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OFAC adds Iranians to Specially Designated Nationals List
On May 10, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) made additions to the Specially Designated Nationals List under the Iranian Financial Sanctions Regulations and Global Terrorism Sanctions Regulations. OFAC’s additions to the designations identify nine individuals and entities that materially assisted in converting millions of U.S. dollars to fund the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force’s malignant activities. As a result, all assets belonging to the identified individuals and entities subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.
Brother of Honduran government official indicated for laundering bribes in New Orleans
On May 1, the Department of Justice announced the indictment of a Honduran national for trying to launder more than $1.3 million in bribes that had been paid to his brother, the former Executive Director of the Honduran Institute of Social Security. The bribes had been paid by two Honduran businessmen for the benefit of the Executive Director. The indictment alleges that he conspired with his brother to launder the funds through international wire transfers and the purchase of real estate in the New Orleans area. The indictment further alleges that he also used his brother’s high-ranking position to profit from lucrative Honduran government contracts and that he impeded an official proceeding by lying to the U.S. government about the source of the funds. He was arrested on the same day the indictment was announced.
DOJ issues new policy against “piling on” in corporate enforcement, FCPA cases
On May 9, the DOJ issued a new policy to discourage “piling on” in corporate enforcement cases, including those involving the FCPA. The new policy directs the DOJ to “consider the totality of fines and penalties” being imposed by the DOJ and other law enforcement agencies on a company for the same misconduct. In a speech delivered to a New York City bar organization, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein described the new policy as encouraging “coordination among Department components and other enforcement agencies” with the aim of “avoiding unfair duplicative penalties.”
The new policy contains four main elements. First, the DOJ should not threaten criminal prosecution solely to persuade a company to pay a larger settlement in a civil case. Second, DOJ components must coordinate with one another to achieve an overall equitable result. Third, the DOJ should coordinate with other federal, state, local, and foreign enforcement authorities. Finally, the DOJ should consider several factors, including the egregiousness of the wrongdoing and the adequacy of the company’s cooperation with the DOJ, in determining whether multiple penalties serve the interests of justice in a particular case.
Rosenstein specifically noted in his address that the DOJ’s “FCPA Unit [had recently] announced its first coordinated resolution with . . . Singapore.” See FCPA Scorecard post. The new policy does not prohibit the DOJ from considering additional remedies in “appropriate circumstances.”
FinCEN recognizes law enforcement agencies for use of BSA reporting
On May 8, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced its third annual Law Enforcement Awards to law enforcement agencies that use Bank Secrecy Act data provided by financial institutions in their criminal investigations. The program seeks to recognize law enforcement agencies that made effective use of financial institution reporting to obtain a successful prosecution, and to demonstrate to the financial industry the value of its reporting to law enforcement. The following agencies were recognized:
- Suspicious Activity Report Review Task Force Category – Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). Based on a review of financial data showing a pattern of unusual cash withdrawals by one subject from a single financial institution, IRS-CI uncovered a criminal conspiracy to defraud the estate of a deceased individual of over $2 million. IRS-CI executed warrants and recovered over $500,000 and over $2 million in restitution was ordered to be returned to the true heir of the estate.
- Transnational Organized Crime/Third Party Money Launderers Category – Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Using FinCEN’s data and investigative tools, the DEA helped dismantle two Southern California and Tijuana-based money laundering schemes. Arrest warrants were issued for 27 individuals and officials were able to seize millions of dollars in cash, real estate, and vehicles.
- Transnational Security Threats Category – FBI. Utilizing FinCEN resources, an FBI investigation, conducted in coordination with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), resulted in the blocking of $7 million in transactions used to provide access to the U.S. financial system on behalf of North Korean entities, a $20 million monetary penalty, and the addition of several entities to OFAC’s Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN list).
- Cyber Threats Category – Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). IRS-CI untangled a money laundering scheme that had generated over $17 million in proceeds through wire transfers from multiple foreign-based accounts. IRS-CI search warrants led to the forfeiture of $10 million in fraudulent proceeds and three subjects pled guilty to conspiracy to commit fraud and related activity in connection with computers, with a fourth found guilty of wire fraud and money laundering.
- Significant Fraud Category – Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). HSI led an investigation that identified a complex money laundering conspiracy in which operators at an India-based call center and U.S.-based facilitators worked together to launder $300 million. Twenty-four subjects in the United States were arrested across eight states, all of whom were convicted of conspiracy, money laundering, and various fraud crimes.
- Third-Party Money Launderers Category – Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI). IRS-CI led a multi-agency effort to combat Mexican kleptocracy. Using FinCEN resources and a high volume of financial data, an investigation resulted in seizure of over $800 million in assets and subjects being charged with various financial crimes, such as money laundering, bank fraud, wire fraud, loan fraud, and racketeering.
- State and Local Law Enforcement – Nassau County Policy Department. Nassau County Police launched an investigation after becoming aware of a high volume of cash deposits in a subject’s account. In coordination with the DEA, Nassau County Police determined the activity was a trade-based money laundering scheme designed to launder the proceeds of illegal narcotics transactions. The investigation resulted in fines totaling $8.5 million.
