Information generated from cooperating individuals during Operations Cornerstone, a major narcotics trafficking investigation in the Miami area, revealed narco-traffickers placed their drug proceeds into investments in the insurance industry. Policies were identified in various Channel Island…
Members of the media may email inquiries or interview requests to press@fincen.gov.
If you are not a member of the media, please visit the FinCEN contact page.
In 2003, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents initiated an investigation of several non-profit organizations in the United States. These were all registered as tax-exempt organizations. The investigation revealed the organizations were operating as illegal wire remitting…
In a case that highlights how thoughtful analysis of FinCEN records can aid in an investigation, Federal law enforcement agents asked for FinCEN’s assistance analyzing records associated with a lawyer, and to help trace stolen funds derived from insurance settlements. As a result, a personal…
Federal law enforcement agencies conducting a tax refund fraud investigation uncovered at least $13.1 million in fraudulently obtained federal and state tax refunds. The lead investigator in the case said the investigation began when a bank reported anomalous automated clearing house (ACH)…
In early 2012, FinCEN conducted outreach to all of its state and local law enforcement partners, and asked for cases where FinCEN data played a useful role in their investigations. Below, in their own words, is an example of how FinCEN's stakeholders use FinCEN data. It has been edited only for…
A suspect who owned a business that imported edible delicacies was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison for undervaluing the imported Asian delicacy in documentation provided to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The suspect pleaded guilty to structuring financial transactions to…
A SAR filing by a credit union in Rapid City, South Dakota was instrumental in uncovering a massive scheme by individuals to embezzle approximately $2.7 million from a South Dakota College. The investigation was conducted by IRS-CID, FBI, the Department of the Interior, and the Department of…
Four individuals involved in the distribution and sale of marijuana were sentenced to prison terms ranging 12 to 21 months followed by up to 36 months probation. These sentences resulted from guilty pleas by the targets on one count each of money laundering for the manner in which they handled…
SARs filed by a bank resulted in the initiation of an investigation by the IRS. Three (3) family members pled guilty to conspiring to obstruct the IRS from ascertaining their true income tax liabilities for tax years 1978 through 1995 by filing false tax returns and structuring currency…
A multi-agency task force investigating the illicit importation of human growth hormone (HGH) used SARs and other investigative tools to trace international payments made by illegal distributors throughout the United States.
Operating under various enterprise names, the defendant obtained…