Employee faith in whistleblowing programs wanes when companies act selectively
Whistleblowing hotlines are rightly championed as valuable tools for employees and even third parties to raise concerns about corporate conduct. But it seems some complaints may be acted upon more keenly than others, particularly if blame can be pinned to one individual and any potential fallout can be ring-fenced.
How food and beverage companies adjust to the throes of tariff woes
On-again-off-again tariffs, a down economy, and a long list of global supply chain disruptions are challenging U.S. food and beverage companies to adjust their supply chain operations in a variety of ways.
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.
PCAOB’s Christina Ho: How emerging technologies could improve audit quality
Emerging technologies, like artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced data analytics, can improve audit quality in significant ways. As the regulatory overseer of public-company audits, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) has a critical role to play by ensuring that its audit standards evolve as the audit profession evolves.
Georgia Tech to pay $875,000 for allegations brought by compliance officers
Georgia Tech Research Corp. (GTRC) has agreed to pay $875,000 to settle allegations first raised by two compliance officers that its cybersecurity protocols violated acceptable standards for defense contractors, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said.
Tractor Supply Company hit with $1.35M fine for alleged California privacy violations
Tractor Supply Company has agreed to get into compliance with California’s consumer privacy law and to pay a $1.35 million fine—the largest yet by California—to settle allegations it violated the privacy rights of customers and job applicants.
LuminUltra 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.
DOJ is ramping up, not ramping down, health care fraud enforcement
While the Trump administration may have shifted away from pursuing small, white-collar, financial crimes, its focus on health care fraud cases is as hot as ever.
FTC secures $5.7M settlement after business data provider repeatedly broke compliance order
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accused business credit reporting company Dun & Bradstreet of failing to comply with the commission’s 2022 order.
CFPB 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.
Retailers face new compliance pressures from tariffs, sanctions, fraud and cybercrime
Regulators are pressuring retail compliance teams on supply chains, shifting sanctions and tariffs, sustainability, and digital commerce. Rising cyberattacks heighten data security concerns, while large retailers push legal and commercial requirements down their supply chains.
Compliance should prepare for more ESG reporting as global pressure rises
Most major organizations are not changing their ESG reporting plans, despite “regulatory ambiguity”, according to a report by consultancy KPMG. The researchers say this indicates market expectations are driving action as much as legal requirements.
FinCEN seeks to lighten the regulatory load on casinos
Regulatory relief from anti-money laundering rules is in the cards for casinos, insurance companies and other non-bank financial institutions, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) said Monday.
Geopolitical risks among compliance concerns for metals, mining companies
Companies working in the metals and mining sectors face increased compliance checks due to efforts to clamp down on abuses in the supply chain, while “volatile” geopolitical changes make sourcing and transporting raw materials more difficult and expensive.
Amazon to pay $2.5 billion in FTC settlement over 'deceptive' Prime sign-ups
Amazon settled a complaint with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission Thursday over allegedly enrolling consumers into its Amazon Prime subscription and making it difficult to cancel. The FTC says the amount of the settlement is one of the biggest in its history.
Supreme Court allows Trump to remove FTC commissioner ahead of final ruling
The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily allowed President Trump to remove a Federal Trade Commission commissioner without cause on Monday, setting up a final battle over whether he can dismiss commissioners despite congressional rules.
Board chair of Puerto Rico bank helped its collapse by siphoning millions
The board chair of a failed Puerto Rican bank played a key role in its $92 million collapse by robbing it of more than $13.6 million, the Department of Justice said Monday.
Prosecutions of bribery, health fraud and market tampering are DOJ top priorities
Serious bribery, health care fraud and crimes that threaten U.S. investors are top enforcement priorities of the Trump Department of Justice, (DOJ), according to the acting head of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division.
Bank of America Securities avoids prosecution over market manipulation case
The DOJ announced Thursday that it has declined to prosecute Bank of America Securities over lapses related to a spoofing scheme conducted by two former employees that went on for almost seven years.
More than 100 ‘anticompetitive’ federal regulations poised for the chopping block
About 125 federal regulations deemed anticompetitive by President Trump are poised for possible elimination, following recommendations delivered Wednesday to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Listen to the radio interview with Compliance Week’s Aly McDevitt on Jeffrey Epstein
Jeffrey Epstein’s finances are back in the spotlight with new reports this month, but Compliance Week published an in-depth investigation into the anti-money laundering compliance angle of the story 18 months ago. Compliance Week’s Aly McDevitt went on WBAI Monday to discuss her investigation
Florida seafood exec faces 10 years for crab claw price fixing
A Florida seafood company executive has pleaded guilty to conspiring with competitors to fix the prices he paid to local fishers, an effort that impacted more than $8 million in wholesale fish and cut the pay of hundreds of fishers, the Department of Justice said.
Former U.S. clothing business CEO faces 25 years for bribery in Honduras
The former CEO of a Georgia clothing business faces 25 years in prison for bribing Honduran officials to win $10 million in uniform contracts in Honduras, after being caught up in a Department of Justice Anticorruption Task Force.
Trump 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.
FTC orders AI firms to disclose safeguards for children and teens
AI chatbots are increasingly used by children and teens, prompting the FTC to order seven AI companies to explain how they monitor potential harms to minors.
