All articles by Aly McDevitt
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Basic PageU.S. targets southeast Asian “pig butchering”, human trafficking, forced labor empire
This week, U.S. authorities took coordinated action against Cambodian multinational conglomerate Prince Holding Group and its 37-year-old founder Chen Zhi, who is accused of running forced-labor camps in Cambodia where captives were forced to conduct pig butchering scams that defrauded U.S. and global victims out of billions of dollars.
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News BriefLuminUltra fined $685K by BIS for illegal shipment to Iran
A single $33,000 shipment to Iran triggered a six-figure penalty and years of compliance oversight for biotechnology company LuminUltra Technologies, Inc.
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Basic PageCFPB Ends Oversight of Washington Federal and Planet Home Lending
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) terminated two consent orders with mortgage lenders in September as the agency’s enforcement power shrinks under Trump-era cuts.
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In-depth reportInside a Dark Pact: A timeline of events
Amid Syria’s descent into civil war, Lafarge’s quest to keep its $680 million cement plant running led to secret deals with terrorists—and ultimately, a historic U.S. Department of Justice prosecution for aiding ISIS.
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In-depth reportInside a Dark Pact: Danger of their own making and a critical series of missteps
Paris-based cement maker Lafarge thought it was saving a plant—instead, it built a pipeline to the Islamic State of Syria.
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In-depth reportInside a Dark Pact: Background and evolution of a scheme
Middlemen were used and invoices were falsified, but the trail remained. French cement maker Lafarge’s Syrian cement plant began as a business in a war zone, but it soon spiraled into a revenue-sharing agreement with ISIS that led to historic charges of financing terrorism.
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In-depth reportInside a Dark Pact: Lafarge’s terrorist funding and compliance fallout in Syria
Compliance Week’s latest case study investigates French cement maker Lafargeʼs collapse into criminal conduct detailing how sidelining ethics and compliance can lead companies into dangerous territory. What began as “local concessions” ended in funding terrorism—and a historic legal and reputational disaster.
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Basic PageTrump wants SEC to toss quarterly reporting requirement
President Donald Trump is pushing for a shake-up in corporate reporting rules, calling on companies to file earnings with the SEC only twice a year instead of every quarter.
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NewsThe Banks behind Jeffrey Epstein: Why the story matters now more than ever
The Epstein case remains a defining moment for financial institutions. As new investigations bring renewed attention to his enablers, Compliance Week’s 2024 case study offers not only a timeline of failures but a path forward. Here’s what banks, regulators, and compliance teams must learn from it.
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Basic PageNestlé CEO dismissed after code of conduct breach
Nestlé dismissed its CEO over an undisclosed relationship with a subordinate, a clear breach of the company’s code of business conduct. The dismissal underscores that no one is exempt from compliance obligations, even top leadership.
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Basic PageSEC taps military judge as Enforcement Division Director
The SEC has named Margaret “Meg” Ryan, a senior military judge and Harvard Law lecturer, as its next Enforcement Division Director—an unconventional pick that could signal changes in enforcement strategy.
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PremiumEmerging Compliance Risks 2025: Laurie Waddy on Leadership, Anticorruption, and AI
Former Head of Compliance/Chief Compliance Officer Laurie Waddy believes compliance professionals are well-positioned to support artificial intelligence (AI) adoption in their organizations. Drawing on 25 years’ experience in legal and compliance roles across multiple industries, Waddy shares insights into top compliance trends confronting the profession, including the emerging compliance risks ...
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Basic PageDOJ, EPA take legal action against the California Air Resources Board
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed two lawsuits against the California Air Resources Board, claiming it no longer has the legal right to enforce strict emissions rules for heavy-duty trucks.
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Basic Page‘Extraordinary cooperation’ pays off for PFS Investments
As regulators shift toward rewarding transparency, self-regulation and self-reporting, the way PFS Investments handled a longstanding problem serves as an example of how proactive remediation can turn a costly compliance error into a manageable regulatory outcome.
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News BriefNine regulatory initiatives under SEC’s “Project Crypto” aim to redefine crypto market rules
Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins has launched “Project Crypto,” a major regulatory overhaul aimed at shifting the agency from enforcement to innovation. Atkins’ address outlined as many as nine Commission-wide initiatives to revamp the SEC’s rulebook for the digital finance era.
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News BriefNew federal memo signals elevated risk to colleges engaging in DEI activity
A new memorandum from President Trump directs increased federal scrutiny of race- and sex-based admissions practices at colleges and universities, however, its implications extend beyond higher education.
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Basic PageNJ manufacturer fined by CPSC for failing to report deadly defect in its air conditioners
A delayed product hazard report cost one company criminal and civil penalties—and a mother her life. This case shows why timely reporting and executive accountability are non-negotiable for compliance teams.
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NewsDOJ warns against using proxies for DEI in federally funded programs
The DOJ is warning that simply scrubbing DEI-related words from policy documents or training materials—and replacing them with thinly veiled proxies—will not protect federally funded organizations from legal scrutiny.
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ArticleU.S. Department of Labor cracks down on child labor violations
The Department of Labor is using poultry processing company Mar-Jac Poultry as an example of what will happen when companies repeatedly employ underage workers in hazardous conditions. Hint: Companies can’t pin the blame on staffing agencies.
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News BriefSEC dodges commitment on climate rule enforcement
The SEC refused to say whether it would enforce its landmark Climate-Related Disclosure Rules in a status report filed Wednesday, deepening uncertainty as the regulation faces legal challenges.