Cyber security company has local roots

Rick Wallace, a private Cyber Security Expert, provides cyber intelligence and security services worldwide. Wallace is originally from Idaho and married Amy Speelmon in 1994. He is known for his commitment and dedication in protecting and educating global law enforcement in overall Internet safety, shielding them from cybercrime, and guarding children worldwide from exploitation. Wallace was instrumental in the infancy of the Thorn Project, an initiative against child trafficking as well as the production, distribution and possession of child pornography.

Wallace was presented with the FBI Director's Community Leadership Award for his outstanding contributions to law enforcement as well as his many volunteer community initiatives. In May 2013, the FBI-LEEDA Executive Board awarded Wallace its first Investigative Excellence Award.

Speelmon, a 1992 CCHS graduate, graduated from Gonzaga University in 1997 with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology. The couple lived in Germany from 2001 to 2004 while she was in the United States Army. From 2004 to 2007, Amy worked as the Captain of the ROTC program at Illinois University. In 2007, she retired from the Army as a Major and the Wallaces moved to Pittsburgh where Rick started doing contract work for the U.S. Department of Justice.

Since 2007, Wallace has provided law enforcement agencies with the critical information needed to initiate investigations, obtain search warrants and prosecute over 500 of these heinous crimes against children. Wallace told the Eagle on Tuesday that number now stands at over 550.

In 2016 Rick and Amy Wallace founded Speelmon-Wallace LLC., to further efforts against child exploitation, cyber fraud and to protect against cybercrime. Speelmon-Wallace, LLC. specializes in solving unique situations, especially involving cyber-stalking and harassment, intellectual property and copyright infringement. Their law enforcement liaisons have proven effective in neutralizing problem people who troll or harass through social media while protecting client confidentiality. Speelmon-Wallace, LLC. provides services in cyber stalking, cyber harassment, social media investigations, cyber investigations and copyright infringement.

After an injury in 2017 Wallace retired, but still does work on specific cases when the Department of Justice reaches out to him.

In 2019, Wallaces moved to Helena. This February, they attended a session at the Montana Legislature after receiving an invite from Gregory Frazer, a member of the Montana House of Representatives who assumed office in January, representing District 78.

"Behind me in the middle, I have Rick and Amy Wallace," Frazer said as he introduced Wallaces to the house floor. "Amy works as a funeral director here in Helena. Rick was directly responsible for over 500 arrests in Pennsylvania working with a child exploitation unit. They're really good friends of mine."

Wallace said attending the legislature in Helena was a great experience and encourages everyone to attend if provided the opportunity.