Monday, August 31, 2009

AMLAC 2009 Speaker Profile: Suzanne Williams, Federal Reserve Board

Suzanne Williams
Manager of the BSA/AML Risk Section of the Division of
Banking Supervision and Regulation
Board of Governors of The Federal Reserve System

Suzanne Williams is the Manager of the Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) Risk Section of the Division of Banking Supervision and Regulation at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. In this position, she works with Reserve Bank and Board staff in designing and implementing supervisory strategies to address significant BSA/AML issues, including related enforcement actions, when appropriate. Ms. Williams develops BSA/AML policy guidance for financial institutions and interagency examination procedures, in coordination with other relevant federal and state government agencies, and conducts frequent industry outreach on BSA/AML matters.

Don't miss Suzanne speak on Procedures for Regulatory Compliance for Prepaid Cards at the AMLAC Conference in NY from October 19-21.



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Friday, August 28, 2009

Standford Group's #2 pleads gulity to fraud

According to the Wall Street Journal, James Davis, who was the second highest in the Standford Fraud case, pleaded guilty. He admitted to willingly defrauding investors for nearly twenty years. Davis is cooperating with officials to build a case against Allan Standford, who is currently being held in Conroe, Texas. Read the full article here.



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Thursday, August 27, 2009

Detroit Physical Therapist Pleads Guilty to $18.3M Medicare Fraud

The Chicago Tribune reports that 45-year-old Jay Jha of Troy, Michigan admitted to signing about 336 fictitious files for sham companies purportedly providing physical and occupational therapy to Medicare beneficiaries. Jha says he was paid up to $110 for each file. Medicare paid close to $773,000 between 2003 and 2005 on claims involving Jha who faces 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine at his Dec. 16 sentencing.



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Park Rapids Man is Indicted on Counts of Wire Fraud and Money Laundering

According to this post on the Park Rapid Enterprise a 36 year old man who is licensed in real estate from Park Rapids has been charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and marijuana charges by a federal grand jury.

Eric Moen allegedly misrepresented the employment status of a borrower and obtained funds in connection with the mortgage of the home. Moen also transferred more than $640,000 from the mortgage company to the home, and pocketed nearly $15,000.



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Mortgage Fraud Task Force being formed

According to the New York Times, the ten state Attorneys Generals and four federal agencies have come together to create a Mortgage Fraud Task Force. They will focus on: equity skimming, bogus foreclosure rescue, straw purchases and unethical lending practices. Read more about the task force here.



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Monday, August 24, 2009

AMLAC 2009 Speaker Profile: Alan E. Sorcher

Alan E. Sorcher

Sr. Advisor for Cross-Sector Regulatory Strategies

FINCEN



Alan E. Sorcher is Senior Advisor for Cross-Sector Regulatory Strategies at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Mr. Sorcher serves as FinCEN’s point person on Regulatory Reform to ensure that FinCEN can effectively meet its mission objectives within a reorganized regulatory structure. Mr. Sorcher also is involved in FinCEN’s policy issues, rulemaking and efforts to increase effectiveness and consistency of BSA programs across sectors.



Prior to his current position, Mr. Sorcher was a Managing Director and Associate General Counsel at the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, where he spent almost a decade. At SIFMA, Mr. Sorcher was responsible for anti-money laundering issues, OFAC, privacy and data protection, bank holding company issues and financial regulatory reform. He directed SIFMA’s efforts on the implementation of the USA Patriot Act and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. In addition, Mr. Sorcher created SIFMA’s Anti-Money Laundering and Financial Crimes Committee and its Privacy and Data Protection Committee. He also organized and chaired SIFMA’s annual anti-money laundering compliance conference and organized conferences on privacy, information security, OFAC, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and Gramm-Leach-Bliley topics. Mr. Sorcher has spoken and lectured regularly on anti-money laundering compliance, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act topics, and privacy issues, and conducted AML training in Asia. In 2003, “Compliance Reporter” named Mr. Sorcher its “Lawyer of the Year” for his work in helping securities firms understand and implement the anti-money laundering provisions in the Patriot Act. Mr. Sorcher was also a member of the Treasury Department’s Bank Secrecy Act Advisory Group for eight years.



Prior to SIFMA, Mr. Sorcher was counsel at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, where he handled both litigation and investigations. Mr. Sorcher was also a branch chief in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, where he was responsible for overseeing investigations involving violations of the federal securities laws.



Early in his career, Mr. Sorcher was in private practice. He received a BA in Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania and a JD from the Boston University School of Law.



Don't miss Alan’s session Q&A with the Department of Justice at the 2009 AMLAC Conference October 19-21st in NY. Hope to see you all there!



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Friday, August 21, 2009

First Indictment is Handed in Huge NJ Corruption Scandal

According to this report on MyFoxNy the federal grand jury has handed down the first indictment in the huge NJ corruption-money laundering scandal. The prosecutors have charged Jersey City Deputy Mayor Leona Baldini and Edward Cheatam with using their power to extort money from an undercover government witness posing as a developer.

