Maxim Group fined $800K by SEC over SARs filing lapses
New York-based broker-dealer Maxim Group agreed to pay an $800,000 fine in settling with the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the firm’s alleged failures to file required suspicious activity reports and properly execute certain short sales.
FTC, Latin American countries partner on fighting cross-border fraud
The Federal Trade Commission is partnering with Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru to fight cross-border fraud, with other consumer protection authorities invited to join in the future.
Goldman, JPMorgan, Bank of America caught in CFTC swap reporting sweep
Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Bank of America agreed to pay penalties totaling $53 million across settlements with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission addressing alleged swap reporting failures among their respective affiliates.
DOJ orders Cigna to pay $172M over false claims to Medicare
Multinational health insurance company Cigna agreed to pay more than $172 million as part of a settlement with the Department of Justice addressing allegations it submitted and failed to withdraw false claims to Medicare.
SEC accuses Prager Metis of hundreds of auditor independence violations
Accounting firm Prager Metis violated auditor independence rules through use of indemnification provisions in its engagement letters hundreds of times during a period of nearly three years, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged in a lawsuit.
Shinhan Bank America fined $25M for repeat AML compliance failures
The American branch of South Korea-based Shinhan Bank agreed to pay $25 million across settlements with three separate regulators for admitted violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering requirements.
Exelon, ComEd fined $46M by SEC over bribery scandal
Exelon and its subsidiary Commonwealth Edison agreed to pay $46.2 million as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission related to their Illinois bribery and lobbying scandal that previously earned ComEd a deferred prosecution agreement.
D. E. Shaw fined $10M for impeding potential whistleblowers
New York-based investment adviser D. E. Shaw & Co. will pay a $10 million penalty to settle charges brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission that the company raised impediments to whistleblowing by employees.
Newell, ex-CEO settle with SEC over sales disclosures
Consumer products company Newell Brands agreed to pay $12.5 million as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission addressing allegations the company misled investors about its core sales growth.
Broker-dealers, IAs, credit raters caught in SEC off-channel comms sweep
A dozen financial services firms were penalized by the Securities and Exchange Commission as the agency continues its enforcement sweep of recordkeeping violations regarding employee use of off-channel communications for business purposes.
Albemarle to pay $218M in FCPA settlements with DOJ, SEC
Chemical company Albemarle was assessed penalties totaling more than $218 million as part of settlements with the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission addressing alleged violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act across a handful of foreign countries.
Spruce Power fined $11M for misleading electric vehicle projections
Solar energy services provider Spruce Power Holding Corp. was assessed an $11 million penalty by the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of a settlement addressing its predecessor’s alleged misleading of investors regarding its electric vehicle sales pipeline.
Citi affiliates fined $2M in SEC Reg BI case
Citigroup Global Markets and Citi International Financial Services agreed to pay a total of nearly $2 million as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission resolving allegations they violated the disclosure obligations of Regulation Best Interest.
Boeing to pay $8.1M over Navy contract false claims
Aerospace giant Boeing agreed to pay $8.1 million as part of a settlement with the Department of Justice addressing allegations it submitted false claims regarding military aircraft contracts it had with the Navy.
Clear Channel Outdoor to pay $26M in FCPA case over China bribes
Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings agreed to pay more than $26 million as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission alleging its former China-based subsidiary bribed government officials to obtain outdoor advertising contracts.
DHS designates three Chinese companies for Uyghur forced labor
The Department of Homeland Security designated three companies to a growing list accused by the Biden administration of forced labor practices in the Xinjiang region of China.
Naming and shaming? Fair approach? Expert views mixed on OFSI’s Wise Payments case
The recent decision by the U.K. Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation to disclose details of how Wise Payments failed to stop an individual from obtaining cash while subject to Russian sanctions has ignited debate about whether the agency is taking the right enforcement approach.
