About Atlantis Private Investigations | Licensed Investigators You Can Trust

Who We Are

Atlantis Private Investigations is a professional investigative firm founded on a straightforward principle: good decisions require good information—and that information needs to arrive before it's too late to use it.

We work with individuals, businesses, attorneys, and institutions when stakes are high and mistakes are expensive. Our job is to establish clear, defensible facts before contracts get signed, public positions get taken, or disputes become permanent.

Atlantis is not a high-volume background check mill. We take on investigations that require discretion, analytical judgment, and real experience—and we turn down work that doesn't fit.

Meet Our Team

Michael W. Braa, JD — Founder & CEO

Michael Braa founded Atlantis Private Investigations after building a career across law, journalism, and investigative work in both public and private sectors.

Michael's reputation is built on his ability to read complex situations early—spotting risks, inconsistencies, and unanswered questions before they grow into expensive disputes or decisions that can't be undone. His investigative work has spanned political campaigns, financial fraud cases, tribal governance matters, and sensitive corporate and personal investigations.

Beyond his investigative practice, Michael hosts The Michael Braa Show, where he examines high-profile cases and public-interest issues. That media experience shapes how Atlantis approaches every case: once a narrative hardens in public, in court, or in someone's mind, it becomes very difficult to change. The time to establish facts is before that happens.

Background: Juris Doctor (JD), journalism experience, licensed private investigator

Carl Whitney — Chief Operations Officer

Carl Whitney joined Atlantis after more than 30 years in law enforcement, including leadership positions in homicide investigation, major crimes units, and complex financial investigations.

Carl oversees operations at Atlantis, ensuring every investigation is conducted methodically, lawfully, and with full awareness of how findings may eventually be examined by attorneys, judges, regulators, or the press. His experience on the witness stand and in case preparation means Atlantis investigations are built to withstand scrutiny—not just deliver information.

Background: 30+ years law enforcement, homicide and major crimes leadership, financial investigations expertise

Private Investigation Services We Provide

Atlantis conducts investigations designed to inform decisions and protect clients from preventable damage.

Pre-Litigation & Legal Support Investigations We help attorneys and clients establish facts, assess credibility, and identify leverage points before filing or during settlement negotiations.

Background Checks & Due Diligence Thorough vetting of executives, partners, vendors, and counterparties—going well beyond what standard screening services provide.

Internal & Organizational Investigations When something has gone wrong inside a company or organization, we determine what happened, who was involved, and what can be documented.

Government & Regulatory Matters Investigations involving compliance issues, regulatory exposure, and matters requiring careful handling around government entities.

Sensitive Personal Investigations Domestic situations, disputed claims, and personal matters that require experienced investigators who understand confidentiality.

Early-Stage Risk Assessment Sometimes the smartest move is figuring out what questions need answers before a situation develops further. We help clients identify exposure and get ahead of problems.

Not every situation requires a private investigator. When yours doesn't, we'll tell you.

Our Investigative Approach

We are not reactive. We are not sensational. We do not promise outcomes we can't control.

Our role is to establish facts early—while clients still have options and before positions become fixed. That means conducting investigations with discipline, documenting findings with precision, and being honest about what we know, what we suspect, and what remains uncertain.

This restraint is intentional. It's also why our work holds up when it's tested in court, in negotiations, or in public.

When Should You Call a Private Investigator?

The best time to call is before decisions become final.

If a contract hasn't been signed yet... if a public statement hasn't been made... if a legal position hasn't been locked in... that's when investigation delivers the most value. Facts gathered early create options. Facts gathered late limit them.

Sometimes clients call us after problems have already surfaced.

When consequences are unfolding and the situation feels out of control, Atlantis helps clients sort out what actually happened, establish what can be proven, and figure out how to regain their footing.

Preventing problems is better. Cleaning them up is sometimes necessary. We do both.

Why Clients Choose Atlantis Private Investigations

Experience That Matters Our team combines legal training, journalism experience, and decades of law enforcement investigative work. We've handled political investigations, financial fraud, major crimes, and sensitive personal matters.

Discretion You Can Count On Some investigations require confidentiality that goes beyond a standard NDA. We understand when silence matters and we operate accordingly.

Work That Holds Up Our investigations are conducted and documented with an eye toward how they'll be examined later—by opposing counsel, by regulators, by reporters. We don't cut corners that create problems down the road.

Honest Assessment If you don't need an investigator, we'll say so. If your case isn't something we can help with, we'll tell you that too. Our reputation depends on being straight with clients, not on closing every consultation.

Contact Atlantis Private Investigations

If you're facing a decision, a dispute, or a situation where verified facts could change the outcome, contact us for a confidential consultation.

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Atlantis Private Investigations, LLC is a licensed private investigation firm providing background checks, due diligence, litigation support, and corporate investigations. Founded by Michael W. Braa, JD, and led by investigators with law enforcement and legal experience.