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  • FinCEN updates jurisdictions with AML/CFT/CPF deficiencies

    Financial Crimes

    On June 29, FinCEN announced that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issued a public statement updating its lists of jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering (AML), countering the financing of terrorism (CFT), and countering the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destructions (CPF). FATF’s statements include (i) Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring, “which publicly identifies jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT/CPF regimes that have committed to, or are actively working with, the FATF to address those deficiencies in accordance with an agreed upon timeline,” and (ii) High-Risk Jurisdictions Subject to a Call for Action, “which publicly identifies jurisdictions with significant strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT/CPF regimes and calls on all FATF members to apply enhanced due diligence, and, in the most serious cases, apply counter-measures to protect the international financial system from the money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing risks emanating from the identified countries.”

    FinCEN’s announcement also informed members that FATF added Cameroon, Croatia, and Vietnam it its list to the list of Jurisdictions Under Increased Monitoring and advised jurisdictions to apply enhanced due diligence proportionate to the risks. FATF did not remove any jurisdictions from the list. Additionally, the announcement suggests that money service businesses refer to FinCEN’s Guidance on compliance obligations to employ adequate measures against money laundering and the financing of terrorism posed by their foreign relationships. Also noted in the announcement is that the list of high-risk jurisdictions subject to a call for action, remains the same. FinCEN reminded in the announcement that U.S. financial institutions are still broadly prohibited from engaging in transactions or dealings with Iran, and they should continue to refer to existing FinCEN and Office of Foreign Assets Control guidance on engaging in financial transactions with Burma. With respect to high-risk jurisdictions subject to a call for action — the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Iran — “financial institutions must comply with the extensive U.S. restrictions and prohibitions against opening or maintaining any correspondent accounts, directly or indirectly, for North Korean or Iranian financial institutions,” FinCEN said, adding that “[e]xisting U.S. sanctions and FinCEN regulations already prohibit any such correspondent account relationships.”

     

    Financial Crimes Of Interest to Non-US Persons FinCEN Anti-Money Laundering Combating the Financing of Terrorism FATF Combating Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation Financing OFAC

  • OFAC sanctions Iranian tech company and employees

    Financial Crimes

    On June 2, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions, pursuant to Executive Order 13846, against an Iran-based technology company, two senior employees, and an affiliate based in the UAE. According to OFAC, the sanctioned persons and entities partook in facilitating the Iranian regime’s censorship of the internet in Iran. The technology company is a key partner in Iran’s development of the National Information Network, which, OFAC states is, “a countrywide intranet that is being used to disconnect the Iranian people from the global internet.” As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned individuals and entities subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons. Additionally, OFAC warned that “persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals and entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action.” Also, OFAC noted that unless an exception applies, any foreign financial institution that knowingly takes part in a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the persons designated could also be subject to U.S. sanctions.

    In conjunction with the sanctions, OFAC issued several Iran-related general licenses (see General License P).

     

    Financial Crimes OFAC OFAC Designations OFAC Sanctions SDN List Department of Treasury Of Interest to Non-US Persons Iran

  • OFAC sanctions target IRGC

    Financial Crimes

    On June 1, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated members and affiliates of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its external operations arm, the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF), pursuant to Executive Order 13224, for participating in a series of plots against former U.S. officials, dual U.S. and Iranian nationals, and Iranian dissidents.

    The following were specifically designated: (i) two operatives designated “for having acted for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the IRGC-QF”; (ii) an IRGC-QF official designated “for acting or on behalf of the IRGC-QF”; and (iii) a dual Iranian and Turkish national designated “for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the IRGC-QF” by using his Turkey-based airline to support the IRGC-QF covert operations. (The airline is separately designated.)

    As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the individuals and entities named above, and of any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by them, individually, or with other blocked persons, that are in the U.S. or in the possession or control of U.S. persons, must be blocked and reported to OFAC. OFAC’s announcement further noted that its regulations “generally prohibit” U.S. persons from participating in transactions with designated persons unless exempt or otherwise authorized by a general or specific license. The prohibitions include the making or receiving of any contribution of funds, goods, or services to or for the benefit of those persons.

    Financial Crimes OFAC Sanctions OFAC Designations SDN List OFAC Department of Treasury

  • OFAC reaches $3.3 million settlement with cosmetics company for Iranian sanctions violations

    Financial Crimes

    The U.S Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently announced settlements with a California-based cosmetics company and a former senior company executive to resolve potential civil liability stemming from allegations that the company participated in a conspiracy to export goods and services from the United States to Iran over roughly an eight-year period. According to OFAC’s web notice, the company entered into an exclusive agreement with an Iranian distributor to sell products in the Middle East, specifically in Iran, without ever receiving a specific license or other applicable OFAC guidance to do so. OFAC maintained that these exported products (for which the company requested a license), were neither generally authorized nor exempt from prohibition. During a later acquisition, the company again applied for, but did not receive, a specific license to export products to Iran. The company knew that an OFAC license was required to lawfully export the products to Iran but continued to do so through departments generally overseen by the former senior company executive, OFAC said, adding that prior to the acquisition, the company did not disclosure the exports or its involvement with Iran, nor was this conduct discovered during pre-acquisition due diligence.  By conspiring to export approximately $11.1 million worth of goods to Iran over approximately eight years, the company allegedly violated the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations.