These two officials were among 44 other rabbis and local elected politicians that were involved in the huge corruption scandal. Three mayors including Peter Cammarano of Hoboken, Dennis Elwell of Secaucus, Anthony Suarez of Ridgefield were also arrested. We'll keep posting late breaking news about this corruption scandal as it comes right on this blog so stay tuned.



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Thursday, August 20, 2009

Former Miami business owner charged with healthcare fraud

According to the South Florida Business Journal, Heriberto Camacho-Garcia, a former health care business owner, submitted fraudulent claims worth $8,266,267 for Medicare reimbursement. He was sentenced to 92 months in prison. Read the full article here.



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Regulators Were Told of Stanford Fraud, Investors Say

The New York Times reports today that investors who lost their savings in certificates of deposit issued by the Antiguan bank of R. Allen Stanford told a Congressional panel Monday that federal regulators had ignored warnings as early as 2003 that the bank’s finances were questionable.

The S.E.C. has been criticized for not acting quickly enough to halt Mr. Stanford’s fraud. The agency’s internal watchdog said last month that the agency’s efforts to pursue Mr. Stanford were hampered by a lack of cooperation by the Texas billionaire and the head of Antigua’s financial regulator.

Regulators Were Told of Stanford Fraud, Investors Say



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Money Laudering Case Gets a little more Complicated

This latest blog post in the NY Times discusses how Mr. Krane, a Hollywood tax lawyer, has recently been charged with money laundering in what was proved to be an illegal tax shelter that he helped setup for the investor Haim Saban and also a passport fraud charge. What's intersting about thsi case is that when Mr. Krane showed up Monday morning for a bail hearing, his lawyer explained in court that friends allowed him to use their identities “for the purpose of protecting Mr. Krane’s life.” The case for the passport fraud charge is scheduled for this fall, but this case has certainly taking a strange turn.



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Monday, August 17, 2009

AMLAC 2009 Speaker Profile: Jeffery A. Neiman

Jeffery A. Neiman
Assistant United States Attorney
United States Attorney’s Office Southern District of Florida

Jeffrey A. Neiman is an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida where he is assigned to the Economic Crimes Section in Fort Lauderdale. As an AUSA, Mr. Neiman has prosecuted numerous white collar cases involving securities, mortgage, and healthcare fraud, tax offenses, and other corporate crimes.

Following law school, Mr. Neiman joined the United States Department of Justice through the Attorney General’s Honors Program. At the Justice Department, Mr. Neiman worked as a Trial Attorney both in the Tax Division and in the Fraud Section of the Criminal Division in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Neiman has experience handling complex, high-profile fraud cases. Most recently, Mr. Neiman helped obtain the deferred prosecution agreement with Switzerland's largest bank, UBS AG, and he is involved with the prosecution of its managers, bankers, and clients. He has also prosecuted executives at large United States corporations, as well as other businessmen. He has represented the government in several federal jury trials, has directed numerous grand jury investigations, and has litigated countless evidentiary hearings.

Mr. Neiman is a member of the Florida Bar. He received his juris doctorate degree, with honors, from the University of Florida.

Don't miss Jeffery's session Q&A with the Department of Justice at the 2009 AMLAC Conference October 19-21st in NY. Hope to see you all there!



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Friday, August 14, 2009

Bribery and Kickback Charges in D.C. District Office

The Washington Post reports that Sarosh Mir, who worked for a technology contracting firm, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Washington to one count of conspiring to commit wire fraud. He faces six months to a year in prison under federal sentencing guidelines.

In court papers, Mir admitted that he inflated invoices for contracts with the D.C. government and submitted bills for "ghost" employees who did no work.

Mir admitted in federal court Thursday that he participated in a bribery and kickback scheme that involved the District government's technology office.


Man Pleads Guilty in Tech Office Fraud



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Thursday, August 13, 2009

Money Laundering Ring Crackdown in China

BusinessWeek reports that the Chinese government recently broke a money laundering ring that sent over $1.46 billion in illegal transfers to Vietnam. One of the major ring leaders, Ruan Zhizhong, opened up 77 accounts and illegally transferred over $1 billion through 10,000 transactions over a period of four years. Many Chinese investors have turned to the underground banks which were run by the alleged gang, in order to evade restrictions put on by the Chinese government.



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Straw Buying and Phantom Bank Balances Lead to $80M Long Island Mortgage Fraud


Former Suffolk Legis. George Guldi, 56, of Westhampton Beach, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in a Riverhead courtroom to 23 counts of a 130-count indictment against him and 16 others. The scheme involved the fraudulent purchase of 60 homes from Cold Spring Harbor to Bridgehampton by straw buyers using fake employer information and phantom bank balances.

