EFG International settles Cuba, blocked persons U.S. sanctions case
Swiss-based global private banking group EFG International agreed to pay more than $3.7 million as part of a settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control addressing apparent violations of U.S. sanctions against Cuba and two blocked individuals.
Zoetis says no action from OFAC in Iran sanctions matter
Zoetis, a developer and manufacturer of vaccines and medicines for animals, disclosed it was informed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control that it won’t face enforcement for potential violations of Iran sanctions uncovered during an acquisition integration.
FinCEN alert flags Israeli extremists fomenting violence in West Bank
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an alert addressing the financing of Israeli extremist settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Treasury cites Iraqi bank, owner over terrorist financing concerns
Al-Huda Bank faces severance from the U.S. financial system for being a conduit of terrorist financing, according to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, while its owner, Hamad al-Moussawi, was sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
OFAC official urges company transparency on ransomware events
Despite its reputation as a fierce enforcer of sanctions, the Office of Foreign Assets Control has a softer side and wants to help companies that are hit with ransomware attacks, according to the agency’s senior compliance officer.
ICBC fined $32M by NYDFS, Fed over compliance lapses
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and its New York branch agreed to pay $32.4 million in penalties levied by two regulators for failing to address compliance failures and for the unauthorized disclosure of confidential supervisory information to an overseas regulator.
Genesis Global Trading fined $8M by NYDFS over AML, cyber lapses
Virtual currency brokerage firm Genesis Global Trading agreed to pay an $8 million penalty levied by the New York State Department of Financial Services for alleged compliance failures that left it vulnerable to illicit activity and cybersecurity threats.
Binance.US names new chief compliance officer
Cryptocurrency trading platform Binance.US, an affiliate independent of its embattled parent company, announced the appointment of Lesley O’Neill as chief compliance officer.
PURE Insurance to pay $466K in OFAC sanctions case
Insurance organization Privilege Underwriters Reciprocal Exchange agreed to pay $466,200 as part of a settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control addressing alleged sanctioned transactions on behalf of designated Ukrainian-Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg.
Top ethics and compliance failures of 2023
A virtual currency exchange that sought to mislead regulators, banks failing after ignoring obvious risks, and a manufacturer that sold millions of its products in violation of U.S. export controls are among those that make up CW’s list of the biggest ethics and compliance fails of 2023.
CoinList to pay $1.2M to settle Crimea sanctions violations
Virtual currency exchange CoinList Markets agreed to pay more than $1.2 million to settle allegations from the Office of Foreign Assets Control that it violated U.S. sanctions by processing transactions for customers located in the Crimea region of Ukraine.
New U.K. office eyeing 2024 to enforce trade sanctions
The U.K. government is set to establish a new agency to enforce trade sanctions and provide compliance guidance to businesses regarding the country’s sanctions regimes.
Five compliance triumphs from 2023
A financial services giant’s compliance mea culpa that could serve to benefit the rest of the profession, a chemical company’s praised FCPA settlement, and an example of the value of whistleblowers highlight CW’s annual list of laudable ethics and compliance moments.
New OFAC sanctions target international Russia supporters
More than 150 new designations implemented by the Office of Foreign Assets Control continue U.S. efforts to crack down on entities and individuals supporting Russia from outside the country.
U.S. agencies issue ‘know your cargo’ transport compliance note
Five agencies of the U.S. government combined to issue best practices guidance for entities in the maritime and other transportation industries to help reduce risk of sanctions and export control violations and evasion efforts.
OFAC: Nasdaq to pay $4M over ex-subsidiary’s Iran sanctions lapses
Nasdaq agreed to pay more than $4 million as part of a settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control addressing apparent Iran sanctions violations at the stock exchange operator’s former Armenian subsidiary.
Survey: Companies bullish on new tech amid enhanced sanctions scrutiny
Emerging technologies like automation and generative AI are on the radar as difference-makers for businesses serious about keeping pace with increasing regulatory scrutiny toward third-party due diligence and sanctions compliance, a survey conducted by Compliance Week and Certa found.
Binance’s compliance past, future detailed
There are a slew of compliance lessons to be learned from the $4.3 billion settlement that Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, reached with the U.S. government.
Survey Report: Companies bullish on new tech amid enhanced sanctions scrutiny
If sanctions are the top enforcement priority for the Department of Justice, companies have got the message, according to a recent study.
No clear path for leniency for U.K. firms navigating Russian sanctions
U.K. companies might be wary of informing regulators they have potentially violated sanctions against Russia over fears they could be publicly criticized for even minor breaches.
Binance pleads guilty, fined $4.3B over widespread U.S. law violations
Federal agencies hit Binance with more than $4.3 billion in penalties and imposed multiple compliance monitorships on the virtual currency exchange as punishment for its repeated and intentional violations of U.S. anti-money laundering laws, sanctions, and other regulations.