    In arriving at the settlement amount, OFAC considered, among other things, that the company willfully violated U.S. sanctions by exporting its products and services to Iran, despite having knowledge that such conduct was prohibited, and that senior company officials had actual knowledge of the alleged misconduct. The $3.3 million settlement (of which the former senior company executive is responsible for $175,000) reflects that while the company voluntarily self-disclosed the apparent violations, the violations constitute an egregious case. OFAC also considered several mitigating factors, including that: (i) the company has undertaking remedial measures to prevent future misconduct; (ii) the overall percentage represented by its sales to Iran is small; (iii) the company has not received a penalty notice from OFAC in the preceding five years; (iv) the company cooperated with OFAC during the investigation and agreed to toll the statute of limitations; and (v) the former senior company executive’s violations involved the export of benign consumer goods.

    Providing context for the settlement, OFAC said, among other things, that the “case highlights that U.S. sanctions on Iran encompass a wide range of potentially violative conduct, including the formation and execution of conspiracies to engage in prohibited activities such as exporting goods to Iran and causing such exports to occur.” OFAC reminded businesses that “placement of a U.S. entity under the compliance structure of a non-U.S. entity that may lack sufficient familiarity with U.S. sanctions laws could prevent the prompt identification of and response to potentially prohibited conduct.”

    Financial Crimes Of Interest to Non-US Persons OFAC Department of Treasury OFAC Sanctions OFAC Designations Settlement Iran

  • OFAC sanctions Iranian senior officials for wrongfully detaining U.S. nationals

    Financial Crimes

    On April 27, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions, pursuant to Executive Order 14078, against four senior officials of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence Organization (IRGC-IO). The IRGC-IO was concurrently designated by the State Department for its involvement in the hostage-taking or wrongful detention of U.S. nationals in Iran. OFAC also implemented the State Department’s designation of Russia’s Federal Security Service as well as the IRGC-IO for their role in wrongfully detaining U.S. nationals abroad. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property of the designated persons that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons must be blocked and reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” OFAC’s announcement further noted that its regulations “generally prohibit” U.S. persons from participating in transactions with designated persons unless exempt or otherwise authorized by a general or specific license. Financial institutions and persons that engage in certain transactions with the designated persons may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to enforcement.

    Financial Crimes Of Interest to Non-US Persons OFAC Department of Treasury OFAC Sanctions OFAC Designations SDN List Iran Department of State

  • OFAC sanctions senior Iranian officials for human rights abuses

    Financial Crimes

    On April 24, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions, pursuant to Executive Orders 13553 and 13846, against four senior Iranian security officials of the Law Enforcement Forces of Iran and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for aiding the Iranian regime’s crackdown on peaceful demonstrations. OFAC stressed that it has now “imposed 11 rounds of sanctions actions targeting the Iranian regime and its security elements and officials that are involved in brutal crackdown on peaceful demonstrations since nationwide protests began in September 2022.” Concurrently, the State Department imposed visa restrictions on 11 additional Iranian government officials for their alleged involvement in suppressing protestors. As a result of the sanctions, all property and interests in property belonging to the sanctioned persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” OFAC further warned that “persons that engage in certain transactions with the persons designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to an enforcement action,” and that, unless an exception applies, “any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the persons designated today could be subject to U.S. sanctions.”

    Financial Crimes Of Interest to Non-US Persons OFAC Department of Treasury OFAC Sanctions OFAC Designations Iran SDN List Department of State

  • OFAC sanctions network supporting Iran’s military programs

    Financial Crimes

    On April 19, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions, pursuant to Executive Order 13382, against one individual and six entities involved in a sanctions evasion network responsible for procuring electronic components for Iran’s military programs, including goods and technology used in unmanned aerial vehicles. The sanctions target the head of a previously U.S.-designated Iranian company, as well as its Iran-, Malaysia-, Hong Kong-, and PRC-based front companies and suppliers. OFAC’s action also updates the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List to include an alias and fictious company names used by the designated company in its procurement efforts. The sanctions block all property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction belonging to the sanctioned persons and require such property, as well as “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons,” to be reported to OFAC. U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons, OFAC said, warning that persons that engage in certain transactions with the designated individuals or entities may themselves be exposed to sanctions. Moreover, “any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the individuals or entities designated today pursuant to E.O. 13382 could be subject to U.S. sanctions.”

