How DeliverFund Transformed Human Trafficking Investigations into Intelligence-Led Operations with Kaseware

Built From the Work Itself

DeliverFund was founded to support law enforcement working on human trafficking cases, but its role has expanded well beyond advisory support. Over time, the organization has become a consistent operational partner, working alongside agencies and investigators to interpret and act on intelligence tied to trafficking activity.

In practice, DeliverFund fills a gap many agencies face: the ability to collect, analyze, and connect intelligence in a consistent way. Acting as a central resource, the organization helps standardize how trafficking intelligence is received, analyzed, and shared.

DeliverFund supports more than 8,000+ law enforcement officers across state, local, and federal agencies nationwide, reflecting both the scale of the problem and the demand for coordinated intelligence support.

This approach did not start with a finished system. Early on, DeliverFund needed a way to manage the type of work they were doing. Existing tools were either too complex or not well-suited to how trafficking investigations unfold. The goal was not to introduce a new process, but to build a system that matched the one already being used in the field.

The Changing Nature of Human Trafficking Investigations

Human trafficking networks are built to avoid detection. They operate across cities and platforms, cycle through phone numbers and online identities, and rely on fragmented visibility across agencies to remain hidden.

Investigations also require a combination of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT), financial analysis, and coordination across agencies that may not traditionally work together. A single case can involve data points from multiple states, platforms, and individuals that must be analyzed together to understand the full picture.

Many agencies, however, are still working with systems that were not designed for this type of investigation. Information is stored across disconnected tools, limiting the ability to compare data across jurisdictions and act on it in real time.

The Problem: Information That Doesn’t Carry Across Cases

Human trafficking is highly migratory. Federal research from the National Institute of Justice highlights that these investigations often span multiple jurisdictions, requiring coordination across agencies to identify and act on connected activity. Traffickers frequently operate in one location for short periods of time before moving on, leaving fragmented information that is rarely connected.

DeliverFund consistently encountered the same issue: critical intelligence existed but remained confined to individual cases or systems. A phone number identified in one area might not be checked against another. Online activity tied to a suspect could go unrecognized outside the original investigation.

Analysts were also constrained by the time required to prepare data. Pulling information from different systems, aligning formats, and verifying overlaps delayed analysis and limited visibility.

As a result:

  • Connections between cases were often missed 
  • Repeat offenders operated across regions without detection 
  • Investigations moved forward without full context 
  • Coordination depended on manual outreach rather than shared visibility 

Even when the data existed, it was not usable at the point it was needed.

To address these gaps, DeliverFund needed a way to make existing information visible and actionable the moment it entered the system.

“We took the same mindset we used to hunt terrorists overseas and applied it to human traffickers in our own backyard. The technology had to match that reality. It needed to put lethal-level intelligence in the hands of any investigator with a browser and a badge.”

Nic McKinley, Founder & CEO, DeliverFund

The Solution: Connecting Usable Intelligence with Kaseware

Nearly a decade ago, DeliverFund partnered with Kaseware to build a system capable of supporting human trafficking investigations in real-world conditions.

This was not a traditional deployment. DeliverFund was Kaseware’s first customer, working directly with the product team to shape how the platform would function in practice.

Together, they translated investigative workflows into system capabilities:

  • Entering unique identifiers such as phone numbers, email addresses, or usernames with immediate cross-case comparison 
  • Linking individuals to advertisements, locations, and known associates 
  • Reviewing how patterns evolve over time, including movement across regions 
  • Sharing findings with partner agencies working related investigations 

Data enters the system from multiple sources, including tips, online activity, and partner agencies, and is immediately evaluated against existing data.

Today, DeliverFund operates this capability through its Platform for the Analysis and Targeting of Human Trafficking (P.A.T.H.), its signature investigative environment built on Kaseware. P.A.T.H. enables investigators to visualize trafficking networks, connect data across cases, and work within a shared system designed for real investigative workflows.

