyd’s Coffee (in Oregon) data base was hacked. Thousands of credit card numbers along with personal information was stolen. Mathew was able to track down some of the persons involved to Manhattan NY. The evidence and intelligence he was able to collect and turn over to the F.B.I., lead the F.B.I. to the front door of the apartment in Manhattan NY were some of the suspects involved were residing.

Mathew is also a licensed Bail Agent in the State of Wyoming and Montana.

Wyoming Bail Agent License #399103

Montana Bail Agent License #3000626946

Mathew is partners with Melinda Hunsaker Smith in the ownership of Paladin Bail Bonds, LLP in Powell Wyoming.
Mathew and Melinda also are the owners of Paladin Investigations, LLC

Agencies Mathew Has Worked With:

D.E.A (Drug Enforcement Administration), F.B.I. (Federal Bureau Of Investigation), British Special Police(MI5), Wyoming DCI (Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation) Multiple Sheriff’s Offices in Florida, Multiple Police Department’s In Florida, Sheriff’s Office In Idaho, Police Department In Idaho. (Due to written agreements with the Sheriff’s Offices, and Police Department’s Mathew’s involvement with them and their departments cannot publicly posted)

Mathew has several thousands of hours of Experience/Training in:

Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigation “Information Liaison Officer” Training November 2021

Florida’s 120 Hrs Bail Agents Class Requirements. Florida Bail Agent Association Certified 1999

University of Florida Bail Agent Correspondents Course 1999

Working Undercover In Multi-National Drug Trafficking Operations

Working Undercover in National and Local Operations Including Drug Trafficking Investigations

Foreign and Domestic Terrorism Investigations

Tracking and Locating of Persons

Locating and Apprehension of Fugitives

Personal Protection of Witnesses and Victims

Firearms (Including Fully Automatic)

Self Defense

Pain Compliance

Arrest Techniques and Procedures

Surveillance

Counterintelligence & Countersurveillance

Collection & Analysis of Intelligence