North America 169 stories

Fraud & scams

Four Minnesota men plead guilty to $2 million Medicaid fraud that used AI to fake records, DOJ says

The US Department of Justice announced that four Minnesota men — Moktar Hassan Aden, 31; Mustafa Dayib Ali, 29; Khalid Ahmed Dayib, 26; and Abdifitah Mohamud Mohamed, 27, all of the Twin Cities area — pleaded guilty to defrauding Minnesota's Housing Stabilization Services Medicaid program of approximately $2.

ENvia US DOJ (Office of Public Affairs)24 Jul 2026
Fraud & scams
North AmericaFraud & scamscharged (allegations…

Three Las Vegas tax preparers indicted for alleged conspiracy to defraud the US and prepare false returns, DOJ says

The US Department of Justice announced that a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging three Las Vegas tax return preparers — Jadee Glover, Julia Brainerd and Shamoya Perkins — with conspiracy to defraud the United States and willfully preparing false tax returns for clients.

ENvia US DOJ (Office of Public Affairs)23 Jul 2026
Money laundering

Canadian intelligence flags crypto-to-cash services as 'knowingly facilitating money laundering,' document shows

A Canadian intelligence memo from FINTRAC's Strategic Intelligence unit assessed that cryptocurrency-to-cash conversion services across Canada are being 'heavily exploited for illicit purposes' and are 'knowingly facilitating money laundering, sanctions evasion' and organized crime activities, according to reporting by The Toronto Star and ICIJ.

ENvia ICIJ (International Consortium of Investigative Journalists)21 Jul 2026
Fraud & scams

SEC Files Fraud Charges Against Mining Automatic and Founder in $22M Cryptocurrency Scheme

The Securities and Exchange Commission filed partially settled charges against Zan Shaikh, a Florida resident, and his company Mining Automatic (registered as Bright Vision Distribution LLC) alleging that they misappropriated and misused investor funds after raising approximately $22 million from more than 380 investors.

ENvia U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission20 Jul 2026
Other

Justice Department Files Proposed Settlement with Owner and Operator of Keystone Pipeline to Resolve Clean Water Act Violations for 2022 Pipeline Rupture in Kansas

The Justice Department filed a proposed settlement with South Bow (USA) LP and South Bow Infrastructure Operations Inc., owners and operators of the Keystone Pipeline, addressing Clean Water Act violations stemming from a December 2022 pipeline rupture in Washington County, Kansas.

ENvia U.S. Department of Justice10 Jul 2026
Money laundering

Former Jackson Mayor Lumumba and ex-City Council member Banks plead guilty in public corruption case

Former Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba pleaded guilty on Monday, July 6, 2026, to one count of conspiracy to commit bribery, wire fraud and money laundering in a federal corruption case. Former City Council member Aaron Banks also pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges on the same day.

ENvia Mississippi Today6 Jul 2026
Money laundering

SEC Institutes Settled Order Against Merrill Lynch for Failing to File Suspicious Activity Reports

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced settled charges against Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated for failing to file numerous Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) from April 2020 through September 2024. Merrill agreed to pay a $7.5 million civil penalty.

ENvia U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission29 Jun 2026
Money laundering

Maryland Man Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Multi-Million-Dollar Money Laundering Scheme

Yahya Sowe, 42, of College Park, Maryland, was sentenced to 114 months in prison and ordered to pay roughly $13 million in restitution for his leadership role in a money laundering conspiracy that moved more than $11 million in proceeds from business email compromise scams and other fraud through shell company bank accounts from 2021 until his arrest in February 2024.

ENvia U.S. Department of Justice (District of Maryland)16 Jun 2026
Fraud & scams

Coordinated Law Enforcement Actions Results in Arrests of Seven Men in Connection with Fraudulent COVID-19 Relief Loan Applications

Seven Las Vegas residents—Elias Santino Acereto, Sheyland Barnett, James Freeman, Tyrone Tatrice Johnson, Marcus Dushun McMillian-Bonner, Yves Harrison Pierre, and Nathan Jeffry Scott—were arrested and charged with submitting fraudulent applications for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs.

ENvia U.S. Department of Justice12 Jun 2026
Money laundering

Former Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department and Former Management and Budget Director Sentenced for Bribery Scheme

Ray Martinez, former Commissioner of the Virgin Islands Police Department, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and Jenifer O'Neal, former Director of the Virgin Islands Office of Management and Budget, was sentenced to 7 years in prison for their roles in a procurement fraud, bribery, and money laundering scheme.

ENvia U.S. Department of Justice12 Jun 2026
Money laundering

California Man Sentenced to Prison for Evading Taxes on More Than $4 Million in Income and Operating Illegal Offshore Gambling Business

Jason Noah Feinman, of Calabasas, California, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for tax evasion, operating an illegal gambling business, and money laundering. Feinman operated a Costa Rica-based business running a website that facilitated illegal gambling activities.