Cybersecurity firm Intrusion to settle SEC fraud claims
Texas-based cybersecurity company Intrusion was charged with fraud by the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding alleged materially false and misleading statements made by its former chief executive.
Ex-Marcum partner suspended by SEC over Ault Alliance work
A former engagement quality review partner at Marcum agreed to pay a $30,000 penalty and be suspended as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission addressing alleged violations of audit standards in his work at diversified holding company Ault Alliance.
Deloitte Colombia fined $900K by PCAOB for quality control violations
A Colombian affiliate of Big Four audit firm Deloitte agreed to pay $900,000 as part of a settlement with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board addressing alleged quality control lapses that occurred during the 2016 audit of a bank.
Bruderman Asset Management dinged $250K by SEC over disclosure lapses
The Securities and Exchange Commission ordered New York-based investment adviser Bruderman Asset Management and its principal to pay a total of $250,000 over their alleged failure to disclose misuse of profits raised from clients.
Citigroup unit to pay $8.3M in FINRA partial tender offer case
A broker-dealer affiliate of Citi agreed to pay nearly $8.3 million as part of a settlement with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority addressing allegations the firm overtendered shares in partial tender offers and received millions in ill-gotten gains.
SEC orders AssetMark to pay $18M in conflicts of interest case
Investment adviser AssetMark agreed to pay more than $18 million to settle allegations by the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding undisclosed conflicts of interest involving its affiliate’s cash sweep program and its revenue-sharing arrangements with third parties.
Hyzon Motors fined $25M by SEC for alleged fraud
Hyzon Motors, a global supplier of hydrogen fuel cell-powered heavy vehicles, was assessed a $25 million penalty by the Securities and Exchange Commission in agreeing to settle charges it and its former executives misled investors regarding the sales of its vehicles.
BDO fined $2M by PCAOB for estimate evaluation lapses
BDO was assessed a $2 million penalty as part of a settlement with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board addressing alleged failures in the firm’s audit work at defunct healthcare services provider AAC Holdings.
Carl M. Hennig dinged by SEC over Reg BI lapses
Wisconsin-based broker-dealer Carl M. Hennig agreed to pay a $50,000 fine to settle allegations by the Securities and Exchange Commission it failed to comply with Regulation Best Interest.
GTT Communications spared fine in SEC disclosure failure case
GTT Communications, a provider of telecommunications and internet services, avoided a civil penalty in reaching a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission addressing alleged disclosure failures over more than a two-year period.
SEC obtains judgment against J.H. Darbie in SARs reporting case
New York-based brokerage firm J.H. Darbie & Co. consented to pay a $125,000 penalty to resolve charges levied by the Securities and Exchange Commission that the firm failed to report suspicious activity regarding penny stock transactions.
Deutsche Bank unit fined $25M in ESG, AML settlements
DWS Investment Management Americas agreed to pay $25 million in penalties across separate settlements with the Securities and Exchange Commission addressing alleged misstatements in environmental, social, and governance investments and anti-money laundering violations.
American Infrastructure Funds to pay $1.6M over fiduciary duty breaches
California-based investment adviser American Infrastructure Funds agreed to pay more than $1.6 million to settle charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding multiple breaches of its fiduciary duty to clients.
3M to pay $9.6M over Iran sanctions lapses
The Office of Foreign Assets Control ordered multinational conglomerate 3M to pay more than $9.6 million over apparent Iran sanctions violations by its subsidiary and a U.S. employee of a separate subsidiary.
Citadel Securities fined $7M for mismarked short, long sales
Miami-based broker-dealer Citadel Securities was fined $7 million as part of a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission addressing mismarked short and long sales caused by a coding error in the firm’s automated trading system.
Goldman Sachs fined $6M by SEC over admitted data inaccuracies
Goldman Sachs & Co. was assessed a $6 million penalty by the Securities and Exchange Commission as part of a settlement in which the financial institution admitted it submitted incomplete and inaccurate securities trading information affecting at least 163 million transactions.