DOJ official: People ‘drawing the right conclusions’ on national security focus
Christian Nauvel, deputy chief counsel for corporate enforcement in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division, said the agency’s focus on national security is “top of mind at the highest levels” and that enforcement numbers are set to increase.
DaVinci Payments to pay $206K over OFAC sanctions lapses
DaVinci Payments, a financial services firm which manages prepaid reward card programs, agreed to pay approximately $206,000 as part of a settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control addressing alleged sanctions violations across four countries.
OFAC sanctions more investment entities linked to Hamas
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed a second round of sanctions on investment entities believed to be funding the terrorist organization Hamas.
FinCEN alert flags Hamas terrorist financing indicators
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued an alert warning financial institutions to be vigilant toward identifying funding streams supporting Hamas in its attacks against Israel.
Treasury eases Venezuela sanctions amid electoral progress
The U.S. Treasury Department dialed back certain of its sanctions against Venezuela after the latter’s government and an opposition faction agreed to work together toward the prospect of a presidential election in 2024.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
DOJ appoints leaders for corporate enforcement program
The Department of Justice announced new positions in its National Security Division to support the agency’s crackdown on sanctions evasion, export control violations, and other forms of economic crime.
FinCEN analysis: Trends in Russia export control evasion attempts
Analysis of suspicious activity reports by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network indicates nearly $1 billion in suspicious activity in cases of suspected evasion of Russia-related export controls.
Greek shipper fined $2.5M in Iranian oil smuggling case
Empire Navigation pleaded guilty to violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by carrying nearly 1 million barrels of Iranian oil from the sanctioned Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to another country.
Wise Payments cited for Russia sanctions breaches in landmark OFSI action
U.K.-based foreign exchange service Wise Payments was cited for breaching the country’s sanctions levied against Russia as part of the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation’s first use of its disclosure enforcement powers acquired last year.
Whistleblower goes above, beyond in Construction Specialties OFAC case
The impact of “see something, say something” was on display as part of Construction Specialties’ settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control for apparent Iran sanctions violations.
Construction Specialties to pay $660K in Iran sanctions case
Construction Specialties agreed to pay more than $660,000 in a settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control regarding three apparent sanctions violations in Iran carried out by “rogue employees” of its Middle Eastern affiliate.
Neogen discloses avoided OFAC fine in Iran sanctions probe
Neogen Corp. disclosed the Office of Foreign Assets Control concluded a probe into potential sanctions violations regarding transactions by the food and animal safety company with parties in Iran without issuing a fine.
Short seller accuses Freedom Holding Corp. of ‘brazen’ sanctions evasion
Freedom Holding Corp. was accused of “brazen sanctions evasion,” along with openly flouting anti-money laundering and know your customer regulations, as part of an investigative report published by short seller Hindenburg Research.
OFAC doubles down on sanctions against Belarusian regime
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control announced expanded sanctions against the Belarusian regime three years after the country’s disputed 2020 presidential election.
Common sanctions compliance trip points from 2023 enforcement cases
Penalties against companies including British American Tobacco, Wells Fargo, and Microsoft demonstrate the multiple ways in which businesses can run afoul of U.S. sanctions—an area receiving increased scrutiny by regulators.
Guidance sets self-disclosure expectations for sanctions, export control lapses
Companies seeking credit for voluntarily self-disclosing potential violations of sanctions or export control laws must be mindful of the regimes at play from agencies including the DOJ, BIS, and OFAC and their differing expectations.
Fed fines Deutsche Bank $186M over historic sanctions, AML lapses
The Federal Reserve Board fined Deutsche Bank $186 million regarding violations of previous consent orders addressing alleged sanctions and anti-money laundering weaknesses and control failures relating to the bank’s relationship with Danske Estonia.
Potential sanctions violations: To voluntarily self-disclose or not?
The Department of Justice scrutinizing sanctions on par with how it views bribery under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act alters the calculus of whether a company should voluntarily self-disclose potential violations, experts discussed at CW’s TPRM Summit.
OFAC head Andrea Gacki shifted to lead FinCEN
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced the appointment of Andrea Gacki as director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
G7 task force to aid crack down on corruption in Ukraine
The Group of Seven justice ministers announced a Japan-led joint task force to “help Ukraine strengthen the rule of law and fight corruption,” according to U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco.
OFAC orders Swedbank Latvia to pay $3.4M over Crimea sanctions violations
Swedbank Latvia agreed to pay more than $3.4 million to resolve apparent U.S. sanctions violations in the Crimea region of Ukraine, the Office of Foreign Assets Control announced.
DXC Technology self-reports possible Russian sanctions violations
DXC Technology Company disclosed it might have violated U.S. sanctions and export controls against Russia in its sale of a Russian subsidiary.
U.S. reinvigorates anti-Russia push with new sanctions, guidance
The United States once again ratcheted up sanctions against Russia in an attempt to further choke off the funds and military supplies the country is using in its war against Ukraine.