AML Conversations

In this episode of AML Conversations, John Byrne sits down with Sarah Beth Felix—AML expert and author of Dirty Money Weekly—to break down the biggest storylines shaping financial crime compliance this month. Sarah offers a practical, forward-looking take on the Epstein files and why community and midsize banks must rethink their approach to adverse media screening. She and John also unpack the confusion surrounding the administration’s de-risking Executive Order, the impact of FinCEN’s recent CDD “exceptive relief,” and the optics behind the agency’s decision to rescind its advisory on the St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship‑by‑Investment program. They dive deeper into IRS‑CI’s newly released data proving the value of BSA reporting—and what rising CTR/SAR thresholds could mean for law enforcement. To close, Sarah responds to emerging rumors that banks should be required to capture and track customer citizenship status, explaining why such a shift would have massive operational implications. This is a must-listen for AML professionals navigating a rapidly changing regulatory landscape and looking for actionable insight, context, and clarity.

Elliot Berman, an AML practitioner and industry analyst, breaks down FATF plenary outcomes and leadership changes. He highlights Kuwait and Papua New Guinea greylisting and upcoming mutual evaluations. He also covers rising crypto-enabled human trafficking, Cambodia’s crackdown on scam centers, FinCEN’s CDD relief and whistleblower portal, and U.S. regulatory shifts.

In this week’s episode of This Week in AML, Elliot and John unpack a wide-ranging set of global developments impacting financial crime compliance. They preview key agenda items from the FATF Plenary in Mexico City, including new mutual evaluations and technology-focused initiatives. The conversation also examines Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index, highlighting troubling downward trends among high-scoring democracies, including the U.S. Elliot and John also explore the EU’s proposed sanctions package targeting Russian crypto activity, the FTC’s latest ransomware oversight report, new OFAC actions related to Hezbollah, recent enforcement in the crypto fraud space, and ongoing gaps in U.S. regulation of the antiquities market. Additional topics include global efforts to combat illicit gold trafficking, Jersey’s move toward comprehensive modern slavery legislation, and seasonal warnings about romance‑investment scams.

In this episode of Third Party Risk Perspectives, host Chris Sindik, Senior Director of Third-Party Risk and Due Diligence at Blue Umbrella, sits down with Sakshi Sharma, Assistant Manager and leader of Blue Umbrella’s monitoring team, to explore the fast-evolving world of terrorist financing. Sakshi shares frontline insights into both traditional funding methods—such as counterfeit goods, drug trafficking, charity fraud, and illicit oil sales—and the next-generation tactics reshaping the threat landscape. Together, they discuss how terrorist groups now exploit social media, online gaming, digital payments, deepfakes, and AI-powered propaganda to recruit vulnerable youth, launder money, and spread misinformation. Listeners will learn: • How modern online platforms enable covert recruitment and financial flows • Why deepfakes and AI increase the effectiveness of terrorist propaganda • How scammers manipulate youth culture through “easy money” schemes • What organizations and individuals can do to stay vigilant • Why awareness, skepticism, and strong internal controls are more critical than ever This is an essential conversation for compliance professionals, risk leaders, parents, and anyone navigating today’s hyperconnected world.

In this week’s episode of This Week in AML, Elliot Berman and John Byrne cover a fast-moving landscape of regulatory, financial crime, and geopolitical developments across the U.S., EU, and beyond. They discuss the latest releases of Epstein-related files and the surprising absence of financial‑transaction disclosures, a Wall Street Journal investigation into a major foreign investment tied to AI chip access, and new insights into U.S. corporate tax transparency. The conversation moves through significant DOJ actions, a controversial ICE memo, and key UK updates on crypto-related sanctions, data‑quality failures, and public consultations. Elliot and John also explore new EU priorities for AMLA, research on illicit antiquities trafficking, a deep-sea mining corruption investigation, and the DOJ’s 2025 Fraud Section Year‑in‑Review. If your work touches financial crime, sanctions, compliance, or emerging‑risk intelligence, this episode is packed with timely developments that matter.

In this edition of AML Conversations, John Byrne sits down with financial crime expert Sarah Beth Felix, author of Dirty Money Weekly, for the first installment of a new monthly series. Together, they unpack some of the most pressing and misunderstood challenges in today’s AML landscape—from overlooked regulatory risks to the evolving reality of crypto-related crime. Sarah Beth breaks down recent FINRA enforcement actions and explains why traditional financial institutions shouldn’t assume that regulation elsewhere means reduced risk at home. John and Sarah Beth also explore the shifting tone of U.S. supervision, including why banks considering staff or training cuts could be setting themselves up for trouble. The conversation then turns to the political and operational complexities of de-risking/de-banking, and a deep dive into emerging healthcare-related fraud typologies. A candid, insightful, and highly practical conversation—perfect for AML professionals, financial crime investigators, compliance leaders, and anyone navigating the fast-changing world of regulatory risk.

In this week’s episode, Elliot and John cover a fast-moving slate of anti–financial crime developments across the U.S. and around the globe. They break down former President Trump’s multibillion-dollar lawsuit against JPMorgan, evolving debates over U.S. regulatory burden and supervisory staffing at the Federal Reserve, and new legislative pushes to change AML reporting thresholds. Internationally, they explore AMLA’s next steps toward direct supervision of 40 high-risk EU financial institutions, significant enforcement actions in Spain and the U.K., and Austrac’s probe into payments giant Airwallex. The conversation also highlights new leadership at the Wolfsberg Group, Europol’s report on skyrocketing maritime cocaine trafficking, and crypto crime findings from Chainalysis and TRM Labs. The episode closes with a discussion of recent money laundering cases and industry responses to the tragic Minneapolis shooting.

Elliot Berman, an experienced AML professional and regular contributor, guides listeners through global AML shifts. He covers the EU's new AMLA and efforts to standardize suspicious activity reporting. He discusses international public‑private cooperation on trafficking, cyber coordination between the UK and EU, FinCEN staffing concerns, pardon trends in financial crime, retirement scams, and the stalled Clarity Act debate on digital assets.

In this episode, Elliot Berman and John Byrne discuss a fast-moving week across the global financial crime landscape. They unpack the Charity & Security Network’s shadow report ahead of the U.S. FATF evaluation, the UK’s proposed updated “debanking” rules, and recent European regulatory developments—from Poland’s MONEYVAL review to the Dutch Central Bank’s call for proportionality. The conversation also covers international efforts against cultural property trafficking, Sweden’s new red‑flag guidance for funds transfer providers, FinCEN’s geographic targeting order in Minneapolis, and the White House’s announcement of a new DOJ Division for National Fraud Enforcement. Elliot and John also discuss upcoming legislative conversations around raising CTR and SAR thresholds.

In this episode of AML Conversations, Elliot Berman is joined by Christopher Sindik, Senior Director of Third‑Party Risk and Due Diligence at Blue Umbrella, for a deep dive into the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the recent deferred prosecution agreement involving Tigo Guatemala, Millicom, and the U.S. Department of Justice. Elliot and Christopher break down how the misconduct unfolded, why the joint‑venture structure created an environment ripe for corruption, and what lessons compliance professionals can draw from the case. The conversation explores practical strategies for strengthening third-party risk management, including intrinsic and acquired risk factors, enhanced controls for high‑corruption jurisdictions, and the critical role of data analytics and AI in detecting anomalies. They also discuss the importance of tone from the top, resource allocation for compliance programs, whistleblower protection, and how companies can ensure that legitimate services are properly documented and auditable. The episode highlights how proactive self-disclosure and robust compliance frameworks can significantly impact outcomes in enforcement actions.