AML Conversations

In this episode of This Week in AML, Elliot and John unpack a busy week in global financial crime and enforcement. They start with Italy’s latest FATF mutual evaluation, exploring what regulators praised, where weaknesses remain, and what it might signal for other jurisdictions.

The conversation then shifts to the EU’s newly adopted Russia sanctions package, including expanded financial and crypto restrictions and fresh anti-circumvention tools. They also highlight key investigations and enforcement actions from France, Moldova, Switzerland, and the OCCRP’s latest reporting.

In the U.S., the discussion turns to prediction markets, as the CFTC sues New York over regulatory authority, and a controversial DOJ case involving alleged insider betting raises thorny questions about national security, ethics, and enforcement priorities.

The episode closes with updates on DOJ staffing cuts, recent indictments, and transparency litigation tied to the Epstein files.

In this week’s episode of This Week in AML, with Elliot traveling, Joe McNamara joins John Byrne to break down a busy week in global compliance news.

The big domestic story is the Corporate Transparency Act, where the House Financial Services Committee passed a bill to repeal the CTA for domestic entities - but only by a single vote. The hosts unpack what that means, where the legislation goes from here, and why a separate threat to withhold FinCEN's entire budget adds another layer of uncertainty to an already complicated picture.

North of the border, Canada's FINTRAC has rolled out updates to its administrative monetary penalty framework, including a notable elevation of certain compliance program violations from serious to very serious.

Internationally, Transparency International had a busy week - launching a new Anti-Corruption Resource Center, announcing the EU's first Anti-Corruption Directive, and publishing a working paper on professional enablers implicated in illicit financial flows from Africa. AMLA is also moving forward with two public consultations on risk assessment and compliance standards, with hearings scheduled for May 20th and May 28th.

Across the pond, the FCA is pressing ahead with the UK's crypto regulatory regime, targeting October 2027 for full implementation - with rules expected this summer and firm authorization applications opening in September 2026.

The episode closes with a look at FATF's latest ministerial declaration, a heads-up on OCCRP's coverage of the CTA repeal, and a walkthrough of FinCEN's 2025 Year in Review - a document the hosts recommend as essential reading for any BSA professional.

Plus, a preview of AML RightSource's upcoming May webinar on global financial access and a recent AML Conversations episode featuring former IRS CI Special Agent in Charge Paul Camacho.

In this episode of AML Conversations, Elliot Berman is joined by Jennie Jonas, Senior Vice President of Financial Crime Advisory, to discuss the recent surge in fintechs pursuing OCC limited-purpose trust charters.

They explore what’s driving this trend, how limited trust charters differ from full bank charters, and why these structures are especially attractive for fintechs operating in payments and digital assets. The conversation also dives into common misconceptions, the reality of “bank‑grade” AML and governance expectations, and what fintechs should prepare for before—and after—receiving a charter.

From compliance program design and OCC examination rigor to risk governance, board expectations, and the future evolution of charter authorities, this episode offers practical insight for fintechs considering a charter and for institutions working with chartered fintech partners.

Casinos operate at the intersection of entertainment, cash, and compliance—making AML in gaming fundamentally different from banking. In this episode, John Byrne sits down with Paul Camacho, Vice President of Compliance at Yamava’ Resort & Casino and former IRS‑CI Special Agent in Charge, to unpack what AML professionals outside the gaming industry often misunderstand.

Paul shares insights from both the law‑enforcement and casino sides, including why most illicit funds enter casinos through spending, not laundering; how gambling addiction creates unique fraud and AML risks; and why observation and human intelligence matter as much as analytics. The conversation also explores public‑- private partnerships, casino typologies such as illegal sports betting and cash-intensive fraud, emerging risks highlighted in the National Money Laundering Risk Assessment, and how to move beyond “check‑the‑box” AML training.

This episode offers a rare, practical look at how effective casino AML programs balance regulation, culture, and real‑world risk.

In this week’s episode of This Week in AML, John Byrne and Elliot Berman unpack a wide range of global financial crime and compliance developments shaping the risk landscape.

The conversation begins with the significance of Hungary’s election results and what a potential reversal of entrenched corruption could mean for democratic institutions and Ukraine. The episode also covers leadership changes at IRS‑CI, new OFAC sanctions targeting cartel‑linked money laundering and cash smuggling, and updated FinCEN FAQs tied to Geographic Targeting Orders.

Additional topics include New York’s crackdown on insurance fraud, emerging concerns around elder abuse and sextortion, rising money laundering prosecutions in Turkey following FATF scrutiny, and fresh FCA findings on weaknesses in CDD and EDD practices. The episode closes with a discussion of a reported proposal that could require U.S. banks to collect citizenship documentation—raising major operational, compliance, and debanking concerns.