Broker-dealer Canaccord pays $80M to FinCEN, admits to willful BSA violations
Financial services company Canaccord has been hit with an $80 million penalty by the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FInCEN)–the largest FinCEN penalty against a broker-dealer in its history.
Institutional resilience: Why remediation fails without independent governance challenge
Changing governance and internal controls in response to recent enforcement actions cannot mask a fundamental deficiency: remediation is not changing the way decisions are being made, allowing the same mistakes to happen over and over.
FTC’s two commissioners vote to order Walmart to pay $100M to settle gig driver allegations
Walmart has agreed to pay $100 million to settle allegations that it deceived delivery drivers about their pay and tips, the Federal Trade Commission announced.
Former telemedicine company owner gets 7 years for role in $136M kickback scheme
A former co-owner of two telemedicine companies who helped orchestrate $136 million in Medicare fraud was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in the nationwide bribery and kickback scheme involving orthotic braces, doctors, and false claims.
European regulators fine banks for compliance failures and warn more investigations will follow
Crédit Agricole and J.P. Morgan were among financial institutions that found themselves in the cross-hairs of the European Central Bank for faulty risk assessments and risk reporting and failing to protect consumers from fraud risks. All of those companies fined also missed compliance deadlines.
Decision time for compliance as U.K. CCI regime ditches formulaic reporting to engage investors
A new U.K. Consumer Composite Investments regime comes into force on April 6 and will apply to all firms that manufacture or distribute CCI products to retail investors in the U.K. This includes some firms that are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
EY compliance partner leaves after independence failings prompt regulatory investigation
Four senior partners at Big Four accountancy firm Ernst & Young, including a leader in the firm’s compliance function, have left the company because of spiralling repercussions from a costly compliance failure.
Florida boarding school pays $1.7M for enrolling kids of drug cartel parents
A Florida school has agreed to pay more than $1.7 million for enrolling children whose parents had been sanctioned by the U.S. for their ties to Mexican drug cartels, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said Thursday.
Disney pays $2.75M to California for alleged privacy violations
Disney has agreed to pay $2.75 million to settle allegations by California that its streaming service sold the personal information of subscribers without their permission.
FTC warns brokers to stop selling U.S. military member data to foreign adversaries
Thirteen data brokers have been warned by the Federal Trade Commission to come into compliance with a 2024 law prohibiting the selling of the personal data of U.S. residents to foreign adversaries.
Former ADM execs inflated operating profits, SEC alleges
Three former executives at Archer-Daniels-Midland intentionally misled investors by inflating the performance of the company’s Nutrition unit, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has alleged.
National Fraud Enforcement Division: A dangerous escalation of compliance risk
Chief compliance officers and general counsel, beware: The Trump administration’s merging of its whole-of-government enforcement approach with its political agenda forewarns of escalating compliance risk on a national scale.
Kaiser plans pay $556M to settle Medicare upcoding allegations
Kaiser Health affiliates have agreed to pay more than $556 million to settle allegations originally made by whistleblowers that they ignored compliance department warnings and unlawfully reworked diagnoses for Medicare patients in order to receive higher payments from the federal government.
FTC files contempt against credit card processor Cliq for alleged ongoing compliance failures
The Federal Trade Commission asked a court to hold the payment processor Cliq in contempt for allegedly “flagrantly” violating a 2015 order that the company monitor transactions for illegal charges and activity.
SEC drops all charges against former Rio Tinto CFO related to coal valuation
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission dropped its case against Rio Tinto’s former chief financial officer, who has battled charges for eight years.
Owner of medical supply company faces 35 years for alleged false claims, kickbacks
The owner of a medical supply company allegedly billed federal health programs $30 million for items that were unnecessary and tainted by kickbacks, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Former TD branch manager admits laundering $92 million for gift card bribes
A former TD Bank assistant branch manager in New York was instrumental in helping a $653 million drug money laundering operation, known as “David’s Network,” wash dirty money through the bank, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
From NATO to nature crime. A practitioner’s perspective on greenwashing
From NATO and the UN to wildlife crime and finance, Chris Jagger explains why banks need smarter, more agile compliance to stay ahead of criminals.
