The #ACAMSAssembly Hollywood is back! Our first flagship event of 2025 kicked off today. Catch some highlights below: 🌍 Sanctions in a new U.S. administration: As the U.S. enters a new political chapter, global sanctions enforcement is evolving. Attendees heard where foreign policy and compliance intersect—directly from those driving the shift. Michael Cass-Antony reminded us that "Ignorance is not a defense; you must stay clear about the guidance." 📜 Regulators on the record: With insights from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Reserve Board, attendees gained clarity on upcoming priorities. Speakers covered BSA/AML enforcement trends, highlighting staffing challenges, board oversight, third-party risk, and the need for programs to match institutional growth. They also stressed managing insider threats, adapting to technology changes, and noted the regulatory encouragement—but not requirement—for banks to adopt advanced technologies like AI. 🌐 A tangled web of underground banking: A spotlight on Chinese Money Laundering Organizations (CMLOs) revealed their global impact, from “capital flight” to cartel-linked fentanyl trafficking. Our panel discussed how CMLOs enable currency exchanges of dirty money, and how they exploit the cracks of the Chinese financial system. 🧩 Crypto crime, decoded: A gripping DHS case study, presented by Jason S. Samuels, broke down a father-son conspiracy that exploited gaps in the crypto ecosystem—highlighting why KYC is more than just a checkbox. We got to see the ins and outs of the scams, but most importantly, of the investigation that followed… 🤝 Tech companies join the fight: From scam detection to fraud policy, we explored how information sharing and better public awareness are essential to stay ahead of threat actors moving faster than ever. Financial institutions can’t do it alone! Today’s biggest learning? Standing still means falling behind. And these on-stage conversations are just the prompts for the real magic of the event: the conversations happening between attendees, as they compare experiences, exchange notes, and make connections. Tomorrow, we continue. For now, take a look at some of the highlights from Day 1 📸
