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  • OFAC reaches $1.5 million settlement with electronics company for alleged Iranian sanctions violations

    Financial Crimes

    On September 13, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a $1.5 million settlement with a California-based electronics company for alleged violations of the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations when it sold equipment to a Dubai-based distributor it knew or had reason to know distributed most, if not all, of its products to Iran. The settlement resolves litigation between the California company and OFAC stemming from a 2014 lawsuit challenging OFAC’s initial $4.07 million civil penalty. While the lower count ultimately granted summary judgment in favor of OFAC after finding enough evidence that the company knew the distributor’s business was primarily in Iran at the time the shipments were made, upon appeal, the D.C. Circuit reached a split decision in May 2017 setting aside OFAC’s initial penalty. While the appellate court affirmed that 34 of 39 shipments in question were in violation of the sanctions regulations, the company had produced emails indicating that the other shipments were intended for a retail store in Dubai. Because the penalty was calculated in such a way that the two shipments categories were “intertwined,” the court remanded the matter to OFAC for further consideration of the total penalty calculation.

    In arriving at the settlement amount, OFAC considered the following aggravating factors: (i) “the [a]lleged [v]iolations constituted or resulted in a systematic pattern of conduct”; (ii) the company exported goods valued at over $2.8 million; and (iii) the company had no compliance program in place at the time of the alleged violations. However, OFAC also considered mitigating factors such as the company’s status as a small business, the company not receiving a penalty or finding of a violation in the five years prior to the transactions at issue, and some cooperation with OFAC. OFAC further noted that following litigation, the company “took additional remedial actions to address the conduct that led to the [a]lleged [v]iolations, including terminating its relationship with [the Dubai-based distributor] and instituting an OFAC sanctions compliance program.”

    Financial Crimes Department of Treasury Sanctions OFAC Iran Courts Appellate Civil Money Penalties

  • FDIC releases July enforcement actions

    Federal Issues

    On August 31, the FDIC announced a list of administrative enforcement actions taken against banks and individuals in July. The 15 orders include “three Section 19 orders; four removal and prohibition orders; one civil money penalty; three terminations of consent orders; and four adjudicated decisions.” The FDIC assessed a $10,800 civil money penalty against a New Mexico-based bank for alleged violations of the Flood Disaster Protection Act in connection with alleged failures to (i) obtain flood insurance coverage on loans at or before origination or renewal; (ii) maintain flood insurance; (iii) notify borrowers that they were required to obtain flood insurance; and (iv) obtain flood insurance on a borrower’s behalf when the borrower did not obtain insurance within 45 days after receiving such notification. There are no administrative hearings scheduled for September 2018. The FDIC database containing all 15 enforcement decisions and orders may be accessed here.

    Federal Issues FDIC Enforcement Civil Money Penalties Flood Disaster Protection Act Flood Insurance

  • Federal Reserve Board fines national bank $8.6 million for legacy mortgage documentation deficiencies

    Federal Issues

    On August 10, the Federal Reserve Board (Board) announced a settlement with a national bank for legacy mortgage servicing issues related to the improper preparation and notarization of lost note affidavits. Under the consent order, the Board assessed an $8.6 million civil money penalty for alleged safety and soundness violations under Section 8 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. The Board emphasized that the bank’s servicing subsidiary replaced the documents with properly executed and notarized affidavits and, as of September 2017, the subsidiary no longer participated in the mortgage servicing business. The Board also announced the termination, due to “sustainable improvements,” of a 2011 enforcement action against the national bank and its subsidiary related to residential mortgage loan servicing.

    Federal Issues Enforcement Civil Money Penalties Mortgages FDI Act

  • FDIC releases May enforcement actions

    Federal Issues

    On June 29, the FDIC announced a list of orders of administrative enforcement actions taken against banks and individuals in May 2018. The 14 orders include “five Section 19 orders; two civil money penalties; one removal and prohibition order; two terminations of consent orders; two terminations of insurance; one order for restitution; one modification of removal and prohibition order; and one modification of civil money penalty order.” The order for restitution is for violations of certain laws, regulations, and a 2016 consent order “relating to statutory lending limits and restrictions on loans to borrowers classified as ‘substandard.’” The civil money penalty orders relate to (i) unsafe or unsound practices and breaches of fiduciary duty, and (ii) a violation of Regulation O concerning the handing of certain loans from the bank to the respondent. The announcement also notes that there are no administrative hearings scheduled for July 2018.

    Federal Issues FDIC Enforcement Civil Money Penalties

  • FDIC releases April enforcement actions, including flood insurance and BSA/AML violations

    Federal Issues

    On May 25, the FDIC released a list of 35 administrative enforcement actions taken against banks and individuals in April. Civil money penalties were assessed against several individuals and one bank. The FDIC assessed a $5,000 civil money penalty against a New Jersey-based bank, citing violations of the Flood Disaster Protection Act for allegedly failing to ensure 20 properties were adequately covered by flood insurance for the term of the loan. Additionally, the FDIC issued two consent orders, one against a South Dakota-based bank for unsafe or unsound banking practices or violations of law or regulation. The FDIC ordered the bank to, among other things, (i) retain qualified management; (ii) develop an independent external loan review program; and (iii) develop a plan to address the weaknesses in the bank’s audit and internal controls. The second consent order alleges violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering (BSA/AML) rules by a Maryland-based bank. The bank is ordered to, among other things, (i) perform an enhanced risk assessment of the bank’s operations; (ii) revise and implement internal controls for BSA/AML compliance; and (iii) take necessary steps to correct or eliminate all cited violations.

