On October 15, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) issued its first-ever sanctions compliance guidance (the “OFAC Guidance” or “Guidance”) for the virtual currency industry. The Guidance represents a focused effort by OFAC to highlight sanctions risks present in the virtual currency industry, which has experienced tremendous growth
DOJ’s “Déjà vu All Over Again” for Corporate Crime
On October 28, Deputy Attorney General (“DAG”) Lisa O. Monaco delivered remarks at the ABA’s 36th National Institute on White Collar Crime. Department of Justice (“DOJ” or “Department”) officials have recently referenced the coming enforcement “surge,” and the DAG’s remarks last week provide a roadmap to corporate criminal enforcement under the current
Preparing for the “Surge”: Enhanced Corporate Enforcement is Coming
After a predictable lull in corporate enforcement actions during the recent transition between administrations, and following a near quarter-century low in such actions under the previous administration, the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced this week that a “surge” of corporate enforcement is coming. Recent comments from DOJ officials indicate that, in addition to a significant
FinCEN’s Action Against BTC-e: Another Effort to Bring Law and Order to the Virtual Currency Frontier
On July 26, 2017, the Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) assessed a civil money penalty of more than $110 million against BTC-e, a Russian-headquarted, internet-based virtual currency exchanger, and a $12 million penalty against its Russian owner, Alexander Vinnik. On that same day, the Department of Justice announced a 21-count indictment
A $250,000 Settlement with FinCEN Puts AML Compliance Officers in the Cross-Hairs
May.10.2017
MoneyGram’s ex-Chief Compliance Officer, Thomas Haider, on May 3 settled alleged anti-money laundering (AML) compliance violations with the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for $250,000, according to announcements by FinCEN and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. It appears to be the largest penalty FinCEN ever