Teledyne fined $1.5M for supplying obsolete parts to Navy
Teledyne will pay more than $1.5 million to settle allegations it supplied electronic parts to the Navy that deviated from specifications, a violation of the False Claims Act (FCA). But its cooperation with prosecutors earned it a credit, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
Tungston rod importer pays $54.4M to settle DOJ tariff fraud allegations
An industrial products distributor has agreed to pay $54.4 million to settle allegations, first made by a whistleblower, that it evaded tariffs and violated the federal False Claims Act.
Top of mind compliance topics in 2026: Finance, immigration, supply chains and sustainability
What will you be doing in the coming year? We asked experts in a range of sectors to gaze into their crystal balls and highlight one legal development or compliance topic that will be critical for compliance teams in 2026. This is an edited version of what they told us.
Tariff evasion enforcement: The new FCPA
Companies that import goods into the United States will face heightened enforcement scrutiny for attempted acts of customs fraud, including tariff evasion, under the Trump administration. Thus, chief compliance officers and in-house counsel face a new kind of pressure to ensure they are mitigating risk in this area.
Former COO of plastics importer faces up to five years for customs falsifications
The chief operating officer of a plastic resin importer has pleaded guilty to intentionally falsifying documents to avoid paying tariffs on goods from China, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.
Cybercrime against banks and account holders takes hit from FBI
Federal investigators have announced progress in dismantling an online criminal operation that steals bank account information by mimicking legitimate bank websites.
Former CEO of online health company ordered to pay $452M for nearly $2B in fraud
The former founder and chief executive of a health internet company will spend 15 years in prison and pay $452 million after being found guilty of a sprawling scheme that sought about $1.9 billion in false payments from Medicare, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
FTC suit against Uber gains traction with 21 states and DC joining in
The Federal Trade Commission allegations against Uber, alleging deceptive billing and subscription cancellations, have snowballed, with 21 states and the District of Columbia joining the lawsuit.
Top Ethics and Compliance Failures of 2025
The 2025 year has been so rich with compliance stinkers, and rife with poor judgment, compliance missteps, outright malfeasance and greed, greed, greed, that it was almost impossible to choose just six epic compliance failures from this year’s massive poop pile.
SEC exam priorities for 2026 signal heightened focus on firmwide compliance
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Division of Examinations released its 2026 examination priorities, which give companies a roadmap of areas of heightened risk and regulatory focus for next year.
San Francisco firm pays $11.4M for alleged Russia-related sanctions violations
A San Francisco-based private equity firm has agreed to pay $11.4 million to settle allegations it violated U.S. sanctions rules by handling investments for a sanctioned Russian oligarch.
Company agrees to report to FTC for 10 years for alleged student data lapses
A tech company that stores student information for schools has agreed to implement a data security program and report to the Federal Trade Commission for 10 years, after security failures led to data for 10 million students being breached.
Large wound care practice pays $45M, agrees to monitoring
One of the largest wound care practices in the nation and its founder have agreed to pay $45 million and be subjected to third-party monitoring, to settle allegations that the business intentionally overbilled Medicare by priming its electronic medical records system to do so.
Former CEO of steel pipe maker indicted for allegedly defrauding investors of $66M
A former chief executive of a large steel pipe manufacturer has been accused by the Department of Justice (DOJ) of defrauding more than $66 million from a bank and investors.
Russian web company that hosted LockBit ransomware sanctioned
Two Russian web-hosting services that provide cover for ransomware operators, including Lockbit, have been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC and international partners.
Nursing home chain and former CEO pay $146M each for federal health fraud
A New Jersey and Midwest nursing home chain, and its former chief executive, must pay more than $146 million each for extensive health care fraud for engaging in widespread fraud related to Medicare and Medicaid.