ENvia U.S. Department of Justice9 Jun 2026
Fraud & scams

Founder of Citron Research Found Guilty of Scheming to Manipulate Stock Market via Media Campaigns

Andrew Left, 55, founder of Citron Research and frequent guest on CNBC, Fox Business, and Bloomberg Television, was convicted by a federal jury of securities fraud for manipulating stock market activity by trading opposite to public positions he presented, reaping over $21 million in profits.

ENvia U.S. Department of Justice - Central District of California1 Jun 2026
Money laundering

CFTC and DOJ Charge Google Engineer with Insider Trading on Polymarket Using Internal Search Data

CFTC and DOJ charged a Google software engineer with commodities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering for allegedly using confidential internal Google search data to place bets on Polymarket, making more than $1.2 million. The case represents expanded enforcement into prediction markets.

ENvia U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission27 May 2026
Fraud & scams

Two Defense Contractors Arrested for Bribery and Major Fraud Conspiracy Scheme Affecting Department of War Technology Innovation Contracts

Leonard Pick, 62, of Palm Beach Shores, Florida, and Brian Kent, 59, of Tampa, Florida, were charged with orchestrating a bribery and major fraud conspiracy that corrupted the competitive procurement process for a Department of War technology innovation lab in the Pacific.

ENvia US DOJ20 May 2026
Fraud & scams

HealthSplash Owner Brett Blackman Convicted in $1 Billion Medicare Fraud Conspiracy

Federal jury in Southern District of Florida convicted Brett Blackman, 42, of Kansas, founder/owner of HealthSplash for operating DMERx platform that generated false doctors' orders and prescriptions to defraud Medicare and federal healthcare programs of $1B+ for unnecessary durable medical equipment.

ENvia DOJ Office of Public Affairs14 May 2026
Tax evasion

Social Media Influencer Indicted for Tax Evasion

A social media influencer failed to report the full income he earned from his work in 2020 and 2021 by withholding information from his tax preparer regarding an additional $807,142 and $390,566 in those respective years.

ENvia U.S. Department of Justice13 May 2026
Fraud & scams

Two Sentenced to Prison for $522 Million Genetic Testing Fraud Targeting Medicare and Medicaid

Reyad Salahaldeen, 57, of Buford, Georgia sentenced to 151 months; Mohamad Mustafa, 28, of Duluth, Georgia sentenced to 36 months for scheme to defraud Medicare, Medicaid, private insurers by submitting $522M+ in fraudulent claims for medically unnecessary genetic tests obtained through illegal kickbacks/bribes.

ENvia DOJ Office of Public Affairs4 May 2026
Money laundering

Former Postal Carriers and Bank Manager Indicted in $4.9 Million Mail Theft and Bank Fraud Scheme

Two former U.S. Postal Service mail carriers, a former bank manager, and a convicted felon were indicted for conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. The scheme involved stealing a $4.9 million U.S. Treasury check from the mail.

ENvia Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation30 Apr 2026
Money laundering
North AmericaMoney launderingFraud & scamscharged, not yet adjudicated

Federal Grand Jury Charges Southern Poverty Law Center for Wire Fraud, False Statements, and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering

Montgomery, Alabama grand jury indicted the SPLC on 11 counts alleging the organization diverted over $3 million in donor funds (2014-2023) to individuals associated with violent extremist groups including KKK, Aryan Nations, National Socialist Movement, and American Nazi Party through fictitious…

ENvia US DOJ21 Apr 2026
Money laundering

FinCEN Assesses Historic $80 Million Penalty Against Canaccord Genuity LLC for Securities Fraud-Related Bank Secrecy Act Violations

FinCEN imposed $80 million civil money penalty against Canaccord Genuity LLC for willful BSA violations during March 2018-June 2024. Largest penalty ever imposed against a broker-dealer for BSA violations. Combined with SEC ($20M) and FINRA ($20M) penalties totaling $120M.

ENvia FinCEN6 Mar 2026
Money laundering

Sinaloa Cartel Leader Charged with Narcoterrorism, Material Support of Terrorism and Drug Trafficking

René Arzate-García, also known as 'La Rana,' 42, alleged Tijuana plaza boss for Sinaloa Cartel, charged with narcoterrorism and material support of terrorism related to trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana into United States. U.S.

ENvia U.S. Department of Justice26 Feb 2026
Money laundering

TIGO Guatemala Paid Over $118M To Resolve Foreign Bribery Investigation

Comunicaciones Celulares S.A., doing business as TIGO Guatemala, entered into a two-year deferred prosecution agreement and paid $118 million ($60 million fine and $58.2 million in forfeiture) to resolve charges of conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA.