    Also on the list are 11 Section 19 orders, which allow applicants to participate in the affairs of an insured depository institution after having demonstrated “satisfactory evidence of rehabilitation,” and four terminations of consent orders.

    There are no administrative hearings scheduled for June 2018. The FDIC database containing all 35 enforcement decisions and orders may be accessed here.

    Federal Issues FDIC Enforcement Bank Secrecy Act Anti-Money Laundering Flood Insurance Civil Money Penalties Flood Disaster Protection Act

  • Colorado Court of Appeals holds attorney fees award is a non-dischargeable civil penalty

    Courts

    On May 17, the Colorado Court of Appeals held that an attorney fees award imposed under the Colorado Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) is a civil penalty and is not dischargeable under the Bankruptcy Code. According to the opinion, the State of Colorado sued a law firm, its owners, and affiliated companies for allegedly violating the CCPA and the Colorado Federal Debt Collection Practices Act (CFDCPA) by fraudulently billing mortgage servicers for full costs associated with title insurance premium charges even though not all the costs were incurred. The district court agreed with the State and awarded attorney fees and costs for the violations. In the appeal, one of the defendants argued, among other things, that the district court was precluded from awarding attorney fees because his debts had previously been discharged in bankruptcy. In affirming the district court’s decision, the appeals court concluded that attorney fees awards made under the CCPA and the CFDCPA are not dischargeable because the award “made under the CCPA’s mandatory provision was sufficiently penal to constitute a ‘fine, penalty or forfeiture’ under § 523(a)(7) [of the Bankruptcy Code] and was not dischargeable.”

    Courts State Issues Bankruptcy Civil Money Penalties Attorney Fees

  • Maryland expands scope of unfair and deceptive practices under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act, increases maximum civil penalties

    State Issues

    On May 15, the Maryland governor signed HB1634, the Financial Consumer Protection Act of 2018, which expands the definition of “unfair and deceptive trade practices” under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act (MPCA) to include “abusive” practices, and violations of the federal Military Lending Act (MLA) and Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). The law also, among other things:

    • Civil Penalties. Increases the maximum civil penalties for certain consumer financial violations to $10,000 for the initial violation and $25,000 for subsequent violations
    • Debt Collection. Prohibits a person from engaging in unlicensed debt collection activity in violation of the Maryland Collection Agency Licensing Act or engaging in certain conduct in violation of the federal FDCPA.
    • Enforcement Funds. Requires the governor to appropriate at least $700,000 for the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) and at least $300,000 to the Office of the Commissioner of Financial Regulation (OCFR) for certain enforcement activities.
    • Student Loan Ombudsman. Creates a Student Loan Ombudsman position within the OCFR and establishes specific duties for the role, including receiving, reviewing, and attempting to resolve complaints from student loan borrowers.
    • Required Studies. Requires the OCFR to conduct a study on Fintech regulation, including whether the commissioner has the statutory authority to regulate such firms. The law also requires the Maryland Financial Consumer Protection Commission (MFCPC) to conduct multiple studies, including studies on (i) cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings and (ii) the CFPB’s arbitration rule (repealed by a Congressional Review Act measure in November 2017).

    State Issues Digital Assets UDAAP SCRA Military Lending Act FDCPA Student Lending Arbitration Civil Money Penalties Fintech Cryptocurrency State Legislation

  • FTC Commissioner calls for stricter penalties and structural remedies against recidivist companies that violate consent orders

    Federal Issues

    On May 14, FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra released a memo to FTC staff and commissioners calling for more forceful penalties and structural remedies against companies and individuals that fail to comply with consent orders. Chopra announced that a key consideration for the FTC will be “whether the proposed remedies address the underlying causes of the noncompliance.” He proposed several “structural remedies” for the FTC to consider implementing against “recidivist” companies such as (i) banning certain business practices; (ii) forcing divestiture or closure of problematic operating units; (iii) removing company executives and board directors responsible for overseeing conduct that violates an order; (iv) dismissing third-party compliance consultants who fail to detect conduct that violates an order; (v) targeting company executives and through “clawbacks, forfeitures, and reforms to executive compensation agreements;” and (vi) requiring firms to raise equity capital should corporate debt “create risks to consumers and competition in the form of an order violation.” Chopra stated that repeat offenders who “flout our orders must face severe consequences—irrespective of whether they are small-time scammers or sophisticated corporations.”

    Federal Issues FTC Enforcement Civil Money Penalties

  • Treasury adjusts for inflation maximum civil monetary penalties assessed under OFAC sanction regulations

    Agency Rule-Making & Guidance

    On March 19, the U.S. Treasury Department published a final rule in the Federal Register that adjusts for inflation the maximum amount of civil monetary penalties that may be assessed by the Treasury’s Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, Office of Foreign Assets Control, and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for violations of laws administered by those agencies. The rule became effective immediately.

    Agency Rule-Making & Guidance Financial Crimes OFAC Civil Money Penalties Department of Treasury Federal Register Sanctions

  • FinCEN adjusts civil penalties for inflation

    Agency Rule-Making & Guidance

    On March 19, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) published a final rule  adjusting upward the maximum amount of the civil monetary penalties within its jurisdiction, as required by the Inflation Adjustment Act. As explained in the rule, the new maximum penalty amounts for 2018 are calculated by multiplying the corresponding 2017 penalty by a “cost-of-living adjustment” multiplier—which for 2018 has been set by the OMB at 1.02041—and then rounding to the nearest dollar. The rule is effective March 19. 

    Agency Rule-Making & Guidance FinCEN Civil Money Penalties

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