As Chen Zhi’s Pig-Butchering Empire Grew, So Did His Financial Footprint
Once celebrated as a philanthropist and real estate magnate, Cambodian tycoon Chen Zhi built a web of political influence and banking relationships that helped shield what authorities now describe as a vast transnational scam and gambling syndicate.
FATF Flags Dirty-Money Risks of Offshore VASPs
Gaps in the international oversight of offshore virtual-asset firms have made it possible for criminals to commit large-scale fraud, money laundering, and terrorism financing beyond the reach of most supervisory bodies, according to FATF.
Hospice Fraud is Growing in LA County Despite Crackdown
Signs of hospice fraud in Los Angeles County are worsening despite a state crackdown, with more than 700 of roughly 1,800 licensed hospices in the county showing multiple warning indicators identified by California auditors.
Russia’s Latest Shadow-Fleet Cargo: GRU Veterans and Wagner Mercenaries
Russian military veterans, including former Wagner mercenaries and men linked to the GRU, have been deployed aboard tankers in Moscow’s “shadow fleet” moving sanctioned oil through the Baltic Sea.
Court Dismisses Lawsuit to Hold Binance, Zhao Liable for Terror Attacks
A U.S. federal judge has dismissed a civil lawsuit that sought to hold Binance and its founder, Changpeng Zhao, liable for transactions allegedly linked to terrorist groups behind 64 attacks worldwide.
FinCEN Hits Canaccord Genuity with $80-Million Penalty
FinCEN said on Friday it had assessed an $80-million civil penalty against Canaccord Genuity LLC over AML failures tied to suspicious trading in OTC securities.
Newly Launched Database Traces Web of Conflicts at White House
An investigative news outlet on Thursday launched a searchable online database containing nearly 3,200 financial disclosure records for more than 1,500 Trump-appointed federal officials, detailing extensive financial ties between senior members of the administration and the industries they regulate.
Pill-Popping and Pimping: Why Epstein & Friends Were the Subject of 40 SARs
The DEA opened a secret investigation into Jeffrey Epstein in 2015 on suspicions of money laundering, drug trafficking, and running a prostitution ring that procured Eastern European women for high-profile clients.
UAE Weighs Iran Asset Freezes in Response to Drone and Missile Attacks
The United Arab Emirates is considering freezing billions of dollars in Iranian assets held in the Gulf state, a move that could sharply restrict Tehran’s access to foreign currency and global trade networks.
The Caribbean Supply Chain that Laundered Conflict-Tainted Venezuelan Gold
More than 70 metric tons of Venezuelan gold worth over $2.2 billion were routed through Curaçao and refined in Switzerland between 2012 and 2018, despite evidence the metal originated in conflict-affected mining areas in Venezuela.