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Kevin Riford
In 2019 I submitted a FOIPA request to the FBI seeking records concerning myself, ranging from ELSUR (electronic surveillance) materials to files stored in FBI safes under my name. On October 8, 2020, I received a response from the FBI stating, in part: “we are unable to identify records responsive to your request.”
I filed this request because Peter M. Vito, a private investigator, had gone door-to-door in both Niagara and Erie Counties telling my friends, family, and neighbors that I was a terrorist — an accusation that is completely false. Mr. Vito has held various positions at the Niagara County District Attorney’s Office as well as Erie County Central Police Services.
What makes this more troubling is that Mr. Vito employs past and present federal employees, including FBI agents and town judges. He is, without question, a well-connected individual — and, it appears, someone willing to accept top dollar to carry out questionable and unethical tasks.
I was very surprised that the FBI claimed to have no records regarding me — not only because of Peter M. Vito’s actions, but also because my family and I personally went to the Buffalo, NY FBI headquarters on numerous occasions in 2019 and 2020. During those visits, we spoke in person with FBI Special Agent Brian Burns. I’ve covered this extensively in previous publications.
Between 2018 and 2020, I was a student at the University at Buffalo, pursuing a long-time aspiration of mine: earning a B.S. in Accounting. During that time, one of my professors told me that I was being “monitored.” I wasn’t sure what to make of such a loaded statement. Was I supposedly being monitored because my family and I had reported FBI Special Agent Brian A. Burns? I could not comprehend what I might have done to warrant such treatment.
Ultimately, I took a leave of absence from the University at Buffalo. With everything happening, it became increasingly difficult to focus on my studies and academic goals. While I have more to share about this particular professor, I am debating on whether I want to go that route. I am not sure if it’s in the best interest, but time will tell. If I do share, it will be in a separate article, as I want to stick to the FOIPA requests.
Based on my professor’s statement, I decided to submit a subsequent FOIPA request, reasoning that if I was indeed being “monitored,” then the FBI would certainly have records concerning me. In June 2020, I submitted a duplicate request seeking records the FBI maintained in my name.
Years went by without any response. Then, out of nowhere, I received a letter from the FBI dated March 27, 2024, stating, in part: “the FBI has located approximately 642 pages of potentially responsive documents.” I’m curious how these records suddenly appeared after so long — perhaps they had been stored in the safe of FBI Special Agent Brian A. Burns.
As of today, August 30, 2025, I still have not received the records. The FBI continues to stonewall their release. If I ever do obtain them, I fully intend to make every single page of my FBI file public.
Should you wish to read the through my e-mail communications with the FBI records unit, you can do so below. If you’re wondering if I obtained my accounting degree from the University at Buffalo, I did! I went back the next semester and completed the remaining classes. As always, thanks for reading!