Jun ’12 – Aug ’12 Issue

Issue 11.3

Issue: Vol. 11 No. 3

Featured
Powerful partnerships: The Money Laundering Unit

Powerful partnerships: The Money Laundering Unit

Throughout history law enforcement has struggled with bringing down organized crime. Alphonse “Al” Gabriel Capone and his notorious gang crippled an entire city with fear and terror in the 1920s during prohibition…

The thin green line: The benefits of a SAR review team

The thin green line: The benefits of a SAR review team

Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) are government-mandated reports completed by a financial institution or money services business with reference to suspicious or potentially suspicious transaction activity. The purpose…


From the Executive Vice President
Public-private sector partnerships–Second Law Enforcement Edition

Public-private sector partnerships–Second Law Enforcement Edition

It is hard to believe that it has been over a year since our inaugural Law Enforcement Edition of ACAMS Today. Thanks to our authors, and of course our tremendous…

From the Editor
Partnerships

Partnerships

Partnerships are important. The power of two can accomplish much more than is generally possible with only one. A peanut butter and jelly sandwich just is not the same with only peanut butter or only jelly. Juliet would just be another young…


Inside this Edition
Why we do it–why do you?

Why we do it–why do you?

On April 19, 1995, an Oklahoma State Trooper on routine patrol observed an old yellow Mercury being operated with no license plates. He stopped the vehicle and later arrested the driver…


When will the lessons be learned? Avoiding the knock on the door

When will the lessons be learned? Avoiding the knock on the door

During a 30-year police career in London, a couple of things were apparent. Stupid, low-level criminals never learn and keep getting caught. On the other hand, sophisticated, organized criminals…


What if Lieutenant Columbo investigated fraud instead of homicide?

What if Lieutenant Columbo investigated fraud instead of homicide?

Lieutenant Columbo was a television detective, played by actor Peter Falk. Week after week, he was confronted with complex murder cases committed by cunning felons. In each episode…


No bad SARs

No bad SARs

There are no bad Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). There certainly are bad interpretations and the SARs are sometimes badly used, but in the end there are no bad SARs. This assertion…


Fraud and money laundering: Can you think like a bad guy?

Fraud and money laundering: Can you think like a bad guy?

When it comes to fraud and money laundering, can you think like a bad guy? The truth is, we all can. However, many of us do not realize this fact. More important, most of us possess a high level…


Counterfeit on delivery

Counterfeit on delivery

We are all familiar with the term cash on delivery, more commonly referred to as COD. Cash on delivery is a rudimentary concept to understand. Merchandise is ordered by phone, Internet, email…

After my law-enforcement career

After my law-enforcement career

Tip #1 Because money laundering often involves transactions through one or more financial institutions, financial institutions are a prime target for anti-money laws and regulations. But it…

The Lindbergh Case: How Bankers Helped Solve It

The Lindbergh Case: How Bankers Helped Solve It

If you have either prepared or read a current Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) in the United States, the chances are high that it will involve the structuring of currency transactions. Some bank…

Law enforcement thought leadership at the 2012 Alert Global Media Conference

Law enforcement thought leadership at the 2012 Alert Global Media Conference

The continuing partnership and professional collaborations that exist between law enforcement and the financial services sectors was a cornerstone of the presentations at the…

Peter Warrack, CAMS: Think Strategically

Peter Warrack, CAMS: Think Strategically

ACAMS Today caught up with Peter Warrack, head of investigations with the AML Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) for an enlightening interview…


Leigh H. Winchell: Proactive and reactive

Leigh H. Winchell: Proactive and reactive

ACAMS Today had an opportunity to sit down and speak with Leigh H. Winchell, Assistant Director, Investigative Programs, Homeland Security Investigations. Mr. Winchell began his…

Satisfaction despite difficulties

Satisfaction despite difficulties

In Serbia there are more and more final verdicts against money launderers. A new system has been established making Serbia the first country in Europe to start the process of a national risk…

Southern California Chapter's April Learning Event

Southern California Chapter’s April Learning Event

“They (TD Bank) were assisting me in putting fake balance statements into the hands of my investors,” said Scott Rothstein, according to a transcript of a deposition taken in December…


ACAMS Northern California Chapter speakers discuss the importance of optimizing transaction monitoring systems

ACAMS Northern California Chapter speakers discuss the importance of optimizing transaction monitoring systems

Arjun Kalra of Crowe Horwath, Lisa Lechner of AVG Technologies, and Erik Mineishi of Union Bank shared their best practices and advice regarding optimizing transaction monitoring systems…

David Kehr

David Kehr

David Kehr is a senior account executive at the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS). He has worked for ACAMS since 2005, developing relationships…

Irene Meijer-van Haaster, CAMS: Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Irene Meijer-van Haaster, CAMS: Amsterdam, the Netherlands

After working in several sales functions in the banking industry Irene Meijer started her career in Compliance Risk Management in 2003. Meijer held several compliance positions at different…


Lauren Sparks, CAMS: Houston, TX, USA

Lauren Sparks, CAMS: Houston, TX, USA

Lauren Sparks, CAMS and President of Third Party Resources, Inc. (3PR), is a Co-Director of the new ACAMS Houston Chapter. A Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) with over…


Henri Faizi Auni: Democratic Republic of Congo

Henri Faizi Auni: Democratic Republic of Congo

Henri Faizi Auni is vice president of CENAREF, Financial Intelligence Unit, in Democratic Republic of Congo. Faizi has been engaged in AML since 2003 as Chair of GREB, Working Group…

The thin green line: The benefits of a SAR review team

The thin green line: The benefits of a SAR review team

Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) are government-mandated reports completed by a financial institution or money services business with reference to suspicious or potentially…


Supporting money laundering prosecutions and asset forfeiture with tax information

Supporting money laundering prosecutions and asset forfeiture with tax information

In many criminal investigations, evidence of criminally derived proceeds becomes apparent to investigators, but subsequent comingling with legitimately obtained wealth makes future…


Powerful partnerships: The Money Laundering Unit

Powerful partnerships: The Money Laundering Unit

Throughout history law enforcement has struggled with bringing down organized crime. Alphonse “Al” Gabriel Capone and his notorious gang crippled an entire city with fear and terror in…

Lessons learned from Coutts' £8.75 million fine for AML control failings

Lessons learned from Coutts’ £8.75 million fine for AML control failings

In March 2012, the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA) fined Coutts & Company (Coutts) £8.75 million for failing to establish and maintain effective AML systems and controls relating…