    Financial Crimes Of Interest to Non-US Persons OFAC Department of Treasury OFAC Sanctions OFAC Designations SDN List Iran

  • OFAC sanctions Iran’s international UAV procurement network

    Financial Crimes

    On March 9, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against a China-based network of five companies and one individual accused of supporting Iran’s unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) procurement efforts, pursuant to Executive Order 13382. According to OFAC, the network “is responsible for the sale and shipment of thousands of aerospace components, including components that can be used for UAV applications,” to an Iranian aircraft manufacturing company previously sanctioned by OFAC in 2008, for being owned or controlled by Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics and for having provided support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

    As a result of the sanctions, all property interests belonging to the sanctioned individuals and entities that are in the U.S. or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Further, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property interests of blocked or designated persons. Persons that engage in certain transactions with the designated individuals or entities may themselves be exposed to sanctions, and “any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction or provides significant financial services for any of the individuals or entities designated today pursuant to E.O. 13382 could be subject to U.S. sanctions.”

    Financial Crimes Of Interest to Non-US Persons Department of Treasury OFAC OFAC Sanctions OFAC Designations Iran SDN List

  • FinCEN comments on Russia’s suspended FATF membership; issues statements on jurisdictions with AML/CFT/CPF deficiencies

    Financial Crimes

    On March 9, FinCEN informed U.S. financial institutions that last month the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) suspended the Russian Federation’s membership after determining that the country’s “actions unacceptably run counter to the FATF core principles aiming to promote security, safety, and the integrity of the global financial system.” (Covered by InfoBytes here.) FATF also urged jurisdictions to monitor for and mitigate emerging risks resulting “from the circumvention of measures taken in order to protect the international financial system.”

    Additionally, FinCEN noted that at the end of February, FATF issued public statements updating its lists of jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in anti-money laundering (AML), countering the financing of terrorism (CFT), and countering the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destructions (CPF) regimes. These include (i) Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring, “which publicly identifies jurisdictions with strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT/CPF regimes that have committed to, or are actively working with, the FATF to address those deficiencies in accordance with an agreed upon timeline,” and (ii) High-Risk Jurisdictions Subject to a Call for Action, “which publicly identifies jurisdictions with significant strategic deficiencies in their AML/CFT/CPF regimes and calls on all FATF members to apply enhanced due diligence, and, in the most serious cases, apply counter-measures to protect the international financial system from the money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing risks emanating from the identified countries.”

    With respect to jurisdictions under increased monitoring, FinCEN’s announcement reminded U.S. covered financial institutions of their due diligence obligations for foreign financial institutions (including correspondent accounts maintained for foreign banks), and instructed them to ensure that they implement “appropriate, specific, risk-based, and, where necessary, enhanced policies, procedures, and controls that are reasonably designed to detect and report known or suspected money laundering activity conducted through or involving any correspondent account established, maintained, administered, or managed in the United States.” Money services business are reminded of parallel requirements with respect to foreign agents or counterparties. Members were informed that FATF removed Cambodia and Morocco from its list of Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring but added Nigeria and South Africa to the list.

    FinCEN’s announcement also informed members that Burma remains on the list of High-Risk Jurisdictions Subject to a Call for Action, and advised U.S. financial institutions to apply enhanced due diligence. Moreover, U.S. financial institutions should continue to refer to existing FinCEN and OFAC guidance on engaging in financial transactions with Burma. With respect to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Iran, “financial institutions must comply with the extensive U.S. restrictions and prohibitions against opening or maintaining any correspondent accounts, directly or indirectly, for North Korean or Iranian financial institutions,” FinCEN said, adding that “[e]xisting U.S. sanctions and FinCEN regulations already prohibit any such correspondent account relationships.”

    Financial Crimes Of Interest to Non-US Persons FATF Russia Anti-Money Laundering Combating the Financing of Terrorism FinCEN OFAC

  • OFAC sanctions “shadow banking” network responsible for moving billions for Iranian regime

    Financial Crimes

    On March 9, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions against “39 entities constituting a significant ‘shadow banking’ network,” pursuant to Executive Order 13846. OFAC explained that this network is “one of several multi-jurisdictional illicit finance systems,” which grants sanctioned Iranian entities access to the international financial system and obfuscates sanctioned entities’ trade with foreign customers. “Iran cultivates complex sanctions evasion networks where foreign buyers, exchange houses, and dozens of front companies cooperatively help sanctioned Iranian companies to continue to trade,” Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo said in the announcement. “Today’s action demonstrates the United States’ commitment to enforcing our sanctions and our ability to disrupt Iran’s foreign financial networks, which it uses to launder funds.” The action follows previous designations of six Iran-based petrochemical manufacturers or their subsidiaries, as well as three firms located in Malaysia and Singapore, for their involvement in the sale and shipment of petroleum and petrochemicals on behalf of a previously designated company (covered by InfoBytes here).

    As a result of the sanctions, all property interests belonging to the sanctioned targets subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, “any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.” U.S. persons are also generally prohibited from engaging in any dealings involving the property or interests in property of blocked or designated persons. Persons that engage in certain transactions with the individuals or entities designated today may themselves be exposed to sanctions or subject to enforcement. Additionally, OFAC warned that “any foreign financial institution that knowingly facilitates a significant transaction for any of the individuals or entities designated today could be subject to U.S. sanctions” unless an exception applies.

    Financial Crimes Of Interest to Non-US Persons OFAC OFAC Designations OFAC Sanctions Iran SDN List

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