OFAC adds Venezuelans to Specially Designated Nationals List
On May 7, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) made additions to the Specially Designated Nationals List under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. OFAC’s additions to the list include a former Venezuelan financial intelligence service official, two of his aides, and 20 companies located in Venezuela and Panama, owned or controlled by the three individuals. The designations identify persons who have materially assisted in, or provided financial or technological support for or to, the former official’s international narcotics trafficking activities, which include the laundering of narcotics proceeds and other illicit funds. As a result, all assets belonging to the identified individuals and entities subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.
See here for continuing InfoBytes coverage of Venezuelan actions.
FINRA amends anti-money laundering rule to comply with FinCEN’s CDD rule
On May 3, FINRA issued a Regulatory Notice 18-19 amending Rule 3310—Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance Program rule—to reflect the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s final rule concerning customer due diligence requirements for covered financial institutions (CDD rule), which becomes applicable on May 11. According to Regulatory Notice 18-19, member firms should ensure that their AML programs are updated to include, among other things, appropriate risk-based procedures for conducting ongoing customer due diligence including (i) “understanding the nature and purpose of customer relationships for the purpose of developing a customer risk profile,” and (ii) “conducting ongoing monitoring to identify and report suspicious transactions and, on a risk basis, to maintain and update customer information.” The announcement also makes reference to FINRA’s Regulatory Notice 17-40, issued last November, which provides additional guidance for member firms complying with the CDD rule. (See previous InfoBytes coverage here.). The notice further states that the “provisions are not new and merely codify existing expectations for firms.”
FinCEN and California card club agree to a reduced penalty for AML violations
On May 3, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and a California card club agreed to a $5 million penalty for Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and anti-money laundering (AML) violations from 2009 to 2017. In November 2017, FinCEN assessed the company $8 million in civil money penalties but has now agreed to suspend $3 million pending compliance with certain requirements in the consent order. As previously covered by InfoBytes, FinCEN alleges the company failed to file certain Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) regarding loan sharking and other criminal activities being conducted through the company and failed to implement sufficient internal controls to monitor risks associated with gaming practices that allowed customers to co-mingle and pool bets with anonymity. The order requires the company to, among other things, adopt an AML program and hire a qualified independent consultant to review its effectiveness and retain a compliance officer to ensure compliance with BSA requirements.
FINRA releases new Sanctions Guidelines revisions
On May 2, FINRA issued a notice revising its Sanction Guidelines to reflect recent changes to General Principle No. 2, which instructs adjudicators “to consider customer-initiated arbitrations that result in adverse arbitration awards or settlements” in addition to the more traditional disciplinary history when assessing sanctions. FINRA Regulatory Notice 18-17 states that if an adjudicator determines that a “pattern of causing harm” to investors or market integrity exits, or a respondent demonstrates a disregard to regulatory requirements, then more stringent sanctions should be considered.
Revisions to the Sanctions Guidelines will apply to all complaints filed in FINRA’s disciplinary system beginning June 1.
OFAC issues new Ukraine-/Russia-related General Licenses and FAQs
On May 1, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued Ukraine-/Russia-related General License 12B (GL 12B) authorizing specified wind-down activities, which would be otherwise prohibited by Ukraine-related Sanctions Regulations, through June 5. According to a Treasury announcement, GL 12B—which replaces and supersedes General License 12A in its entirely—permits “originating and intermediary U.S. financial institutions to process funds transfers that they would otherwise block to an account held by a blocked U.S. person at a U.S. financial institution,” and allows the release of “such funds for authorized maintenance and wind-down purposes.”
The same day, OFAC also issued Ukraine-/Russia-related General License 13A (GL 13A) to replace and supersede General License 13 (GL 13) in its entirety. (See previous InfoBytes coverage on GL 13 here.) GL 13A authorizes certain divestiture transactions with specified blocked persons to a non-U.S. person, and allows the facilitation of transfers of debt, equity, or other holdings involving listed blocked persons, including entities owned 50 percent or more and issued by the named persons. GL 13A is effective through June 6.
OFAC also released three new FAQs and published updated FAQs related to these general licenses.
Visit here for additional InfoBytes coverage on Ukraine/Russian sanctions.
Outdoor advertising company discloses potential FCPA violations
On April 30, one of the world’s largest outdoor advertising companies, disclosed that it had self-reported potential FCPA violations to the SEC and DOJ. The San Antonio-based company had previously disclosed that Chinese police were investigating “several employees” of its subsidiary for the misappropriation of funds in China. A related internal investigation purportedly found that three unauthorized bank accounts were opened in the name of the subsidiary and “certain transactions were recorded therein.” In the most recent disclosure, the company newly reported that: (i) “discrepancies” related to the misappropriation resulted in more than $10 million in “accounting errors”; (ii) it determined that there was a “material weakness” in the subsidiary’s internal controls over financial reporting, namely “falsification of bank statements and other supporting documentation used to complete bank reconciliations,” “collusion,” and “circumvention of controls”; and (iii) these issues “could implicate the books and records, internal controls and anti-bribery provisions” of the FCPA, making “possible . . . monetary penalties and other sanctions.” The company said it would cooperate with any investigation by the SEC or DOJ.