News & Analysis as of

Financial Transactions Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Sanction Violations

The Volkov Law Group

OFAC Settles with Individual for $45,179 for Violations of the Global Magnitsky Act

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OFAC means what it says — in more ways than one.  In a precedent setting case, OFAC brought its first enforcement action against an individual for violating the Global Magnitsky Sanctions Regulations....more

The Volkov Law Group

State Street’s $7.45MM OFAC Penalty Highlights Importance of Sanctions in M&A Due Diligence

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The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) has released a $7.45 million penalty against State Street Bank and Trust Company and its non-bank, fintech subsidiary Charles River Systems for...more

The Volkov Law Group

SCG Plastics Pays OFAC $20 Million to Resolve Violations of Iran Sanctions Program

The Volkov Law Group on

OFAC is capable of extending a long-arm of enforcement, reaching sometimes non-U.S. companies that may “cause” another company to violate U.S. Sanctions laws.  If you need to find an example of this long reach, look no...more

Ballard Spahr LLP

Steel Company President with Ties to Russian Oligarch Pleads Guilty to Money Laundering Conspiracy Involving Alleged Sanctions...

Ballard Spahr LLP on

Earlier this month, John Can Unsalan, the president of a steel-making company with ties to Russian oligarchs, pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, based on financial transactions committed with...more

Oberheiden P.C.

OFAC Compliance: Developing and Implementing an Effective Sanctions Compliance Program

Oberheiden P.C. on

Financial institutions and companies that are subject to oversight from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) need to prioritize compliance. OFAC has become increasingly active in recent years, and it is devoting...more

Oberheiden P.C.

OFAC Compliance: Avoiding Common Root Causes of Compliance Policy Breakdowns and Deficiencies

Oberheiden P.C. on

For financial institutions and businesses that are subject to the oversight of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), compliance needs to be a priority in 2023. OFAC is playing an increasingly active role in overseeing...more

The Volkov Law Group

Swedbank Latvia Settles with OFAC for $3.43 Million for Crimea Sanctions Violations

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OFAC continues its enforcement push.  At the same time, OFAC is managing a complex, global set of sanctions against Russia.  DOJ has promised to increase prosecution of global banks for sanctions violations....more

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

OFAC reaches $508 million settlement with British tobacco company on North Korean transactions

On April 25, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a $508 million settlement with one of the world’s largest tobacco companies to resolve potential civil liabilities stemming from...more

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Federal Agency Settlements with Wells Fargo Illustrate Sanctions Risks Involving IT Systems

Key Points - On March 30, 2023, OFAC announced a settlement agreement with Wells Fargo for 124 apparent violations of three different sanctions programs (Iran, Syria and Sudan), all related to a legacy Wachovia Bank...more

The Volkov Law Group

Wells Fargo Fumbles Sanctions Compliance Demonstrating An Absence of Culture of Compliance (Part II of II)

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Not that I am a glutton for punishment, but I always find enforcement actions to supply a number of valuable lessons learned. There are always instructive nuggets of information, opportunities missed, and root causes that...more

The Volkov Law Group

Wells Fargo Pays OFAC $30 Million to Settle Sanctions Violations (Part I of II)

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In our lifetime (however long or short), there is no way any company will ever match Wells Fargo for its record of misconduct, criminal and civil enforcement, and regulatory fines and penalties.  No one, no way....more

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

OFAC settles with Danish company for routing prohibited financial transactions though a U.S. bank

On December 30, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a more than $4.3 million settlement with a multinational Danish manufacturer to resolve allegations that its wholly owned United...more

The Volkov Law Group

Kraken Coughs Up $362,158 to OFAC to Settle Iran Sanctions Violations

The Volkov Law Group on

Cryptocurrency companies are in trouble.  Regulators are bearing down on crypto companies with the Eye of Sauron – pulling the crypto companies into their jurisdiction, prosecuting fraud cases, and aggressively prosecuting...more

The Volkov Law Group

OFAC Issues Notice of Violation Against Puerto Rico Bank But Imposes No Penalty for Sanctions Violations

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The Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) issued a finding of violation (“FoV”) to Nodus International Bank, Inc. (“Nodus”), located in Puerto Rico, for violation of Venezuelan Sanctions. Nordus...more

The Volkov Law Group

Bittrex’s Sanctions and AML Violations: The Importance of Compliance Controls for the Cryptocurrency Industry (Part II of II)

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In parallel with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) settled with Bittrex, Inc. (“Bittrex”), a cryptocurrency exchange that allows users to trader virtual assets,...more

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

Lessons Learned from Recent OFAC Enforcement Actions

Two recent OFAC enforcement actions highlight real-world challenges that financial institutions and other companies may face in their efforts to implement an effective sanctions compliance program....more

The Volkov Law Group

OFAC Settles for $430,500 with American Express National Bank for Violation of Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Sanctions

The Volkov Law Group on

Since its last enforcement action against Banco Popular in late May, OFAC has been quiet on the enforcement front.  Notwithstanding its silence, OFAC has been managing a robust and complex coordinated economic sanctions...more

Torres Trade Law, PLLC

OFAC Sends Clear Message to Parties Conducting Business with Entities on OFAC’s Sectoral Sanctions Identification List

Torres Trade Law, PLLC on

As the U.S. and the European Union continue to impose new sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, regulatory authorities continue their pursuit of companies and individuals who violate those sanctions. The...more

The Volkov Law Group

OFAC Settles with Hong Kong Trading Company for $5.2 Million for Violations of Iran Sanctions Program

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OFAC is off to a quick start in 2022.  After announcing its Airbnb enforcement action in the beginning of January, OFAC announced a settlement with Sojitz (Hong Kong) Limited, a Hong Kong, China-based company that engages in...more

The Volkov Law Group

Dubai Bank Pays $100 Million to Resolve Sanctions Violations with DFS, OFAC and Federal Reserve

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Mashreqbank, based in Dubai, agreed to pay $100 million to the New York Department of Financial Services, the Federal Reserve, and the Office of Foreign Asset Control for violation of the now-repealed Sudan Sanctions...more

The Volkov Law Group

MoneyGram Payment Systems Agrees to Pay OFAC $34k for Sanctions Violations

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MoneyGram settled with OFAC for $34,329 for 359 sanctions programs violations.  MoneyGram is a global payments service. According to OFAC, the 359 transactions totaled $105,627 in value and were processed on behalf of...more

The Volkov Law Group

BitPay Agrees to Pay $507,375 to Settle OFAC Sanctions Violations

The Volkov Law Group on

The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Asset Control continues to focus enforcement activities on digital currency companies.  This focus is likely to increase given recent comments by Janet Yellen, the head of the...more

The Volkov Law Group

DOJ and OFAC Settle with Indonesian Company for $2.5 Million for Violations of the North Korea Sanctions Program

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PT Bukit Muria Jaya (BMJ), a global supplier of cigarette paper based in Indonesia, agreed to pay $1,561,570 for conspiracy to commit bank fraud as part of a scheme to deceive various banks in order to collect payments for...more

The Volkov Law Group

OFAC Ends 2020 with Two Enforcement Actions

The Volkov Law Group on

OFAC reported two new enforcement actions in the week between Christmas and New Year’s.  The two new enforcement actions are interesting examples of sanctions enforcement, one of which involved the first against a digital...more

The Volkov Law Group

Deutsche Bank Settles Two OFAC Cases Totaling $583K for Violations of Ukraine-Russia Sanctions

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Deutsche Bank continues to have its problems – legal, compliance and reputational.  Now, we can add OFAC sanctions compliance to the list of Deutsche Bank’s troubles....more

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