DOJ sues Uber over alleged discrimination against disabled riders
The DOJ sued Uber Thursday, alleging it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by denying people with disabilities equal access to its services.
California, Colorado, and Connecticut launch joint crackdown on privacy violators
California, Colorado, and Connecticut launched a joint enforcement sweep against businesses that fail to honor consumers’ online opt-out requests, the states announced Tuesday.
Google hit with $425.6 million verdict in California privacy case
Google allegedly collected personal data from mobile devices without permission, violating California privacy laws, a jury ruled in awarding more than $425.6 million to class-action plaintiffs.
Freight forwarder fined $1.6M after using OFAC-blocked Venezuelan, Iranian carriers
A Houston-based freight forwarder, Fracht FWO Inc., will pay $1.6 million for violating U.S. sanctions tied to Venezuela and Iran, according to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The fine comes as OFAC ramps up enforcement in recent months.
Navigating top risks in the insurance industry
Cyber threats, climate-related catastrophes, and disruptive technologies remain top risks reshaping the U.S. insurance industry. The question is how chief risk officers at the nation’s largest insurers are confronting them.
CFTC clears deck of ‘compliance’ enforcement actions to focus on fraud
BNY, Citigroup, Santander, UBS, and two other financial institutions paid a total of $8.3M to settle separate compliance violations with the CFTC.
FTC ends appeal over noncompete ban but seeks public input
The FTC officially withdrew its appeal in a federal court case over its ban on employer noncompete clauses that it passed last year. The agency, however, says it wants public input regarding the effects of employer noncompete agreements.
Hospitals, health IT face HHS crackdown for blocking electronic records
The Department of Health and Human Services is stepping up its enforcement against hospitals and other health entities that block the sharing of electronic health records.
Digital wallets should speed up compliance, but companies must focus on trust and security
The EU has one, the U.K. is getting one, many U.S. states are working with Google and Apple to provide one, and now industry sectors are developing their own digital wallet.
DOJ, SEC charge owner of Pennsylvania companies of running $770M Ponzi scheme
The majority owner of a Pennsylvania investment firm faces 100 years of prison time and huge fines for allegedly running a $770 million Ponzi scheme centered on an ATM company he also owned.
Disney hit with $10M FTC fine for allegedly collecting children’s data
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) proposed an enforcement action against Disney for allegedly collecting personal information about children, and then threw salt in the wound by calling the company out in an alert emailed to an untold number of businesses.
Why audit won’t save your anti-money laundering (AML) program
In financial institutions across the United States, there’s a reflex that’s become almost ritual.
Chinese money-laundering networks moved $312B in dirty money through the U.S.
Suspicious activity reports filed by U.S. financial institutions show that Mexican drug cartels and human traffickers are laundering dirty funds through Chinese money laundering networks (CMLNs) operating in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
Federal Reserve Governor sues Trump over attempted removal
President Donald Trump announced he would fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook on Monday. On Thursday, Cook filed a lawsuit claiming Trump cannot remove her from office and is violating federal law.
FinCEN again delays U.S. ban on three Mexican financial institutions
The order barring three Mexican financial institutions from doing business with U.S. financial institutions has been delayed until October.
Trump tries alternative approach on California air standards agency by alleging anti-white bias
The Trump administration has intensified its fight with California as the DOJ launched an investigation into whether the state’s environmental agency is violating federal law by pursuing racial equity.
The GENIUS Act: A new era for U.S. crypto regulation
For years, stablecoin regulation was stuck in an uncertain legal gray zone with no clear rules until the GENIUS Act arrived as a turning point. For the first time, a concrete federal framework has drawn a line by requiring reserves to be held, demanding transparency, and putting consumer protections front ...
SEC 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.
CFPB makes move to stake a claim against bankrupt Synapse, the fintech software company
Synapse Financial Technologies, the troubled California fintech software provider, has agreed to let the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) eventually file a claim on its bankrupt estate.
JPMorgan Chase pays $330M to settle Malaysian fund allegations
JPMorgan Chase has agreed to pay $330 million to settle allegations about its role in the massive, decades-long theft of Malaysian’s 1MDB state investment fund, the bank says.
OCC lifts AML consent order on Anchorage Digital
Crypto platform Anchorage Digital has been freed of a consent order originally issued by the Treasury Department for anti-money laundering failures.
DOJ charges California fintech executives in $248M fraud involving falsified documents
The co-founders of a California financial tech and sustainability services company defrauded investors and lenders of $248 million, according to the Department of Justice.
California privacy regulator unveils new cyber, risk, and automation rules
Businesses operating in California will need to meet new, first-in-the-nation privacy requirements for cybersecurity, risk assessments, and automated decision-making technology, under a large expansion of rules by the state.
FTC complaint accuses LA Fitness parent companies of blocking easy membership exits
The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint against LA Fitness’ parent companies, citing difficulties canceling memberships, a month after a court blocked the agency’s click-to-cancel rule.
Judge orders CVS to pay nearly $290M for Medicare false claims
CVS’s Caremark division knowingly overcharged Medicare for prescription drugs and must pay nearly $290 million, a Pennsylvania federal judge has ordered.