President Trump pardoned Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, Samuel Reed, and Gregory Dwyer, former executives of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX. The pardons follow guilty pleas to violating the Bank Secrecy Act due to the lack of anti-money laundering and know-your-customer programs. Sentences included probation and substantial fines totaling $30 million in civil penalties and a $100 million fine for BitMEX. Delo stated the charges were unwarranted and that the pardon vindicates their position.
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In early 2022, Raiffeisen Bank International, Brink’s, and Bank of America facilitated the transfer of over $12 billion in cash to Russia before the Ukraine invasion. The majority of this currency, primarily USD, EUR, and CHF, was delivered to the sanctioned Russian company TBSS, with RBI handling the lion’s share. This influx, peaking in the weeks before the invasion, significantly exceeded previous years’ averages and occurred amidst escalating geopolitical tensions and anticipated sanctions. While no laws were broken at the time of transfer, the timing raises concerns given subsequent export bans and the widespread awareness of impending conflict.
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Hollywood director Carl Erik Rinsch was arrested for wire fraud and money laundering after allegedly defrauding Netflix of $11 million intended for his sci-fi show, “White Horse.” Instead of completing the show, Rinsch diverted the funds to cryptocurrency investments and extravagant purchases. These purchases included luxury vehicles, high-end furniture, and legal fees. The indictment alleges that Rinsch lost approximately half of the misappropriated funds in failed investments before profiting from cryptocurrency, subsequently using the remaining proceeds for personal expenses.
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Republican opposition to the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), citing burdensome requirements for small businesses, resulted in a federal court halting its beneficial ownership rule enforcement. The CTA, enacted by the Biden administration to combat tax evasion and corporate favoritism, directly contradicts Trump administration policies. Trump’s broader efforts to weaken financial regulations, including the recent executive order freezing enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, suggest a prioritization of deregulation benefiting corporate interests. This ultimately reduces scrutiny of businesses with questionable practices.
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The Treasury Department announced it will not enforce the Biden administration’s beneficial ownership information database rule for small businesses, effectively suspending penalties for non-compliance. This decision, praised by President Trump, halts the requirement for millions of small businesses to register owner information by January 1, 2024, despite ongoing litigation challenging the rule’s legality. The rule, intended to combat money laundering and shell company formations, has faced criticism for its potential privacy concerns and regulatory burden. This action is framed as part of the Trump administration’s effort to reduce regulations impacting small businesses.
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The Treasury Department announced it will not enforce penalties under the Corporate Transparency Act against U.S. citizens or domestic companies, citing the burden on low-risk entities. This decision follows opposition from the Trump administration and ongoing legal challenges. The department plans to issue a rule narrowing the act’s scope to focus on foreign reporting companies. Proponents argue the act combats money laundering in the U.S., while opponents emphasize the regulatory burden.
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John Q. Hosedrinker