• A March 14th Reuters article outlined the New York federal indictments filed in U.S.A. v. Beck, 12-cr-0211 and U.S.A. v. Thomann, 12-cr-0212.  The indictments respectively claimed that Swiss financial advisers Beck and Thomann participated in a conspiracy to commit tax fraud.  Each purportedly hid more than $100 million in assets from the IRS with the alleged assistance of: multiple jurisdictions; and / or bulk-cash smuggling; and / or illicit cash couriers;  and / or nominee bank signatories; and / or sham Liechtenstein foundations; and/ or foreign bank accounts opened in Switzerland or Liechtenstein.
• A Strategy Of Seizing Sinaloa Drug Cartel Assets stated that asset forfeiture laws give authorities tools to search for and then seize illicit drug proceeds.  Pursuant to these laws, the Court earlier entered a $100 million dollar forfeiture order against ex-drug kingpin Benjamin Arellano-Felix.  Mr. Arellano consented to the entry of the order as part of a January 4, 2012 plea agreement in U.S.A. v. Benjamin Arellano-Felix, 97-cr-02520.  The plea agreement led to Mr. Arellano’s 25-year jail sentence, as described at his April 4th criminal judgment.

Copyright 2012 Fred L. Abrams