According to Newsday, the others included in the scheme include a dominatrix, her male personal assistant, two employees at her Manhattan sexual fantasy club and her 65-year-old mother.

Prosecutors say that some of the straw buyers have pleaded not guilty in the fraud scheme.

DA: Guldi mortgage fraud scheme 'more expansive'



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Tuesday, August 11, 2009

"Operation Rain Check" Nabs Michigan Fraudsters

The Chicago Tribune reports that in Western Michigan, authorities have nabbed more than 200 Muskegon-area residents that are accused of cashing duplicated Social Security disability checks and defrauding the federal government of more than $400,000. The suspects were identified during a 10-month investigation code-named "Operation Rain Check." Investigators say many cashed duplicate Social Security checks after claiming the originals were stolen or lost. Some were collecting checks for other people as "representative payees."



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Monday, August 10, 2009

AMLAC 2009 Speaker Profile: Michael Rufino

Michael Rufino
Senior Vice President, Member Regulation, Sales Practice Review, FINRA

Michael Rufino is Senior Vice President and Deputy of FINRA Member Regulation. Prior to the 2007 merger of NASD and NYSE Member Regulation, he was with the New York Stock Exchange for over 18 years. He spent 10 years working in the Financial/Operational Department in the Division of Member Firm Regulation conducting in-field examinations at the New York Stock Exchange before moving to the Sales Practice Review Unit as an Examination Director. In 2002, Mr. Rufino took over the Sales Practice Review Unit as its Managing Director and has since been promoted to Vice President and Senior Vice President. Mr. Rufino has taken part in many regulatory panels and seminars for the industry on Anti-Money Laundering and played a key role in creating the NYSE’s AML Examination Module and educating the NYSE examination staff on various aspects of the BSA, including the USA PATRIOT Act. Mr. Rufino was the NYSE’s representative on the Bank Secrecy Act Advisory Group (BSAAG) and continues to be an active participant in the BSAAG Securities/Futures and BSAAG SAR subcommittees. He has recently participated in the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) initiative on creating guidance on the risk based approach to the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing as part of the working group undertaking this initiative. Mr. Rufino graduated, magna cum laude, from Iona College with a degree in Finance. In addition, he received his M.B.A. with honors in Management Information Systems from Iona.

Bio courtesy of FINRA.

Don't miss Michael's sessions Managing Compliance Requirements for Clearing and Introducing Firms in an Era of Increased Scrutiny and Reduced Resources and REGULATOR INSIGHTS — Avoid Penalties and Optimize Your Firm’s Defenses by Complying with the Latest AML and Fraud Regulations at the 2009 AMLAC Conference October 19-21st in NY. Hope to see you all there!



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Thursday, August 6, 2009

FTC Prohibits Oil Market Fraud

Today the the Federal Trade Commission approved a rule prohibiting fraud in wholesale petroleum markets, a regulation that will take effect on Nov. 4. According to MarketWatch.com,
the rule prohibits actions such as false public announcements of planned output expectations, false statistical or data reporting and false information about certain types of sale intended to disguise the actual liquidity of a market. The regulation also prohibits misleading omissions from company statements.

FTC OKs rule prohibiting oil market fraud



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Follow us on Twitter!

Financial Integrity now has a twitter page! Make sure to follow us here for your Fraud, Compliance, and Risk Management Source for Maintaining the Integrity of Global Financial Institutions.

Follow us on twitter



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Tuesday, August 4, 2009

GE Pays fine

According to the Dow Jones Newswire, GE is paying a fine of $50 million due to misleading investors on financial statements. They used accounting methods that altered the reported earnings and revenue to avoid showing investors negative results. Read the full report here.



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!


Monday, August 3, 2009

AMLAC 2009 Speaker Profile: John Wagner


John Wagner
Director for Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance

John Wagner is the Director for Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

Mr. Wagner directs the development of Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and anti-money laundering examination policy and procedures. He also provides policy interpretations and guidance to field staff, represents the OCC and the U.S. Department of the Treasury on interagency task forces, and develops training programs.

Mr. Wagner began his OCC career 27 years ago as a financial intern and an Assistant National Bank Examiner in Dallas, Texas. He subsequently served as Problem Bank Analyst, a Large Bank Compliance Examiner in San Francisco, and as a BSA Policy Specialist in Washington, D.C. Mr. Wagner is a commissioned National Bank Examiner and a certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist.

A native of New York state, Mr. Wagner earned his bachelor of science in business administration (finance and international business) in 1981 from Northeastern University, Boston.

Bio courtesy of the OCC Press room


John will be speaking:

REGULATOR INSIGHTS — Avoid Penalties and Optimize
Your Firm’s Defenses by Complying with the Latest AML and Fraud Regulations
Monday, October 19, 2009 from 2:15-3:15
http://iirusa.com/amlac



Share this article with your social network, just click below to share now!