ENvia U.S. Department of Justice12 Dec 2025
Money laundering

United States Files Civil Forfeiture Complaint Against $225M in Funds Involved in Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud Money Laundering

DOJ filed civil forfeiture complaint against more than $225.3 million in cryptocurrency, marking the largest cryptocurrency seizure in U.S. Secret Service history. Cryptocurrency connected to theft and laundering from victims of cryptocurrency investment fraud schemes ('pig butchering' scams).

ENvia U.S. Department of Justice18 Jun 2025
Sanctions

Launch of OFAC Reconsideration Portal

OFAC launched a new online Reconsideration Portal to streamline the submission of requests for removal from OFAC sanctions lists. The portal guides submitters to provide necessary information upfront rather than through extended questionnaire exchanges.

ENvia U.S. Department of the TreasuryUndated
Fraud & scams

Grand Jury Indicts 2 Former FirstEnergy Executives in Racketeering Conspiracy Involving More Than $60 Million in Bribery Schemes

Charles 'Chuck' Jones (former FirstEnergy CEO) and Michael Dowling (former SVP external affairs) reindicted by Summit County grand jury on 22 combined felony counts including engaging in pattern of corrupt activity, bribery, conspiracy, tampering with evidence, telecommunications fraud, and obstructing justice.

ENvia Ohio Attorney General / DOJUndated
Money laundering

Former NYC Mayoral Chief-Of-Staff and Three Others Charged in Bribery Scheme Related to NYC Migrant Shelter Contract

Frank Carone (former chief of staff to NYC Mayor Eric Adams), Anthony Carone, Crystal Chen, and Yan Po Zhu charged in 13-count indictment for bribery scheme exploiting migrant crisis funding. Carone allegedly received $120,000 in bribes to steer $6.8 million contract to unsuitable hotel.

ENvia U.S. Department of JusticeUndated
Fraud & scams

777 Partners Founder Joshua Wander Faces Additional Charges in Superseding Indictment for Alleged $20 Million Loan Diversion and Witness Tampering

Federal prosecutors filed a superseding indictment adding allegations that Joshua Wander diverted the majority of a $20 million loan into his personal brokerage account and directed employees to fabricate bank statements to conceal the diversion.

ENvia U.S. Department of Justice - Southern District of New YorkUndated
Money laundering

Jamaican Nationals Charged with Running Sweepstakes Scheme that Targeted Elderly Victims Across the U.S.

A federal grand jury in New Haven returned an indictment charging each of six defendants with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud, five counts of mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in connection with a sweepstakes scam targeting elderly victims.

ENvia U.S. Department of JusticeUndated
Money laundering

Nine Coconspirators Convicted in Drug, Money Laundering, $4.5 Million COVID-19 Relief Fraud Conspiracies

Nine defendants were convicted in U.S. District Court in Dayton, Ohio after lead defendant Alex Garnett, 49, of Mason, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine, as well as wire fraud.

ENvia U.S. Department of JusticeUndated
Money laundering

Former NBA Players, Current Player Agent, and Three Other Individuals Charged in Sports Bribery, Illegal Betting and Money Laundering Conspiracies

Former NBA players Malik Beasley and Edward Davis, along with four others including a current NBA player agent, were charged with wire fraud conspiracy, bribery in sporting contests, honest services wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy.

ENvia U.S. Department of JusticeUndated
Fraud & scams

SEC Charges Jay Lucas and Lucas Brand Equity LLC with $50 Million Fraud

The SEC charged Jay Lucas and Lucas Brand Equity LLC with fraudulently inducing hundreds of investors to invest more than $50 million in three private equity funds while diverting millions to personal expenses including rent, alimony, wedding costs, and ownership of a newspaper, with parallel criminal charges filed in the Southern District of New York.

ENvia U.S. Securities and Exchange CommissionUndated
Fraud & scams

FinCEN issues alert on fraud schemes targeting federal student aid

The US Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), in consultation with the Department of Education's Office of Inspector General and the FBI, issued an alert (FIN-2026-Alert004) urging financial institutions to detect, prevent and report suspicious activity connected to fraud schemes targeting federal student aid programs.

ENvia US Department of the Treasury (FinCEN)Undated
Money laundering

US files civil forfeiture complaints seeking more than $25 million in cryptocurrency tied to alleged fraud scams

The US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia announced it had filed five civil forfeiture complaints seeking more than $25 million in cryptocurrency that prosecutors allege was stolen from thousands of fraud victims in the United States and Canada.

ENvia US DOJ (US Attorney's Office, District of Columbia)Undated