Proactive SAR Review Leads to Guilty Plea on Conspiracy and Money Laundering Charges | Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Fraud, Tax Crimes
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
SAR Review Team Identifies Gift Shop Operating as an Unregistered Money Services Business | Involving SARs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Money Services Businesses
Restaurant Owner Pleads Guilty to a Charge of Structuring Bank Deposits | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Tax Crimes
BSA Documents Lead to Repatriation & Seizure of over $9 Million Generated by Illegal Internet Pharmacy | Depository Institutions, Involving SARs, Money Services Businesses, Other Crimes
SARs Lead to Recovery of Funds Derived from Medical Fraud | Involving SARs, Fraud, Depository Institutions
BSA Records “Critical” in Conviction of Money Launderer in Organized Retail Theft Case | Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Other Crimes, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, 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
SARs Are Catalyst in Investigation of $13.1 Million Tax Fraud Conspiracy | Involving SARs, Fraud, ID Crimes, Depository Institutions, Tax Crimes
Guilty Pleas in International Hedge Fund Fraud Case Initiated from SARs | Broker Dealers, Involving SARs, Fraud, Schemes and Scams, Depository Institutions
Securities Dealer Provides Details of High Yield Investment Program Scheme | Broker Dealers, Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Fraud
SAR Jump-Starts Investigation into Natural Resources Ponzi Scheme | Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Fraud, Schemes and Scams, Depository Institutions, Check Crimes
Bank SARs Lead to Discovery of Predatory Certificate of Deposit Fraud Scheme | Involving SARs, Fraud, Schemes and Scams, Depository Institutions, Check Crimes
Bogus Life Insurance Investment Vehicles Identified through SAR Filing | Involving SARs, Fraud, Schemes and Scams, Depository Institutions, Insurance Companies
Case for Mortgage Fraud Involving Straw Buyers Supported by SARs | Involving SARs, Fraud, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Money Services Businesses, Check Crimes
Proactive Suspicious Activity Report Review Leads to Guilty Pleas in “Cash Back” Mortgage Fraud Scheme | Involving SARs, Fraud, Involving CTRs, Schemes and Scams, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
SARs Lead to Serial Mortgage Fraud Offender | Involving SARs, Fraud, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Tax Crimes
SAR Leads to Guilty Plea in Case against Doctor | Involving SARs, Fraud, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Tax Crimes, Insurance Companies
SARs Lead to Discovery of $1.8 Million Hidden in House | Involving SARs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Tax Crimes
Mortgage Broker Pleads Guilty to Structuring Charges | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs, Fraud, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations, Money Services Businesses, Check Crimes
State Jury Convicts Defendant of Structuring to Avoid BSAReporting Requirements | Money Laundering, Involving SARs, Fraud, Involving CTRs, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
BSA Information Helps Jury Convict Cocaine Trafficker | Narcotics Trafficking, Involving SARs, Involving CTRs, Casinos and Card Clubs, BSA Violations
Escort Service Operates at and Launders Money through Casino | Money Laundering, Other Crimes, Casinos and Card Clubs
Paralegal Found Guilty at Trial on Structuring Charges | Fraud, Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
Structuring Charges Help Elderly Victim Recover Stolen Funds | Depository Institutions, BSA Violations
Judge Rules Defendant Guilty of Structuring; No Connection to Criminal Activity Alleged | Depository Institutions, BSA Violations