Navigating Bank-Fintech Partnerships: Avoiding Common Pitfalls — The Consumer Finance Podcast
Episode 302 -- Matt Stankiewicz on DOJ's Massive Criminal Settlement with Cryptocurrency Exchange Binance and its CEO Changpeng Zhao
Practical Lessons Learned Regarding the Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering for Financial Institutions - The Consumer Finance Podcast
Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast Episode: A Look at the Treasury Department’s April 2023 Report on Decentralized Finance or “DeFi”
A Discussion with Nacha on Proposed Rulemaking Regarding Fraud - Payments Pros: The Payments Law Podcast
BSA, OFAC, KYC, and CIP – What do they mean to me? [More with McGlinchey, Ep. 29]
Credit Eco To Go Podcast: “You are either in front of the dragon, or behind the dragon”
The New BSA Whistleblower Law: What You Need to Know
FCPA Compliance and Ethics Report-Episode 172-Scott Killingsworth on Personal Liability of CCOs
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (“Board”) recently filed a complaint (“Complaint”) against Resorts World Las Vegas casino (“Resorts World”), alleging that, despite repeated red flags, Resorts World’s Anti-Money Laundering...more
On August 1, 2024, the Department of Justice launched its Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program (the “Pilot Program”). Under this 3-year initiative managed by DOJ’s Criminal Division, a whistleblower may be eligible...more
On August 1, 2024, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced the launch of DOJ’s Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program (Pilot Program). The Pilot Program, previewed by Monaco in March 2024, provides another avenue...more
In June 2024, multiple state regulators took joint action against Plutus Financial, Inc (Abra) ordering Abra to cease and desist certain operations in the U.S. and reimburse customers of virtual assets valued at $81.1 million...more
US Stablecoin Companies Achieve Licenses, Avoid SEC Enforcement Action - According to a recent press release, Circle, the issuer of USDC and EURC, announced that it is now the “first global stablecoin issuer to achieve...more
On June 20, 2024, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued a supplemental advisory to alert U.S. financial institutions about emerging trends in the illicit fentanyl supply chain. The supplemental advisory...more
In United States v. An, et al., 22-cr-640 (KAM) (E.D.N.Y. May 7, 2024), the Eastern District of New York recently addressed and rejected an argument by defendants that Ciminelli v. United States required dismissal of money...more
Mortgage companies must maintain a heightened level of vigilance when it comes to preventing mortgage fraud. The incidence of fraud attempts targeting mortgage companies continues to rise, prompting decisive action against...more
As we have previously reported, the Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) is a broad anti-money laundering law intended to assist law enforcement in combating illicit financial activity. The CTA’s beneficial ownership reporting...more
The Situation: On January 29, 2024, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency ("OCC") requested comment on a proposed rule updating its bank merger rules and incorporating a policy statement (the "Proposal") on agency...more
The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) has been very active in the Bank Secrecy Act (“BSA”) / Anti-Money Laundering (“AML”) space, as reflected by a recent series of individual prosecutions and corporate non-prosecution agreements...more
Due diligence is generally recognized in three levels: Level I, Level II and Level III. Each level is appropriate for a different level of corruption risk. The key is to develop a mechanism to determine the appropriate level...more
On November 21, 2023, The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced settlement agreements with Binance Holdings Limited (“Binance”), the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, and Changpeng Zhao (affectionally known as...more
Binance’s $4.3 billion fine is one of the largest penalties the DOJ has ever obtained from a corporate defendant. Furthermore, its founder and CEO Changpeng Zhao (“CZ”) was also personally subject to a fine, amounting to...more
Binance’s settlement with the DOJ represents one of the largest criminal corporate enforcement actions ever. A review of the facts reveals that the penalty is likely warranted, as the misconduct was driven from the very...more
On November 21, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) unsealed its criminal indictment against Binance.com (Binance), the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, and its CEO, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao (CZ). The indictment against...more
The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Court”) has issued a detailed and complicated Order in the case Banco San Juan Internacional, Inc. v. Fed. Reserve Bank of New York, denying a...more
Trade-based money laundering (TBML) describes a set of techniques through which drug traffickers, terrorists and other criminals use the veneer of trade to move illicit funds across borders while disguising the origin and...more
The new Director of FinCEN, Andrea Gacki, addressed several key topics on October 3, 2023 at the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (“ACAMS”) conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Specifically, Director...more
On July 26, the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Justice released a joint compliance notice (the “Compliance Notice”) updating and summarizing each agency’s position regarding the...more
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. government has made it increasingly clear that enforcement of export control and economic sanctions laws is a top priority. From launching task forces to target...more
The Justice Department continues to push on white collar corporate enforcement, and the intersection of national security sanctions and export controls with corporate criminal enforcement. Last week, Lisa Monaco, DOJ’s...more
On February 1, Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland asking for an explanation as to why the DOJ has not complied with a provision in the 2021 National Defense...more