FinCEN Assesses Civil Money Penalty for Suspicious Activity Report Disclosure

VIENNA, Va. - The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) today announced the assessment of a $25,000 civil money penalty against Frank Mendoza of Garden Grove, California, for violating Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) prohibitions against disclosing suspicious activity reports ("SARs"). FinCEN determined that Mendoza violated the BSA and its implementing regulations by willfully disclosing the existence of a SAR to a person involved in the reported transaction. Mendoza was convicted in a criminal case of bribery and unlawful SAR disclosure in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

"FinCEN should and will exercise its authority to assess a civil money penalty against any person clearly involved in the unauthorized disclosure of a SAR," said FinCEN Director James H. Freis, Jr. "Imposition of civil money penalties against persons willfully disclosing the existence of a SAR defends the environment of trust between the government and financial institutions, ensures that financial institution personnel can report activity without fear of reprisal by subjects identified in reports, and protects the integrity of the information reported on SARs as well as any future or ongoing investigations.