On this episode, retired agent John Schachnovsky reviews three cases involving a death, a murder, and a scam, he investigated during his two assignments to Thailand, serving as an ALAT and then Legal Attaché representing the FBI in the Bangkok office.
John wrote about these investigations and many more in his soon-to-be-published memoir, Beyond the Badge: Crime, Justice, and the FBI in Thailand, available for pre-order now and in stores on December 9, 2025.
In the episode and book, John recounts his role in the investigation of the suspicious death of the actor David Carradine, the identification of frozen body parts discovered in a freezer in Bangkok, and a fraudulent financial transaction which originated in Memphis, Tennessee, but was resolved in a local Thai bank.
“The family said, ‘We’ve heard lady boys were in his hotel room and they robbed and killed him.’ But the Thai police are saying this; the family doesn’t believe it. The FBI is going to be here to make sure that the right answer is the one that’s publicized and given to the family. So I contacted my LEGAT, and said, ‘We got this. This is covered. The Thai police, their final decision, their cause of death, I believe is correct.'”—John Schachnovsky
Special Agent (Retired)
John Schachnovsky
7/1999 – 11/2019
John served in the FBI for 20 years. John Started his FBI career in San Francisco working on the Mexican Organized Crime/Drug Squad. He won an investigative excellence award from OCDETF (Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force) while on this squad. After this, John worked on the 9/11 investigation. He was assigned to investigate the actions of Hani Hanjour, one of the 19 terrorists, during his time in the Bay Area before the attacks. John was then assigned to the White-Collar Crime squad, where he worked on the Enron investigation. John then became supervisor of the Organized Crime Squad, overseeing all Asian, Russian and Italian OC in the Bay Area.
He was selected to be the assistant legal attaché (ALAT) in Bangkok, where he served for 4 years. He was next transferred to the International Operations Division at FBI Headquarters before returning to Bangkok as Legal Attaché, running all FBI operations in Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.
In this overseas position, John was responsible for strategic partnerships with host countries, multilateral partners and other U.S. law enforcement, intelligence and diplomatic agencies, while coordinating and investigating intelligence collection and enforcement operations.
Since his retirement, John has worked in Thailand as a security and law enforcement consultant for numerous multinational companies. Currently, John serves on the board and is an advisor for Lares Risk Management in Bangkok.
The following are links to news articles about the accidental death of David Carradine in a Bangkok hotel:
CBC – 6/4/2009: Actor David Carradine found dead in Bangkok
The Guardian – 6/6/2009: David Carradine’s family want FBI to investigate Bangkok death
Hollywood Reporter – 6/5/2009: David Carradine’s death might be accidental
ABC News – 6/4/2009: Police: Carradine’s Death Likely Sex Accident
People magazine – June 5, 2009: INSIDE STORY: David Carradine’s Final Days, Before his shocking death, the actor appeared happy and “full of life” while in Thailand
The following are links to news articles about frozen body parts and Herbert Craig La Fon
Bangkok Post – 9/23/2016: Frozen body found after fake-passport bust
Bangkok Post – 9/26/2016: Police call on FBI in bid to identify body in freezer
Nation Thailand – 12/18/2017: American convicted in concealing man’s mutilated body in refrigerator, gets 43 years
To learn more about the FBI overseas, listen to these FBI Case File Review episodes.
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