Not another AML headline feed. Every story comes with:
One tap turns any story into a ready-to-post LinkedIn update, so you can share what matters with your network.
FATF takes Bulgaria, DR Congo, Côte d'Ivoire and Monaco off its grey list
The Financial Action Task Force removed four countries from its list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring on 30 October 2026, FinCEN said. Iran, North Korea and Burma (Myanmar) remain on its call-for-action list.
The Star accepts $260 million penalty in AUSTRAC civil penalty case
The Star Entertainment Group told the ASX that the Federal Court handed down judgment in AUSTRAC's civil penalty proceedings against two of its subsidiaries, and that it accepts a penalty of $260,000,000 for historical breaches of Australia's AML/CTF Act.
Bank Negara Malaysia penalises AmBank, AmBank Islamic and Smile Honesty Forex for AML/CFT breaches
Bank Negara Malaysia announced on 28 October 2026 penalties of RM276,000 each on AmBank (M) Berhad and AmBank Islamic Berhad for late cash threshold reports, and a separate RM8,400 penalty on Smile Honesty Forex Sdn. Bhd. for failing to carry out customer due diligence.
Connecticut antiques dealer who stole $2.1m as elderly man's agent and executor gets 66 months
David L. Johnson of Greenwich, who had pleaded guilty to money laundering, was sentenced on 30 October 2026 to 66 months in prison for stealing from an elderly victim and his estate while acting as his agent, executor and trustee.
FinCEN flags $8bn in suspicious foreign-agent MSB payments and issues charity abuse notice
On 30 October 2026 FinCEN issued an alert on cross-border payments that US money services businesses send at the direction of foreign agents, and a notice on the abuse of charities and non-profit organizations.
DOJ: 13 Minnesota benefits fraud defendants in a month; Feeding Our Future figure gets 360 months
The Justice Department said on 30 October 2026 that it charged, convicted or sentenced 13 defendants in Minnesota benefits fraud schemes over the past month, including a 360-month sentence for Salim Ahmed Said in the Feeding Our Future case.
Jamaican national extradited from Panama over alleged lottery scam and laundering conspiracy
US prosecutors in Pennsylvania say Ashanie M. Campbell, 29, was extradited from Panama to face a 29-count indictment over a lottery scam in which callers posed as Publishers Clearing House representatives.
Israeli national extradited to the US over alleged $2.89 million Nomad Bridge exploit
The US Justice Department says Alexander Gurevich, 49, has been extradited from Israel to face charges that he exploited a smart contract on the Nomad Bridge in 2022 and laundered the virtual currency he took.
Two men who helped run a Ghana-based romance scam ring plead guilty in New York
Isaac Oduro Boateng and Inusah Ahmed pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. US prosecutors say the Ghana-based group stole more than $100 million through romance scams and business email compromises and laundered the proceeds to West Africa.
Chinese national gets 12 years for cocaine trafficking, laundering and material support to CJNG
Wenshen Xu, 52, a Honduras-based Chinese national extradited from Guatemala, was sentenced to 12 years in prison and a $22 million money judgment. The Justice Department says his network laundered over $22 million in drug proceeds using cryptocurrency transfers and trade-based money laundering.
FBI says North Korea was behind the theft Binance puts at about $6.3 billion
Crypto exchange Binance said attackers made unauthorized withdrawals from its wallets on 29 October 2026. On 31 October the FBI said North Korea was responsible and named a North Korea-linked hacking group, TraderTraitor, according to the Associated Press and AFP.
Binance says about $6.3 billion stolen from its hot wallets; TRM links the attack to North Korea
The exchange paused withdrawals, says user funds are safe and that it will cover losses, while stablecoin issuers froze billions and blockchain analysts traced the funds across 10 networks.
Indian national gets 8 years for laundering proceeds of elder tech support scams
US District Judge John C. Hinderaker sentenced Ahmed Maqbul Syed to 96 months in prison for conspiring to launder money from tech support and government imposter scams that targeted elderly victims, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona.
Former SiliconSage Builders CEO gets 18 months for investor fraud and money laundering
Sanjeev Acharya, former CEO of Bay Area developer SiliconSage Builders, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and a monetary transaction with fraud proceeds, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California.
OFAC sanctions 10 people and a Russia-based entity over North Korean IT worker revenue
The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated two Russian nationals, a North Korean-controlled entity in Russia and eight people it links to North Korean IT worker schemes that Treasury says generate revenue for the North Korean government.
US Scam Center Strike Force charges six Africa-based scammers over crypto NFT scheme
Federal prosecutors in Washington, DC have charged six Africa-based scammers with connections to Southeast Asia and China over a fake NFT investment scheme that, they say, was run from scam compounds in Madagascar and drained victims' cryptocurrency wallets.
Austin accountant gets 41 months for PPP loan fraud and laundering cocaine cash
Arun Mago, an Austin accountant, was sentenced to 41 months in prison for money laundering and bank fraud linked to pandemic relief loans and cash from cocaine sales, federal prosecutors in Texas said.
US sanctions Rwanda's Ministry of Defense and Zigama Credit and Savings Society over M23
The United States sanctioned Rwanda's Ministry of Defense and Zigama Credit and Savings Society, a financial institution serving Rwanda's security services, over support linked to the M23 armed group in eastern Congo.
AFP charges Sydney man over network suspected of laundering $123 million
The Australian Federal Police charged a 40-year-old Sydney man who allegedly controlled shell company bank accounts used by a network suspected of laundering over $123 million for organised crime syndicates.
Zetland Fiduciary Group chairman appears in US court on money laundering indictment
James Sutherland, chairman of the Zetland Fiduciary Group, made his initial appearance on a US indictment charging four counts of money laundering involving funds represented to be hacking proceeds, prosecutors in California said.
Extreme Networks settles with OFAC and DOJ over sales to Russian missile maker
OFAC announced a $1,529,685 settlement with Extreme Networks, Inc., and the Justice Department announced a non-prosecution agreement with a $975,721.84 criminal penalty, over networking equipment that reached a blocked Russian defense manufacturer.
Florida woman pleads guilty to laundering in $9.1 million nail tech licence scheme
Hang Kim Thi Ngo pleaded guilty to identity theft and money laundering over a multi-state scheme that sold falsified documents so unqualified applicants could obtain nail technician licences, federal prosecutors in West Virginia said.
Last defendants plead guilty in $65 million elder fraud and laundering ring, San Diego
Federal prosecutors in San Diego say the last of 25 defendants have admitted their crimes in a $65 million scheme that used scam call centers and mailed cash to defraud thousands of elderly victims.
OFAC updates 11 FAQs on blocking, rejecting and reporting transactions
The US Treasury's sanctions office amended 11 frequently asked questions covering when to block or reject a transaction and how to report to OFAC, as part of its ongoing review of published guidance.
Jersey regulator confirms changes to reliance and MLCO rules from 31 October
The Jersey Financial Services Commission published feedback on its consultation on the reliance and Money Laundering Compliance Officer regimes, with changes taking effect on 31 October 2026.
Austin man gets 41 months for $1 million investor fraud and money laundering
A federal jury convicted John Stuart Robison, 63, of wire fraud and money laundering over $1 million an investor wired to a business account he alone controlled. A judge sentenced him to 41 months in prison and ordered $1 million in restitution.
Poland detains nine over alleged laundering of investment-fraud money in PLN 337m+ of transactions
Polish cybercrime police, the Border Guard and the Internal Security Agency say they detained nine members of an alleged organised group suspected of laundering proceeds of investment and cryptocurrency fraud.
South Korea blocks 27 websites of unregistered virtual asset operators
Korea's Financial Services Commission says 27 websites of illegal, unregistered virtual asset operators will be blocked or cut off after a request from its Financial Intelligence Unit.
Irish police seize BMWs, Rolex watches in money laundering probe into Dublin charity
Ireland's Garda National Economic Crime Bureau searched locations in three regions on 20 and 21 October 2026 and seized two BMW X5 cars and luxury goods in an investigation into a Dublin-based charitable organisation, run with the office of the Charities Regulator.
Rochester man gets 51 months for fraud schemes and money laundering conspiracy
Timothy Wadsworth was sentenced after being convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors say his schemes covered unauthorized card charges, pandemic loans, unemployment benefits and romance fraud, with losses of about $2,059,893.
Chinese national extradited to US over alleged laundering of crypto scam money
Zheng Zhao was arraigned in the Central District of California on a charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The DOJ says more than $36.9 million in victim funds was moved to an account in the Bahamas and on to a digital asset wallet in Cambodia.
FCA consults on Financial Crime Guide updates covering fraud, sanctions and cryptoassets
The UK Financial Conduct Authority has published consultation paper CP26/38 proposing changes to its Financial Crime Guide. Responses are due by 24 December 2026.
FCA restricts six unregulated lenders over anti-money laundering concerns
The FCA has placed restrictions on six Annex 1 lenders after raising concerns about their anti-money laundering controls while assessing their applications.
INTERPOL's Operation Serengeti III: 1,462 arrests and over USD 105 million recovered in Africa
INTERPOL says law enforcement from 21 countries arrested 1,462 suspects and recovered more than USD 105 million in illicit funds in a cybercrime operation across Africa.
FINTRAC reports record intelligence output and $247M+ in penalties for 2025–26
Canada's financial intelligence unit, FINTRAC, says it produced 7,214 disclosure packages in 2025–26 and issued 35 notices of violation with more than $247 million in total penalties.
Brooklyn DA and FBI disrupt 241 scam domains in crypto investment fraud aimed at Russian speakers
The Brooklyn District Attorney's Virtual Currency Unit says it seized or disrupted 241 scam web domains and 112 servers used in a crypto investment scam, with the FBI's help.
FCA consults on financial crime and Money Laundering Regulations guidance for DeFi firms
The UK Financial Conduct Authority has published draft guidance (GC26/7) for regulated firms that provide financial services using decentralised finance (DeFi). It covers financial crime controls, the Money Laundering Regulations and operational resilience, and comments are due by 18 November 2026.
New Jersey real estate influencer pleads guilty to fraud, drug money laundering and bribery
Cesar Humberto Pina, known online as "Flipping NJ", admitted an investment fraud, a conspiracy to launder drug sale proceeds and bribing a Paterson official, prosecutors in New Jersey said.
FinCEN issues its first § 5318(k) subpoena in probe of Greek bank's potential Iran ties
FinCEN says it issued its first administrative subpoena under 31 U.S.C. § 5318(k) of the Bank Secrecy Act to advance an investigation into a Greek bank's potential ties to Iran and its proxies.
Virginia state senator among seven indicted in alleged marijuana and money laundering enterprise
The US Justice Department says an eight-count indictment charges seven defendants in a racketeering conspiracy that includes marijuana distribution, money laundering and bribery-related fraud. The indictment is an allegation.
Eight charged in New York over alleged scheme using recruited bank accounts to cash fake checks
Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York unsealed an indictment charging eight people with bank fraud. They allege the group recruited people online to hand over access to their bank accounts, deposited fake checks and US treasury notes, and withdrew the money before banks spotted the fakes.
AMLA and OLAF sign working arrangement to share financial crime information
The EU's Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) signed a Working Arrangement on 21 October 2026. It sets up information exchange and lets OLAF contribute to AMLA-coordinated joint analyses of money laundering linked to fraud involving EU funds.
FATF plenary on 28-30 October to discuss US and Mexico mutual evaluations
The Financial Action Task Force says its first plenary under the UK Presidency of Giles Thomson will meet in Paris from 28 to 30 October 2026, with mutual evaluation reports for Mexico and the US and a review of jurisdictions under increased monitoring on the agenda.
Three charged in Florida over alleged $2 million Treasury check theft using fake IDs
IRS Criminal Investigation says a federal indictment charges two Brooklyn residents and a Tampa resident with intercepting mailed US Treasury checks and using counterfeit driver's licences to open bank accounts and deposit them.
Atlanta man gets 10 years 10 months for $3 million pandemic loan fraud and money laundering
Ian Patrick Jackson, a two-time convicted felon, was sentenced in federal court in Atlanta after pleading guilty to bank fraud, wire fraud and money laundering tied to at least 15 fraudulent pandemic loans, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Georgia.
Courier for Chinese money laundering group gets nine years for depositing $23 million in drug cash
Shu Jun Zhen, 31, of New York, was sentenced to nine years in prison and ordered to forfeit nearly $23 million. The Justice Department says she deposited drug cash into shell company bank accounts using real and fake identities.
Pennsylvania man pleads guilty to cocaine trafficking and laundering drug cash through bank accounts
Olubayo Mudada Mensah Ranger, 45, of Hollidaysburg, pleaded guilty to eight counts. Prosecutors say he deposited drug cash into bank accounts and used the accounts for auto loan payments.
Maryland man convicted of $18.7 million Medicare fraud and money laundering
A federal jury found Patrick Britton-Harr guilty of five counts of health care fraud and one count of transactional money laundering over billing for respiratory tests.
Treasury sanctions law firm, shipping agents and nine vessels over Iran shadow fleet
OFAC designated law firm Karnakis and Karnakis, five people tied to it, a ship manager and two shipping agents, and identified nine vessels as blocked property under Executive Order 13902.
Colombia-based crypto broker gets 160 months for laundering drug proceeds in Tether
Leonardo de Jesus Zuluaga Duque was sentenced in Manhattan federal court for his role in a network that, prosecutors say, moved drug money as Tether through the US to Colombia.
DOJ and USDA announce actions against more than 40 defendants over SNAP and farm program fraud
A nationwide enforcement effort from 1 September to 21 October 2026 covered schemes with nearly $45 million in intended losses, including one case with a money laundering conspiracy charge.
OCC issues final GENIUS Act stablecoin rule; AML and sanctions rules to follow separately
The US bank regulator finalised its rule for payment stablecoin issuers under the GENIUS Act, effective 18 January 2027. The rule leaves out Bank Secrecy Act, anti-money laundering and OFAC sanctions requirements, which will come in a separate rulemaking.
L & L Europe to pay £900,000 to Gambling Commission over AML and other failings
The Gambling Commission found failings in the operator's anti-money laundering and social responsibility controls between October 2024 and October 2025, and agreed a £900,000 regulatory settlement.
Investment promoter and attorney charged with laundering Ponzi money through lawyer trust accounts
Federal prosecutors in Georgia allege an attorney passed investor money through his client trust accounts to keep two Ponzi schemes going. Both men are presumed innocent.
Texas man agrees to plead guilty in $1.5 million deed fraud and money laundering case
Prosecutors in Massachusetts say Moshe Levi and others posed as owners of vacant properties, sold them to buyers and moved the proceeds through bank accounts they controlled.
US citizen who operated from the Philippines pleads guilty in fraud on servicemembers and veterans
Robert Wayne Boling Jr. pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies in a scheme that used stolen personal information of US servicemembers and veterans.
Connecticut man pleads guilty to crypto investment fraud and international money laundering
Elmin Redzepagic posed as a successful crypto investor but sent victims' money to an offshore gambling platform, where he lost it, according to federal prosecutors.
Treasury flags $270 million in suspicious activity linked to federal student aid fraud
FinCEN identified about $270 million in suspicious financial activity potentially tied to fraud against federal student aid programs and referred its findings to federal investigators.
OFAC adds five China-based entities to sanctions list under intellectual property law
Five entities in Beijing and Shanghai were added to OFAC's Non-SDN Menu-Based Sanctions List under the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act, with blocking and banking measures.
Springfield man gets 48 months for wire fraud and laundering tied to clients' retirement money
Bob Hunter promoted executive retirement plans but used clients' money for personal expenses, according to federal prosecutors in Missouri.
Singapore Police to charge four men over alleged laundering of at least S$300,000 in scam proceeds
After a 16-hour operation, the Singapore Police Force says it will charge four men who allegedly collected cash, gold and jewellery from scam victims and scam mules. Police allege they laundered at least S$300,000 in scam proceeds.
EU lists 3 individuals and 9 entities for helping Russia get around EU sanctions
On 15 October 2026 the Council of the EU added three individuals and nine entities to its Russia sanctions list. The Council says they helped bring sanctioned goods into Russia or get around EU oil and finance sanctions.
White House order sets Graham Act tariffs, then waives them and a long list of the Act's sanctions
An order dated 16 October 2026 implements the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026. It sets tariff increases on Russia and on countries tied to Russian oil, but waives those duties and a long list of the Act's sanctions provisions.
Switzerland's third national money laundering risk report finds risk exposure stable
The Swiss Federal Council was briefed on 14 October 2026 on the third national risk report on money laundering and terrorist financing. The report names organized crime, corruption, and asset and tax crime as the greatest threats.
Two Georgia inmates sentenced for prison-run jury-duty scam and laundering conspiracy
The US Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Georgia says Lance Riddle and Joey Amour Jackson, inmates at Calhoun State Prison, were sentenced to 200 and 120 months after a jury convicted them of wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies. Prosecutors say the scheme caused more than $464,920 in documented losses from 119 victims.
Phoenix man gets 10 years for $2.2 million COVID-19 loan fraud, including laundering conspiracy
The US Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona says Mohammed Maio, 44, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to charges that include conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors say he used false information to obtain nearly $2.2 million in COVID-19 relief loans for businesses that had no employees.
OCC fines Bank of America $750 million over deficient BSA/AML compliance program
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) imposed a $750 million civil money penalty on Bank of America, N.A. The OCC says the bank's transaction monitoring failed to properly monitor trillions of dollars in transactions.
OCC launches tool for community banks to report suspected payments fraud
At a meeting with community bankers in Minneapolis, Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould announced a new way for community banks to report suspected payments fraud directly to an OCC fraud taskforce.
Jamaican man extradited to Michigan gets 72 months for $3.4 million fake lottery scheme
Sefton Olivair Stewart was sentenced to 72 months in prison for a fake lottery prize scheme that took $3.4 million from 28 victims; a co-conspirator who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering earlier received 37 months.
Florida man gets 51 months for money laundering in a $3 million real estate investment scheme
Joshua Thomas Jackson, who pleaded guilty to money laundering, was sentenced on 15 October 2026 to 51 months in prison; the US Attorney's Office says he took over $3 million from investors with false claims about real estate investments.
Brazilian man gets 12 years for managing a $30 million-plus laundering ring that moved drug cash
Ygor Fokin Saviolli was sentenced on 16 October 2026 to 12 years in prison for his role as a manager and supervisor in a group that the Justice Department says laundered more than $30 million, including drug trafficking proceeds.
New Jersey federal court convicts man of laundering money orders from a stolen safe
Ruben Cruz was convicted on 15 October 2026 after a trial in Camden federal court of stolen property offences, conspiracy to launder money and seven money laundering counts over a safe taken from a Glassboro business.
Indian national pleads guilty to elder fraud conspiracy run from prison with a smuggled phone
Sumit Kumar Singh, 32, an Indian national already serving a federal sentence for mail fraud against elderly victims, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas said on 15 October 2026.
Sports gambler pleads guilty in basketball game-fixing and NBA betting cases, including laundering
Shane Hennen, 41, of Las Vegas and Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to bribery in sporting contests and wire fraud charges in Pennsylvania, and to wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy charges from a New York case, the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania said on 15 October 2026.
Missouri man pleads guilty to wire fraud and money laundering in $3.8 million Ponzi scheme
Trevor Uhls, 29, of Lee's Summit, Missouri, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering, the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Missouri said on 15 October 2026.
NYDFS fines SEB $33 million over AML and transaction monitoring failures
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB and its New York Branch agreed to pay a $33 million penalty under a consent order with the New York State Department of Financial Services. The case grew out of DFS reviews that followed the 2016 Panama Papers leak.
Russian national extradited to US on charges of shipping US electronics to Russia
Alexander Suvorov was extradited from Sweden to the Northern District of New York on 15 October 2026. A criminal complaint charges him with conspiracy to commit international promotional money laundering, outbound smuggling and export control violations.
US sanctions Iraqi bank, Iranian offshore banks and exchange houses, and a Cuban bank over Iran
On 15 October 2026 Treasury designated an Iraq-based bank it says gives Iran access to US dollars, two Iranian offshore banks, an oil trustee and shadow banking operatives, while the State Department designated Cuba's Banco Internacional de Comercio.
FinCEN alert asks banks to report Iranian regime abuse of religious charity networks
Under Operation Economic Outcast, FinCEN issued an alert on 15 October 2026 asking financial institutions to report possible abuse of religious charity networks by the Iranian regime, including the diversion of religious tithes known as khums.
Pennsylvania jury convicts business owner on 30 counts of fraud and money laundering
A federal jury in Pittsburgh found Seth Allen Aikens II guilty on 14 October 2026 of wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering over a scheme in which prosecutors say he falsely claimed software expertise to win clients.
Bosnian arms dealer gets 60 months for trying to broker North Korean missile deal
Sasa Micev pleaded guilty to violating US sanctions on North Korea after trying to broker the sale of SA-18 Igla portable surface-to-air missiles from North Korea. He was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison.
Washington pastor charged with wire fraud and money laundering in $13 million investment scheme
Federal prosecutors say the pastor of a Kirkland church recruited more than 30 investors into a company he ran and moved investor money to himself and his family.
EU sanctions three people and four entities over North Korea's weapons programmes and Russia ties
The Council of the EU added three individuals and four entities to its own North Korea (DPRK) sanctions list. The listings target missile work, DPRK workers in Russia, joint projects with the DPRK and a vessel the Council links to petroleum shipments from Russia.
Three charged in Georgia over $74 million tax refund scheme, including laundering conspiracy
The US Justice Department says three Atlanta-area residents used ITINs obtained in other people's names to file false returns and cashed more than 16,000 Treasury refund checks worth over $74 million. They are charged with fraud and money laundering conspiracy.
Bank of America settles with OFAC for $11,662,930 over 475 apparent sanctions violations
OFAC says Bank of America, N.A. processed payments through blocked banks and for sanctioned people between 2021 and 2025, after screening, alert and watchlist failures. OFAC found the case non-egregious, and most of the apparent violations were not voluntarily self-disclosed.
Treasury sanctions Cartel del Noreste network tied to horse racing, construction and fuel firms
OFAC sanctioned four individuals and 11 entities it links to Cartel del Noreste (CDN), including a racetrack, a racing barn, construction and gas companies and a trucking firm in Mexico.
Straw owner pleads guilty to laundering proceeds of $6 million Medicare billing scheme
A Massachusetts man who posed as owner of a New Hampshire medical supply company pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy.
FinCEN fines Bank of America $1.2 billion over AML and suspicious activity reporting failures
FinCEN assessed a $1.2 billion penalty against Bank of America, N.A., which admits it willfully violated the Bank Secrecy Act. FinCEN's release says the OCC and OFAC also took action against the bank.
Nexus IFA director and manager plead guilty in FCA fraud case; director admits money laundering
A director and an operations manager of two FCA-authorised firms admitted defrauding clients, who lost £2m. The director also admitted a money laundering offence.
International week of action against West African scam networks leads to 28 arrests
Law enforcement and private companies acted against scam networks in West Africa, removing more than 3.7 million online accounts and identifying at least $11 million in potentially freezable funds.
US charges and laptop farm searches target North Korean remote IT worker schemes
The Justice Department announced an indictment, two arrests and searches of more than 40 Texas homes in schemes it says placed North Korean IT workers at more than 70 US companies.
EU sanctions 826 Russian defence-industry companies and 743 of their chief executives
The Council of the EU listed 826 Russian companies and 743 individuals who head them, which it calls the single largest set of listings it has agreed.
34 state financial regulators reach $2.5 million BSA/AML settlement with crypto kiosk operator Coinme
State financial regulators say Coinme Inc. has agreed to pay $2.5 million and to end its virtual currency kiosk operations by 1 January 2027, or face an additional $4 million penalty.
American Express bank to pay $350 million OCC penalty over financial crimes compliance
American Express says its national bank agreed to a $350 million civil money penalty from the OCC, and the parent company agreed to a Federal Reserve order. Both orders resolve regulator reviews of its financial crimes compliance program.
BaFin fines abcfinance GmbH €90,000 for filing suspicious transaction reports late
Germany's financial supervisor BaFin has fined abcfinance GmbH €90,000 under the German Money Laundering Act. BaFin says the firm filed several suspicious transaction reports late in April 2025.
Rank Group casino operators to pay £5m over AML and safer gambling failures
Britain's Gambling Commission says three Rank Group companies running 51 casinos failed to apply proper anti-money laundering checks. The companies agreed to a £5 million settlement and an independent audit.
OFAC removes 125 sanctions listings in third modernization round
On October 5, 2026, OFAC removed 125 individuals and entities from its sanctions lists and updated 22 other entries. Treasury says the removed entries lacked sufficient information for robust compliance screening.
OFAC warns foreign banks still doing business with Iran
On October 5, 2026, OFAC issued a notice to foreign financial institutions that keep serving Iran or its financial sector. The notice warns these banks they risk sanctions, and an updated OFAC FAQ explains how their US correspondent accounts could be restricted.
Swedish financial police map SEK 2.9 billion in suspected laundering by Russian networks
A report by Finanspolisen, the financial police unit of the Swedish Police Authority, says the systematic money laundering of Russian organised crime is continuing. A joint operation with several banks analysed SEK 2.9 billion in suspicious transactions moved mainly through false invoices and conduit companies.
Florida jury convicts woman of wire fraud and money laundering in $2.9 million grant scheme
Treashonna P. Graham of Lake City, Florida was convicted on all 13 counts, including money laundering. Prosecutors say her company, Grant Bae, charged more than 1,000 people fees to find government grants but never did the work.
Trucking firm owner pleads guilty to laundering over $1 million taken from USPS
Khayyam Arif Oglu Farajov, an Azerbaijani national who ran an Orlando trucking and freight brokerage, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors say he was paid for mail routes his company never ran and moved the money through shell company accounts into brokerage accounts.
Freight forwarder Pegasus Worldwide Logistics settles with OFAC for $175,015
OFAC says the firm helped import a machine supplied by a sanctioned company and took six months to fully answer an OFAC subpoena.
Hong Kong Customs investigates watch cash deals by an unregistered precious metals dealer
Hong Kong Customs says a local company carried out cash transactions in watches containing precious metals and stones, valued at over HK$120,000, without the Category B registration required under Hong Kong's AML law. An investigation is ongoing.
BaFin sets new deadlines for Deutsche Bank to fix AML transaction monitoring shortcomings
Germany's financial supervisor BaFin has ordered Deutsche Bank AG to remedy shortcomings in the systems it uses to monitor transactions for money laundering and terrorist financing, with new deadlines for some of them. The order updates earlier orders from April 2021 and November 2023.
Wisconsin courier gets 84 months for laundering over $1 million from Phantom Hacker scam victims
Ankurkumar Patel of Brookfield, Wisconsin was sentenced to 84 months in prison and ordered to pay over $1.3 million in restitution. He had pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy for laundering over $1 million stolen from elderly victims in multiple states.
UK sanctions crypto exchanges and payment firms it links to Russia's A7 network
The UK announced 38 new Russia sanctions designations on 8 October 2026. They include three crypto exchanges and two payment platforms, two of which the UK says processed transactions with the A7 illicit finance network.
Treasury sanctions 17 tankers in Iran's shadow fleet under Operation Economic Outcast
The US Treasury sanctioned 17 vessels it says carried Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and petrochemicals to South and East Asia, along with the companies behind them.
RBI fines Bihar co-operative bank ₹5 lakh for late uploads of KYC records to CKYCR
The Reserve Bank of India has fined The Monghyr-Jamui Central Co-operative Bank Limited for not uploading customers' KYC records to the Central KYC Records Registry on time.
Federal Reserve issues AML cease and desist order against American Express
On October 8, 2026, the Federal Reserve Board announced a consent order against American Express Company over failures to detect, investigate and report certain suspicious activity. The OCC took a separate action against the company's national bank.
Leader of money mule network for hackers pleads guilty in US
Oleg Korniev, a leader of Your Mule Cashout (YMCO), pleaded guilty to money laundering and computer fraud charges. The Justice Department says YMCO used over 15,000 US-based money mules to move at least $10 million stolen by hackers.
DOJ Fraud Division directive calls for early asset seizures and multi-angle fraud cases
The US Justice Department's National Fraud Enforcement Division issued Directive 26-13, setting out how its prosecutors should investigate, disrupt and prosecute fraud. It stresses early asset seizures and takedowns of the digital tools behind schemes.
Jury convicts Maryland man of laundering proceeds of $53m Uranium Finance crypto hack
A federal jury in Manhattan found Jonathan Spalletta guilty of computer fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors say he drained a decentralized crypto exchange in 2021 and moved the funds through the Tornado Cash mixer.
DOJ opens third and final phase of Western Union fraud victim compensation
The Justice Department has reopened its petition process for people defrauded through Western Union money transfers. The DOJ says Phase Three provides $3.4 million in remission to 1,294 victims.
Ransomware recovery firm owner charged with secretly paying hackers and overbilling clients
The Justice Department says Zohar Pinhasi of MonsterCloud falsely claimed he could decrypt ransomware without paying cybercriminals. Prosecutors allege he secretly paid the attackers and charged clients far more than the ransom.
AMLA sets out five AML priorities for the EU's review of the MiCA crypto rules
The EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) has answered the European Commission's consultation on the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation, naming staking, DeFi and stablecoins among its concerns.
AMLA consults on rules for a central EU-wide AML/CFT supervisory database
The EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) has published draft technical standards for a central AML/CFT database and will hold a public hearing on 3 November 2026.
California man pleads guilty to $1.8 million romance fraud against two elderly women
Troy Clinton Van Sickle, 55, of Temecula pleaded guilty, admitting that he stole more than $1.8 million, according to the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California.
Treasury says Do Not Pay now reaches 99% of federal programs, with $3.7 trillion in payments screened
The US Treasury reported its Fiscal Year 2026 results on stopping fraud and improper payments. Access to its Do Not Pay screening tools rose from about 4 percent of federal programs to about 99 percent.
FINRA fines Revere Securities $800,000 over AML failures in small-cap IPOs
FINRA says Revere Securities LLC missed red flags in foreign-based small-cap IPOs that bore hallmarks of potential ramp-and-dump schemes. The firm settled without admitting or denying the findings.
Former TD Bank employee pleads guilty to laundering $4.8 million to Colombia
Gerardo Aquino, a former TD Bank employee, pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and taking bribes as a bank employee, the US Justice Department said on October 6, 2026. According to the DOJ, he opened fake accounts and issued debit cards used to move about $4.8 million out of the US.
Jury convicts US-based coordinator who laundered cash and gold from India call center elder fraud
A federal jury in Austin, Texas convicted Bhavesh Kumar Thakkar, an Indian national, on two counts related to wire fraud and money laundering. Prosecutors say he was directly connected to over $150 million in fraud proceeds taken from elderly victims.
Iowa man pleads guilty to laundering over $21 million in fraudulent bank loan funds
Curtis Weston of Rockwell City, Iowa, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Iowa, the funds came from loans taken out fraudulently in his name and the names of 26 unwitting customers.
FinCEN withdraws two proposed crypto rules, including the mixer special measure
The proposals on unhosted wallets and crypto mixing were withdrawn on 5 October 2026 as part of what FinCEN called the administration's deregulatory agenda.
Cash courier pleads guilty to laundering $597,100 from government impersonation scam victims
Binghui Liu pleaded guilty in federal court in California to conspiracy to commit money laundering. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California, he collected about $597,100 in cash from 24 victims of a scam in which callers posed as federal officials.
DNB fines Modulr Finance B.V. €722,160 over weak customer monitoring
De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) fined Modulr Finance B.V. for failing to monitor customers and transactions properly between January 2023 and July 2024. The firm accepted the facts and settled.
Treasury sanctions France-based "charities" it says funded Hamas
Two purported aid groups and three individuals were designated on 2 October 2026. Treasury says they raised more than $2 million and sent hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency to a Hamas member in Gaza.
US moves against the A7 Network, a shadow banking network Treasury says Iran uses to evade sanctions
On 1 October 2026, OFAC sanctioned the network and FinCEN proposed cutting its sub-agents off from US fund transfers, alongside a new alert for banks.
Former Nodus Bank chairman sentenced to 62 months for wire fraud conspiracy
The Justice Department says Juan Francisco Ramirez, former board chairman and co-owner of Puerto Rico's Nodus International Bank, was sentenced to 62 months in prison. According to the DOJ, his actions caused the bank to lose at least $23,613,371.
Former senior federal official pleads guilty to $194 million fraud paid out in gold, homes and watches
David J. Rush of Ashburn, Virginia, admitted defrauding the US government by inventing fake programs to obtain funds, the Justice Department said. He agreed to forfeit 298 gold bars, cash, property and luxury goods.