Emigrant Bank to pay $32K in Iran sanctions case
New York-based Emigrant Bank agreed to pay nearly $32,000 as part of a settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control addressing apparent sanctions violations regarding an account it maintained for a pair of Iranian residents.
DOJ official: Compliance must have ‘prominent seat’ at M&A decision table
The Department of Justice is gearing up to provide more guidance on voluntary self-disclosures in the mergers and acquisitions space and the role compliance should play.
StoneX admits disclosure, supervision lapses in $650K CFTC settlement
Chicago-based swap dealer StoneX Markets agreed to pay $650,000 as part of a settlement with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission addressing admitted disclosure and supervision failures.
Survey: Tech gaps, third parties pose biggest ABAC threats
A recent survey conducted by Compliance Week and Morgan Lewis determined areas of insufficient resource support to combat bribery and corruption, along with trends in third-party due diligence.
Survey Report: Tech gaps, third parties pose biggest ABAC threats
Compliance professionals asked to assess their anti-bribery and corruption efforts indicated resource support deficiencies in areas including staffing and technology, according to a survey conducted by Compliance Week and Morgan Lewis.
SEC: Investment adviser to sanctioned Russian oligarch failed to register
The Securities and Exchange Commission announced charges against New York-based Concord Management and its owner for operating as an unregistered investment adviser to a lone client: a sanctioned Russian oligarch.
CBRE unit fined $375K over violating whistleblower protections
Commercial real estate services and investment firm CBRE agreed to pay $375,000 to settle allegations by the Securities and Exchange Commission that its separation agreements violated whistleblower protections.
SEC fines registered rep for causing firm’s SARs filing lapses
A registered representative at an unnamed brokerage firm will pay $20,000 to settle charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission that he failed to notify the firm’s anti-money laundering department of apparent suspicious transactions.
Lyft fined $10M for not disclosing board member’s role in pre-IPO stock sale
Ridesharing company Lyft agreed to pay a $10 million penalty to settle allegations by the Securities and Exchange Commission it failed to disclose a pre-initial public offering stock deal that netted a member of its board millions of dollars.
Ex-Wells Fargo exec dodges prison for fake accounts role
Carrie Tolstedt, the former head of Wells Fargo’s community bank who pleaded guilty to obstructing justice regarding her role in the bank’s infamous fake accounts scandal, will not serve prison time.
TikTok fined $368M in children’s privacy GDPR ruling
The Irish Data Protection Commission announced a penalty of €345 million (U.S. $368 million) against popular social media company TikTok over alleged violations of the General Data Protection Regulation during a five-month period in 2020.
FinCEN fines P.R.-based Bancredito $15M in landmark AML action
Puerto Rico-based Bancrédito International Bank and Trust Corporation was assessed a $15 million penalty by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network for admitted violations of the Bank Secrecy Act regarding suspicious activity monitoring and anti-money laundering compliance.
Google to pay $93M in California location data settlement
Google agreed to pay $93 million as part of a settlement with the state of California regarding its location data privacy practices. The agreement is separate from a related $391.5 million settlement Google previously reached with a coalition of other states.
New OFAC sanctions expand clamps on Russia tech supply chain
The Office of Foreign Assets Control widened its area of focus to disrupt Russia’s technology supply chain with new sanctions announced against entities in Finland and Turkey.
Lessons learned from FCA case against CFP Management MLRO
The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority’s decision notice against the money laundering reporting officer of CFP Management sends a strong message to the financial industry, particularly those who work in senior management functions or hold oversight responsibilities.
Dermatology manager to pay $8.9M in self-reported false claims case
Oliver Street Dermatology Management, doing business as U.S. Dermatology Partners, agreed to pay nearly $8.9 million to settle allegations by the Department of Justice regarding apparent violations of the False Claims Act.
HHS orders L.A. Care to pay $1.3M over apparent HIPAA violations
L.A. Care Health Plan agreed to pay $1.3 million to settle allegations by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services it potentially violated the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act.