Michael Volpe
Investigation Gallery
Visual evidence from major corruption exposés and breakthrough investigations
Sandra Grazzini-Rucki Case
Fighting media bias and judicial corruption
Keith Dobbs Investigation
67 federal charges for veteran exploitation
Cherokee County DSS
$48.5 million corruption settlement
Cardinal Wuerl Exposé
Five years ahead of grand jury
Dr. Anna Chacko VA
First major breakthrough victory
Elaine Pudlowski Act
Nationwide family court reform
Keith Dobbs Documentation
Federal investigation evidence
Sandra Case Analysis
Media counter-narrative victory
Impact Timeline
From first breakthrough to government vindication: How independent journalism changed systems
Dr. Anna Chacko VA Termination: The Breakthrough
Volpe's first major success exposed Dr. Anna Chacko's systematic abuse of staff at Pittsburgh VA Hospital. This rare victory against VA bureaucracy launched his reputation as a journalist who gets results and established his methodology for taking on entrenched institutions.
"Prosecutors Gone Wild"
October 4, 2012: Volpe's first book examining the corrupt trial of Chicago Heights officials Chuck Panici, John Gliottoni, and Louise Marshall. Established him as an author documenting systemic corruption for posterity.
Cardinal Wuerl Investigation: Five Years Ahead
In a prescient Crime Magazine exposé, Volpe revealed Cardinal Donald Wuerl's role in covering up pedophile priests—five years before the Pennsylvania grand jury reached similar conclusions. Demonstrated his ability to see patterns others missed.
Rosilyn Wells Obamacare Navigator Scandal
October 2013: During healthcare.gov's disastrous rollout, Volpe's Daily Caller investigation exposed an ACA navigator with an outstanding arrest warrant, becoming a national symbol of the program's security failures.
"The Definitive Dossier of PTSD in Whistleblowers"
January 24, 2014: Pioneering research documenting the psychological trauma experienced by whistleblowers. First comprehensive study linking PTSD to the act of exposing corruption and subsequent retaliation.
Keith Dobbs Investigation Begins
Daily Caller exposé revealed Memphis attorney Keith Dobbs was systematically stealing from vulnerable veterans through the VA Fiduciary program. Launched multi-year investigation that would ultimately trigger federal action.
"Bullied to Death: Chris Mackney's Kafkaesque Divorce"
August 20, 2015: Documented the tragic case of Chris Mackney, driven to suicide by family court abuse. Brought national attention to systematic problems in divorce and custody proceedings.
Memphis VA Director Dismissed After O'Reilly Factor
Volpe's 2014-2015 investigative series on Memphis VA Medical Center mismanagement caught national attention when featured on The O'Reilly Factor, demonstrating how persistent reporting can force institutional change.
"Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and the World's Last Custody Trial"
October 6, 2016: Co-authored with attorney Michelle MacDonald, providing the truth when mainstream media including ABC's 20/20 painted a false narrative about a protective mother fighting family court corruption.
Keith Dobbs: 67 Federal Charges
Volpe's 2014 investigation culminated in a 67-count federal indictment against Keith Dobbs for stealing from veterans. Included 26 counts of mail fraud and 22 counts of embezzling VA benefits, with 35 victims identified.
Orange County Family Court Corruption Investigation
Began exposing Orange County family court corruption involving child abuse cover-ups, false "parental alienation" labels against protective parents, and private judges favoring connected lawyers and psychologists. Documented systematic corruption affecting vulnerable families.
Cherokee County DSS: $48.5 Million Settlement
Exposed systemic corruption in North Carolina's Cherokee County Department of Social Services involving illegal child custody practices. Investigation led to multiple felony indictments against officials including former DSS director Cindy Palmer.
St. Louis County: Judge Forced to Retire
Secret Zoom video of nearly 40 corrupt Guardian ad Litems led to investigation exposing Presiding Judge Michael Burton's inappropriate ex-parte emails. Burton called lawsuit allegations "scurrilous" while describing parents as "toxic" and "unhinged."
Army Ranger Freed from Corrupt Guardianship
Through Communities Digital News series, exposed how a 37-year-old former Army Ranger was trapped in a corrupt guardianship system designed to exploit vulnerable adults for profit.
The Elaine Pudlowski Act: Nationwide Family Court Reform
Volpe authored groundbreaking proposed legislation to eliminate rogue custody evaluators and Guardian ad Litems from family courts. His extensive investigations into Connecticut and other state family court corruption influenced reform efforts across multiple states.
Government Vindication: Official State Hearings
June 2025: Arizona state government hearings on family court corruption. July 2025: Idaho state government hearings. Sixteen years of Volpe's investigations and advocacy culminate in official government acknowledgment and action on systematic family court abuse.
From Exposing Corruption to Government Reform
Sixteen years of investigative journalism culminating in official state government hearings on family court corruption in Arizona and Idaho - 2025
Subscribe to Volpe's Voice