In addition, investigators can upload large volumes of unstructured data, such as search warrant returns spanning thousands of pages, and make that information fully searchable. Names, phone numbers, and addresses can be identified and connected without manual review.

What Changed: Visibility at the Point of Entry

Kaseware introduced a unique way of working with case information.

Previously, identifying connections required manual effort—separate searches, cross-agency coordination, and prior awareness of what to look for.

With Kaseware and P.A.T.H., that burden shifts to the system. As soon as new data is entered, it is automatically evaluated against existing records. If a match exists, related activity becomes visible immediately.

This changes how investigations take shape from the outset.

One early case demonstrated this clearly. A trafficker identified in a local investigation in Georgia was entered into the system using a known phone number. That same number had already been captured in a separate investigation tied to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. The connection appeared instantly, allowing both investigations to align and share intelligence.

Additional investigations reinforced this pattern.

In Pittsburgh, investigators entered victim information and identified a related report from four years earlier in California, transforming what would have been an isolated case into part of a broader investigative picture.

In Dallas, trafficking-related intelligence helped uncover a large-scale auto theft operation linked to international shipping routes, generating an estimated $100 million annually.

“We work in one of the most migratory crimes there is. Without a shared system, every agency only sees its slice, and traffickers live in the gaps. With Kaseware and P.A.T.H., the moment a new phone number or name hits the system, we know whether someone else is already chasing that same network.”

Shane Erickson, Chief of Operations, DeliverFund

Connections are no longer dependent on manual effort. They are built into the investigative workflow.

The Results: A Broader View of Trafficking Activity

DeliverFund measures success through operational impact:

  • Time to actionable intelligence: Connections are identified earlier, shaping investigative direction 
  • Analyst focus: Less time preparing data, more time analyzing relationships 
  • Participation across agencies: More agencies contribute to a shared intelligence environment 
  • Clarity for prosecution: Stronger documentation of relationships across individuals and activity 
  • Identification of ongoing networks: More consistent recognition of cross-regional activity 

Kaseware enables investigators and analysts to act with more context, coordinate earlier, and build stronger cases from the start.

Instead of working within the boundaries of a particular case, investigators can see how that case relates to a wider set of activities. This has led to:

  • Earlier recognition of connected investigations 
  • Reduced duplication of investigative work 
  • More consistent coordination across jurisdictions 
  • Stronger understanding of how trafficking networks are structured 

“As an analyst, I used to spend most of my time just wrestling data into shape before I could even start the real work. Now I can upload thousands of pages, search across years of cases, and instantly see where a name, number, or address shows up elsewhere.”

Alisha Willemssen, Intelligence Analyst, DeliverFund 

A Long-Term Partnership Shaping What Comes Next

DeliverFund remains Kaseware’s longest-standing customer, and the platform continues to reflect that original collaboration.

As trafficking tactics evolve, DeliverFund’s analysts provide ongoing insights that inform how Kaseware develops and adapts to real investigative needs.

“When we walk investigators through their own cases and show them connections they couldn’t see before, the reaction is almost always the same: ‘Why are we not working like this already?’”

Alisha Willemssen, Intelligence Analyst, DeliverFund 

More agencies are adopting this approach and contributing to the shared dataset, strengthening the intelligence available across jurisdictions.

The goal remains consistent: ensure investigators have access to relevant information when they need it, and that connections between cases are visible early enough to influence outcomes.

About Kaseware

Kaseware provides a robust intelligence and investigative case management system designed to support complex, multi-jurisdictional work. Built by former FBI Special Agents and technologists, Kaseware empowers investigative teams to collect, structure, and analyze information in one place. We help investigators and analysts connect related activity, reduce duplication, and act on intelligence with greater clarity.

Kaseware is passionate about supporting mission-driven organizations and collaboration across agencies. Discover how Kaseware can support your mission. Schedule a demo today.