Unlike the Marquis, France’s Biggest Ponzi Schemer Avoids Prison
Gérard Lhéritier, the French businessman convicted of running what prosecutors called the largest Ponzi scheme ever uncovered in France, has avoided prison after negotiating a last-minute plea bargain citing age and health.
Spain’s Ex-PM Zapatero Charged with Money Laundering
Spain’s National Court has charged former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero with money laundering, influence peddling, document falsification, and related criminal offenses stemming from the government’s €53-million pandemic-era bailout of Plus Ultra airlines.
Arrest of Venezuelan ‘Bag Man’ Alex Saab Seen as Key to Maduro Prosecution
Alex Saab, the businessman widely seen as the financial fixer for ousted Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, was charged with money laundering in federal court in Miami on Monday.
Iran’s Nobitex and Trump’s World Financial Share Some Controversial Friends
Iran’s largest cryptocurrency exchange has moved billions of dollars across two blockchains whose founders are among the most prominent backers of a digital currency venture co-founded by U.S. President Donald Trump and his family.
NCA’s New Call to Action: Help Stop Livestreamed Child Sex Abuse
Britain’s National Crime Agency on Monday launched its first joint initiative with the financial industry aimed at detecting and disrupting payments by U.K. offenders who pay facilitators overseas to livestream the sexual abuse of children.
Conmebol Chief Accused of Pocketing Millions Recovered from FIFA Scandal
The president of South America’s soccer federation faces an ethics complaint alleging he took millions of dollars from funds the body recovered after the 2015 global soccer corruption scandal.
OFAC Reaches $275mn Settlement with Adani, DOJ Drops Case against Founder
Indian conglomerate Adani Enterprises Ltd. has agreed to pay $275 million to settle U.S. allegations that it imported Iranian liquefied petroleum gas through a Dubai-based middleman while routing dollar payments through American banks, OFAC disclosed on Monday.
Thiel-Backed Erebor Seeks to Give Venezuela a Channel to U.S. Banking
Erebor Bank, a startup backed by billionaire Peter Thiel, has pitched senior Venezuelan officials on restoring the sanctioned country’s access to the U.S. financial system.
Somali Piracy Is Worsening as Global Shipping Circumvents Conflict Zones
A resurgence of piracy off the coast of Somalia is compounding pressure on global shipping already strained by conflict in the Middle East, with multiple vessels hijacked in recent weeks and industry leaders warning of fresh strain on supply chains.
Crypto Heists Spur Fears Anyone Can Be an ‘Elite Hacker’ with AI
Hackers widely believed to be linked to North Korea appear to have used artificial intelligence to pull off two crypto heists in April that netted nearly $600 million. That more can be on the way is rattling the $130-billion decentralized finance sector.