SAR Identifies Suspects Involved in a Nigerian Advance Fee Scam | Involving SARs, Schemes and Scams, Depository Institutions
Financial data, collected from financial institutions by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), has proven to be of considerable value in money laundering, terrorist financing and other financial crimes investigations by law enforcement. When combined with other data collected by law enforcement and the intelligence communities, FinCEN data assists investigators in connecting the dots in their investigations by allowing for a more complete identification of the respective subjects with information such as personal information; previously unknown addresses; businesses and personal associations; banking patterns; travel patterns; and communication methods.
FinCEN’s Law Enforcement Awards
Every year, FinCEN holds its Law Enforcement Awards ceremony, which recognizes successfully prosecuted cases. The goals of the program are to recognize those law enforcement agencies that made effective use of financial institution reporting to obtain a successful prosecution and to demonstrate to the financial industry the value of its reporting to law enforcement. The program also emphasizes that prompt and accurate reporting by the financial industry is vital to the successful partnership with law enforcement to fight financial crime. FinCEN receives case submissions from law enforcement for the program, and in all cases, the use of BSA reporting by the financial industry provided highly noteworthy added value to significant investigations. Case summaries for many of the submissions are described in the press releases below:
- FinCEN Announces Recipients of Its Law Enforcement Awards During Tenth Annual Ceremony (2024)
- FinCEN Holds Annual Ceremony to Recognize Law Enforcement Cases Supported by BSA Data (2023)
- Annual FinCEN Program Recognizes Law Enforcement Cases Supported by BSA Data (2022)
- FinCEN Recognizes the Significant Impact of Bank Secrecy Act Data on Law Enforcement Efforts (2021)
- FinCEN Recognizes Law Enforcement Cases Significantly Impacted by Bank Secrecy Act Filings (2020)
- FinCEN Holds Fifth Annual Awards Program to Recognize Importance of Bank Secrecy Act Reporting by Financial Institutions (2019)
- FinCEN Director’s Law Enforcement Awards Program Recognizes Significance of BSA Reporting by Financial Institutions (2018)
- FinCEN Awards Recognize Law Enforcement Success Stories Supported by Bank Secrecy Act Reporting (2017)
- FinCEN Awards Recognize Partnership Between Law Enforcement and Financial Institutions to Fight Financial Crime (2016)
- FinCEN Recognizes High-Impact Law Enforcement Cases Furthered through Financial Institution Reporting (2015)
Search Case Examples Prior to 2015 Using the Drop-Down Menu Below
Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Structuring and Money Laundering Charges | Narcotics Trafficking, Money Laundering, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
Proactive Suspicious Activity Report Search Leads to Guilty Plea in Tax Fraud Investigation | Involving SARs, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Tax Crimes
SAR Review Team Discovers Doctor Structuring Deposits | Involving SARs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
SAR Leads to Former Deputy Sheriff Sentenced for Extortion and Title 31 Violations | Involving SARs, Other Crimes, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
Structuring and Tax Charges | Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Tax Crimes
Proactive SAR Review Uncovers $15 Million Securities Conversion Scheme | Broker Dealers, Involving SARs, Fraud, Depository Institutions
Bank Secrecy Act Records Assist in Mortgage Fraud Investigation Resulting in Guilty Plea | Involving SARs, Fraud, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Money Services Businesses
SAR Reveals Major Sports Betting Ring | Involving SARs, Other Crimes, Depository Institutions
Suspicious Activity Report Leads to Arrest and Conviction of U.S. Government Employee for Embezzlement | Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions, Casinos and Card Clubs, BSA Violations, Corruption
BSA Documents Lead to Repatriation & Seizure of over $9 Million Generated by Illegal Internet Pharmacy | Depository Institutions, Involving SARs, Money Services Businesses, Other Crimes
One Hundred SARs Help Outline Size and Scope of Fraudulent Mortgage Elimination Scheme | Involving SARs, Fraud, Depository Institutions
Bank Manager Steals Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars: Scam Even Targets Sister | Depository Institutions
SARs Identify Internal Fraud at Local Bank | Involving SARs, Fraud, Depository Institutions
Credit Union’s Suspicious Activity Reports Lead to Arrest of Corrupt Utilities Employees | Involving SARs, Schemes and Scams, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Corruption
Suspicious Activity Reports Describe Marijuana Traffickers’ Attempt to Wash, Dry, and Iron “Dirty” Currency | Narcotics Trafficking, Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Other Crimes, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
Former Bank Executive Pleads Guilty to Stealing from the Bank | Involving SARs, Schemes and Scams, Depository Institutions
SARs Result in Sentencing of Family Members in Bankruptcy Fraud Case | Broker Dealers, Involving SARs, Fraud, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
SARs Aid Investigators in Case Where an Auto Dealer Laundered Drug Proceeds | Narcotics Trafficking, Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Depository Institutions
SAR Jump-Starts Investigation into Natural Resources Ponzi Scheme | Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Fraud, Schemes and Scams, Depository Institutions, Check Crimes
Illegal Casa De Cambio Launders More Than $5 Million | Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions, Money Services Businesses
Suspicious Activity Report Initiates Investigations into Fraud, High-Yield Investment Schemes; Egmont Exchanges Lead to Foreign Accounts and Asset Seizures | Involving SARs, Fraud, Involving CTRs, Schemes and Scams, Depository Institutions, Casinos and Card Clubs, Tax Crimes
Proactive Review of SARs Leads to Long Prison Sentences for Drug Traffickers | Narcotics Trafficking, Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Money Services Businesses
Case for Mortgage Fraud Involving Straw Buyers Supported by SARs | Involving SARs, Fraud, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Money Services Businesses, Check Crimes
Man Pleads Guilty to Laundering $5.9 Million in Drug Proceeds | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions