AML Conversations

John Davidson, AML expert from the securities industry, shares his views on the difference between traditional banking and securities, recent cases and actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and how he sees the financial crime prevention area changing in the coming years.

The US Administration is continuing its focus on domestic terrorism. This week it published its National Strategy for Combatting Domestic Terrorism. This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff discuss the key elements of the strategy and what it may mean for Bank Secrecy Act compliance going forward.

In this episode of AML Conversations, John Byrne sits down with Kerry Donley, a financial services executive who spent 18 years on the Alexandria, VA City Council and as Mayor for 8 of those years. Kerry had to navigate work-life balance with the added challenge of public service. He has dealt with the impact of 9/11 on his community, working closely with law enforcement and the unique nature of h...

The US Administration and the United Nations are focusing on the adverse impact of corruption on the global economy and political stability. This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff discuss the these efforts and how both organizations are working to create change and motivate nations around the world to take up actions to redu...

This week, John Byrne is joined by AML RightSource resident Sanctions expert and Special Advisor, Tim White. John and Tim discuss the recent release of the Global Magnitzsky Designations, and a few examples of what's happened recently in Bulgaria relating to the release. From gambling institutions, to professional basketball teams, the designations will undoubtedly affect a substantial amount of a...

The European Commission has issued a Communication on Business Taxation for the 21st century. The focus of the communication is to “promote a robust, efficient and fair business tax system” in the EU. This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff discuss the communication and its recognition that increasing the fairness in a tax sy...

The OCC has issued the Spring 2021 edition of its Semiannual Risk Perspectives. This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff discuss the report and its value to the financial crimes compliance community. John and Elliot explore some of the themes in the report and the importance of understanding how FI regulators are looking at va...

There are many forces influencing global directions and the ability of governments, NGOs and individuals to respond to crises and political events. This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff talk about the report Global Trends 2040, issued by the National Intelligence Council. John and Elliot explore the themes identifies in the...

Domestic and international terrorism are growing challenges. This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff talk about an announcement by the US Department of Justice of the second guilty plea by a member of the "Boogaloo Bois" to conspiracy to provide material support to Hamas. John and Elliot explore the growing connection between...

Corruption is a continuing global problem. This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff talk about the new UK Anti-Corruption Regime. John and Elliot explore the sanctions issued by the UK and the importance of a world-wide coordinated effort to combat corruption.

In this episode of AML Conversations, John Byrne, Executive Vice President at AML RightSource, sits down with Paul Camacho, for an in-depth discussion about the life and legacy of Elmer Irey, the first Chief of IRS Criminal Investigations. John and Paul chat about how Irey created the unit, which invented forensic accounting, and aggressively pursued tax evaders and corruption in the United States...

Domestic Terrorism is a constant issue that effects all of us. Join John and Elliot this week, as they discuss the current landscape of combating terrorism, with a specific focus on the financial elements, and how each of us in the community can be a part of the solution to this critical issue.

This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff talk about InfraGard, a 25-year-old partnership between the FBI and the private sector to help identify cyber threats. John and Elliot explore the value of public-private partnerships and how InfraGard has expanded from cybercrime to include terrorism, intelligence, and other matters.

This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff talk about the recent change in FinCEN leadership, the FinCEN ANPRM on the beneficial ownership registry, newly issued sanctions on human traffickers in Pakistan, and an evolving public-private partnership in northern Virginia. It has been a busy week in the financial crimes compliance...

This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff talk about the announcement by Department of Justice that it has completed the extradition of a national of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The indictment alleges that the individual and others conspired to covertly and fraudulently access the U.S. financial system and...

This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff talk about the NCUA’s recent Cease and Desist Order to Live Life Federal Credit Union. John and Elliot discuss the complexities of providing services to marijuana-related businesses and dealing in virtual currency; and the lessons that all FIs can glean from the Order.

This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff talk about the recently proposed Fair Access to Banking Act. John and Elliot discuss the mandates in the Act, the challenges it presents to risk-based compliance programs, and the types of entities that are not included in the coverage of the proposed legislation.

AML RightSource Executive Vice President, John Byrne sits down with Kevin Hall, Chief Economics Correspondent and Senior Investigative Reporter for McClatchy Newspapers to explore what makes for a good investigation, characteristics of global corruption, and some of Kevin's work over the years.

This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff talk about the notice from FinCEN about its efforts around trade in antiquities and art. John and Elliot discuss the activities that FinCEN is undertaking in this area, some of the resources which are included in the notice, and FinCEN’s guidance about the elements of an effective SAR n...

This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff talk about the policy paper on improving FinCEN’s role in national security, issued by Global Financial Integrity. John and Elliot discuss the views expressed in the paper and some of GFI’s recommendations to enhance FinCEN to meet the growing national security threat posed by money lau...

This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff talk about hearings being held in the House of Representatives about various proposals to make domestic terrorism a federal crime. John and Elliot discuss the views expressed by several witnesses at the hearings and what the financial crimes compliance community can do now to help detec...

This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff talk about the likely creation of a Congressional Commission to investigate the actions of January 6th. John and Elliot discuss what information useful to the financial crimes compliance community may come from such a commission’s activities and why a clear understanding of the roots an...

This week, Executive Vice President John Byrne, and Creative Director Elliot Berman of the AML RightSource staff talk about some provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020. John and Elliot discuss a recent posting by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists which identifies some of the possible shortcomings in the Act and how these provisions may be come to be during the...

The terrorist attacks by US citizens against Congress and the Capitol on January 6th were the most horrific attacks on US soil since 9/11. We sat down with counter terrorism expert Dennis Lormel and discussed the financial aspects that enabled these attacks and what can be done going forward. There are parallels that Dennis and AML RightSource EVP John Byrne outline and cover in this special episo...

Tom Cardamone, the CEO and President of Global Financial Integrity (GFI), discusses the worldwide challenges of preventing illicit financial flows and how beneficial ownership reporting requirements will greatly assist law enforcement as they battle this global scourge.