On 21 AUG 19, LTC Sargis Sangari, CEO of the Near East Center for Strategic Engagement (NEC-SE), participated in a panel discussion at the 3rd Annual Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) Financial Institution and Law Enforcement Collaboration Forum hosted by the U.S. Capital Chapter of the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) in McLean, VA.

LTC Sangari’s specific panel discussion focused on establishing effective public/private partnerships, 314(a)/314(b) information sharing and best practices, and emerging trends in AML/CTF and Trans-National Organized Crime (TNOC). Mr. Lester Joseph, Manager of the Global Financial Crimes Intelligence Group at Wells Fargo, moderated the panel discussion. Lester was awarded the 2019 ACAMS U.S. Capital Chapter Excellence in Public/Private Sector. The other panelists included Raymond Villanueva, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Washington, D.C., and Matthew Thomas, Senior Client Manager at Thomson Reuters.

Over 190 attendees were present at the event including representatives from major financial institutions, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. House Financial Services Committee and Washington/Baltimore High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA).

Some of the speakers and panelists representing these entities included Michael N. Emmerman, who delivered the keynote presentation titled “Follow the Money-Operational Intersects of Money, Drugs, and Terrorism.” Michael is an Intelligence Analyst with the U.S. DOJ as well as Managing Director and Senior Money Manager at Neuberger Berman Investment Advisers LLC. Michael is also the founder and lead investigator of The Special Operations Support Group, a not-for-profit organization that advises law enforcement and intelligence agencies on AML-CTF issues.

Don H. Im, Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC), for the Special Operations Division, U.S. DEA delivered the lunch keynote presentation titled “Chinese Organized Crime and Global Money Laundering: Impact of China’s Crackdown on Corruption.” ASAC Don is currently overseeing major narcotic, narco-terrorism and AML/CTF investigations in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East including Afghanistan-Pakistan.

Danielle Camner Lindholm, Director of National Security Policy, U.S. House Financial Services Committee, delivered a presentation on the legislative updates of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) reforms.

Steve Gurdak, Group Supervisor of Northern Virginia’s Financial Initiative (NVFI), introduced the “Los Angeles IDOL Case” focusing on a money-laundering investigation that was presented by Ken Schaffer, Special Agent at the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Dennis Lormel, President of DML Associates, moderated the Law Enforcement Panel Roundtable Discussion titled “2019 Financial Crimes Trends and Emerging Threats.” In December 2000, Dennis was promoted to Chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Financial Crimes Program and immediately following the terrorist attacks of September 2001 formulated, established, and directed the FBI’s comprehensive terrorist financing initiative. The panelists included Kelly R. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge (SAC), IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), Washington, DC Field Office, Shaw Polonet, ASACH HSI, New York Field Office, and Jeff Cannon, Section Chief of the FBI Counterterrorism Division’s Terrorist Financing Operations Sections. In February 2019, the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division created the Strategic Partner Engagement Section for Jeff to continue expanding the scope and effectiveness of proactive engagement with the public and private sectors.

The final panel titled “Subpoena and Document Production Best Practices” was moderated by Lauren Kohr, who is the Senior Vice President, Chief Risk Officer at Old Dominion National Bank and serves on the ACAMS Advisory Board, U.S. Capital Board of Directors. The panelists included Stacy Ivie, Task Force Officer, Washington/Baltimore HIDTA SAR Review Team, Sepideh Behram, Principal Vice President and BSA Officer at Burke & Herbert Bank, and Jennifer E. Ambuehl, Acting Chief, Bank Integrity Unit, Money Laundering, and Asset Recovery Section, Criminal Division, U.S. DOJ.

NEC-SE will continue its support for ACAMS both locally and internationally.