The OECD’s latest paper on transparency in tax matters; a Bulgarian money laundering investigation; and Trevor Cook’s September 9th declaration; are featured at this "Asset Search News Roundup".
An April 20, 2010 statement from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona memorializes the U.S. Department of Justice strategy for fighting the scourge of Mexico’s drug cartels. The April 20th statement indicates that the Department of Justice concentrates on: gathering intelligence about the cartels; targeting cartel leaders for extradition and seizing illicit assets; investigating the cartels’ U.S. crimes like gun and bulk cash smuggling; battling the cartels’ violent crimes and narco-trafficking in the U.S.; and prosecuting cartel members in federal court.
This statement additionally mentioned the Mérida Initiative, (referred to herein as "the Initiative"), which is funding equipment and training for Mexico to fight the cartels. Some of the Initiative’s expenditures are listed at the excerpt below from Table 3, p. 25 of the "Merida Initiative: The United States Has Provided Counternarcotics and Anticrime Support but Needs Better Performance Measures":
(To Enlarge Click On The Excerpt)
Continue Reading Fighting Mexico’s Drug Cartels By Funding A Financial Intelligence Unit
"The Americans & Swiss Target The Kleptocrats" contains an article discussing the Swiss Restitution Of Illicit Assets Act ("RIAA"). This act could be passed next month by the Swiss Parliament. It would be used to freeze the proceeds of public corruption schemes which some dictators and other politically exposed persons might transfer from
"A Tax Fraud & Identity Theft From Miami" & "Bearer Shares & An Asset Search" described money laundering schemes partly facilitated through Cayman Islands bank accounts. On the one hand, some financial investigators report to me that during 2010 the Cayman Islands continue to be an extraordinary money laundering risk.
Cayman
The August 14th “Asset Search News Roundup” mentions money laundering:
This "Asset Search News Roundup" features France’s richest woman; a retired Orlando police officer; and actor Wesley Snipes:
The July 4th "Asset Search News Roundup" concentrates on Rudolf Leopold and cross-border activities:
Austrian museum director and art collector Rudolf Leopold died on Tuesday, as pointed out by both the Associated Press and the New York Times. According to the Copyright Litigation Blog’s July 2nd article, Mr. Leopold’s death basically raises the
A frequently asked questions Web page published by the Financial Action Task Force discusses multilateral initiatives and states: “Large-scale money laundering schemes invariably contain cross-border elements.” The Trevor Cook receiver undoubtedly recognizes the foregoing because he is tracking receivership estate assets across international borders, on behalf of investors damaged by Ponzi schemer and securities fraudster Trevor Cook.
Among other things, the Cook receiver is trying to interdict assets which may have been laundered through Mr. Cook’s purchase of real property in Canada and Panama and by Mr. Cook’s transfer of funds into Swiss bank accounts. Swiss authorities have already frozen a one million dollar bank account at UBS AG connected to Mr. Cook, on the ground of suspected money laundering.
Swiss authorities probably froze this bank account by relying on anti-money laundering legislation including Art. 305bis of the Swiss Criminal Code. Art. 305bis says in part:
“Whoever commits an act suited to frustrate the determination of the origin, the discovery or the confiscation of assets that he knows or should know derive from a crime, shall be punished with imprisonment or a fine“Continue Reading Tracking Trevor Cook’s Assets Across U.S.-Swiss Borders
Discussed today are Arizona’s attempt to stop cross-border crime and Minneapolis Ponzi schemer Trevor Cook:
“If A Judge Can See Your Assets, He Can Seize Them“, mentioned that shell companies formed in Nevada, Wyoming or Delaware especially lacked transparency because in these states there are virtually no reporting requirements about company managers, shareholders, etc.
Some beneficial owners therefore anonymously establish Nevada, Wyoming, or Delaware shell companies and then