Compliance & Ethics

Wells Fargo Enters Agreement with OCC to Strengthen Anti-Money Laundering Controls

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., has entered into a formal agreement with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to address deficiencies in its anti-money laundering (AML) and financial crimes risk management practices. The agreement, announced today, outlines a comprehensive plan to enhance the bank's compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and U.S. economic sanctions laws.

SEC Charges Three StraightPath Sales Agents for Unregistered Broker Activity

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced settled charges against three sales agents from StraightPath Venture Partners for engaging in unregistered broker activity. Anthony Guarino, Robert Seropian, and Frank Vecchio were charged with selling membership interests in LLCs that claimed to invest in pre-IPO company shares without proper registration.

CFTC Modernizes Key Regulations for Commodity Pool Operators & Trading Advisors, Files Charges Against Unregistered Florida Firm for Fraud

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has approved a final rule amending Regulation 4.7, which provides exemptions from certain compliance requirements for commodity pool operators (CPOs) and commodity trading advisors (CTAs).

John Deere Agrees to Pay $10 Million in SEC Settlement Over Thai Bribery Scheme

Agricultural machinery giant John Deere has agreed to pay nearly $10 million to settle charges brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The charges stem from a bribery scheme involving the company's Thai subsidiary, Wirtgen Thailand.

Wynn Las Vegas Forfeits $130 Million in Landmark Settlement Over Illegal Money Transfers

Wynn Las Vegas, a subsidiary of Wynn Resorts, Limited, has agreed to a staggering $130,131,645 forfeiture to settle criminal allegations that it conspired with unlicensed money-transmitting businesses to funnel funds for foreign gamblers. Announced by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of California on September 6, 2024, the settlement is believed to be the largest forfeiture ever by a casino based on admissions of criminal wrongdoing.

European Regulators Join Forces to Clarify Digital Market Rules

The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) and the European Commission have announced a collaborative effort to develop guidance on the interplay between the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Keurig Hit with $1.5 Million SEC Fine Over K-Cup Recyclability Claims

Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., the beverage giant known for its popular single-serve coffee makers, has agreed to pay a $1.5 million penalty to settle charges brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over misleading recyclability claims about its K-Cup pods.