Suspicious Activity Report Initiates Investigation of Major International Narcotics Organization Utilizing the Black Market Peso Exchange | Narcotics Trafficking, Informal Value Transfer Systems, Involving SARs
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
Suspicious Activity Reports Aid Conviction of Drug Dealers | Narcotics Trafficking, Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions
SARs Aid Investigators in Case Where an Auto Dealer Laundered Drug Proceeds | Narcotics Trafficking, Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Depository Institutions
FinCEN Information Helps Jury Convict Cocaine Trafficker | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs, Involving CTRs, Casinos and Card Clubs, BSA Violations
SARs Help Bust $1 Million Drug Ring Led by Significantly Older Student | Narcotics Trafficking, Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
Bank Secrecy Act Reports Cast Doubts on Alleged Victim’s Story, Lead to Investigation and Indictment for Money Laundering and Operating an Illegal Online Pharmacy | Narcotics Trafficking, Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Other Crimes, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions, Casinos and Card Clubs, Money Services Businesses
BSA Data Instrumental in Drug Cases | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs
Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty to a Charge of Structuring Bank Deposits | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Tax Crimes
Lengthy Sentence for Owning a Marijuana Farm | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs
BSA Information Helps Jury Convict Cocaine Trafficker | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs, Involving CTRs, Casinos and Card Clubs, BSA Violations
Money Remitting Business Laundering Drug Proceeds | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs, Money Services Businesses
Local Municipality Case Example (SARs/CTRs Lead to Asset Forfeiture) | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
SAR Filings Reveal Methamphetemine Production Ring | Narcotics Trafficking, Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
SARs Identify Money Laundering of Proceeds from the Sale of Marijuana | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
Suspicious Activity Report Leads to Forfeiture of Currency | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Structuring and Money Laundering Charges | Narcotics Trafficking, Money Laundering, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
FinCEN Data Proves to be Instrumental in Fraud Case | Narcotics Trafficking, Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Fraud, ID Crimes, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
SAR Helps in Investigation of Doctor Prescribing Thousands of Pain Relief Pills | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Tax Crimes
SARs Help Uncover Scheme to Hide Payments from Drug Traffickers to Buy Vehicles | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs, Schemes and Scams, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
Bank Secrecy Act Records Track Money Laundering Methods of Drug Gang | Narcotics Trafficking, Money Laundering, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions, Casinos and Card Clubs
Check Cashing Worker Convicted of Money Laundering | Narcotics Trafficking, Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Involving CTRs, Money Services Businesses
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
Man Pleads Guilty to Laundering $5.9 Million in Drug Proceeds | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions
Jewelry Store Owner Fails to Report Large Cash Transaction,Structures Proceeds from Drug Trafficking | Narcotics Trafficking, Jewelers, Money Laundering, BSA Violations
SAR Filing Results in Arrests on Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering | Depository Institutions, Involving SARs, Money Laundering, Narcotics Trafficking