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield pays $100M to settle state false claims allegations
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey has agreed to pay $100 million to settle allegations that its 2020 contract with the state was fraudulent, according the state’s Attorney General.
FinCEN cuts off 10 Mexican casinos from U.S. financial system for laundering cartel drug money
Ten Mexican cartels will be severed from the U.S. financial system for laundering money for the Sinaloa Cartel criminal organization, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
U.K. outlines AI sandbox plan as regulators weigh compliance risks
The U.K. has set out a new blueprint for AI regulation, which aims to slash bureaucracy and ramp up the safe adoption of new and emerging technology to unlock potential and boost investment.
Former Capula CCO alleges misconduct and retaliation at the hedge fund firm
The former U.S. chief compliance officer of hedge fund firm Capula Investment Management has blown the whistle against his former employer, alleging he was terminated for raising concerns about improper expensing practices.
FINRA fines First Trust $10M for allegedly giving too-generous gifts to brokers
First Trust Portfolios has been fined $10 million by FINRA for allegedly providing excessive meals, gifts, and other incentives to broker-dealers.
Q&A with former FCPA Unit chief Charles Duross on the DOJ’s monitorship policy
Compliance Week recently interviewed Charles Duross, former Chief of the DOJ’s Fraud Section’s FCPA Unit, to talk about the Department of Justice’s recently revised monitorship policy.
Compliance officers accused of helping criminals run $346 million international payment fraud network
Four U.S. citizens were arrested in California Wednesday in connection with a massive, $346 million international credit card fraud scheme based in Germany, in which compliance officers were allegedly complicit, according to the DOJ.
Sanctions, money-laundering and supply chains top agenda for energy sector compliance
The energy sector faces rising regulatory activity, with more rules and enforcement. Bribery, corruption, and sanctions now dominate compliance concerns, driving rapid change and pressure on compliance officers.
Senate Democrats question Vought on comments about closing CFPB in months
Senate Democrats warned OMB Director Russell Vought Tuesday that it would be illegal for the Trump administration to shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, citing a recent court decision barring actions that could severely harm the agency.
Assessing the impact of the DOJ’s monitorship policy six months in
It has been nearly six months now since the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Criminal Division released its memorandum on the selection of compliance monitors. This article provides a critical analysis of the monitorships that received early terminations, those that remain in place, and the broader compliance lessons they impart.
OCC drops $10M fine against former Wells Fargo risk officer fingered in “fake accounts” scandal
A former Wells Fargo risk officer previously ordered to pay $10 million by the Department of the Treasury’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for her alleged role in the bank’s “fake accounts” scandal is completely off the hook, according to an OCC consent order issued Tuesday.
NY auto insurers on the hook for $19M for cybersecurity violations
Eight auto insurers failed to meet the requirements of New York’s cybersecurity regulations during widespread online attacks in 2021 and will pay $19 million under consent orders with the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).
Smartmatic faces DOJ charges amid allegations of election contract bribes
Three executives of a multinational voting machine company in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump since 2020 have been indicted in Florida by the U.S. Department of Justice for allegedly paying $1 million in bribes to the Philippines top election official.
SEC reportedly investigating MassMutual’s accounting amid ongoing government shutdown
Even though the U.S. federal government is currently shut down, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission appears to still be at work. The financial regulator is reportedly investigating a major insurance and asset management company over its accounting practices.
Oct 14 | CPE Webcast: Navigating Evolving Banking Regulations in the U.S. and Canada
U.S. Banking regulators have moved to loosen traditional regulation and supervision in areas like capital requirements, stress testing and liquidity, while also being more receptive to innovation in areas including Artificial Intelligence and digital assets.
Former startup CEO gets 7 years in prison for $175M fraud against JPMorgan Chase
Charlie Javice, a former CEO who duped JPMorgan Chase into purchasing her start up company for $175 million, has been ordered to forfeit more than $22 million by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and to spend 7 years in jail.