In 2021, the United States created a whistleblower program designed specifically to combat money-laundering [hyperlink] and other unlawful uses of the international banking system. The Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 (“AMLA”) provides financial rewards and retaliation protections to whistleblowers who report Bank Secrecy Act and economic sanctions violations to the U.S. Department of Treasury, the U.S. Department of Justice, or their employer.
Under the AMLA Program, a whistleblower who provides original information about a money laundering law violation may be eligible to receive between 10% and 30% of the recovery. Importantly, Whistleblowers who are represented by an attorney may remain anonymous. The AMLA also includes protections for whistleblowers from retaliation [hyperlink] by their employers for reporting violations. AMLA Program whistleblower do not have to be company insiders and do not have to be U.S. citizens.
Money-laundering and Bank Secrecy Act violations are complex, and it is important to have counsel with experience and know-how to navigate the complexities of financial fraud and effectively advocate for you before enforcement agencies. Kessler Topaz’s team is experienced in money-laundering and banking violations – our whistleblower professionals include former federal prosecutors who have prosecuted violations of federal anti-money laundering laws and Bank Secrecy Act violations, as well as former FBI agents who have investigated these offenses, and worked in financial industry compliance roles.
If you would like to speak to a member of our whistleblower group about a potential whistleblower matter, please contact us to schedule a case evaluation. All case evaluations are confidential and free.