Article: JP Morgan warns hedge funds to expect intraday margin calls

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JP Morgan warns hedge funds to expect intraday margin calls

Nell Mackenzie, 13 July 2021

JP Morgan is warning hedge fund clients that it will demand they post more cash at any time during the day if their trades lose value.

The biggest US bank by assets called clients of its prime brokerage division in the aftermath of the collapse of Archegos Capital Management, according to three people familiar with the matter. JP Morgan told the hedge funds and family offices that they would have to post more collateral on their single-name equity swap positions if they lost value intraday.

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Article: Three Sued Over Blockchain Firm Trading

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Three Sued Over Blockchain Firm Trading

Matthew Heller, 12 July 2021

The controlling shareholder of Long Blockchain has been charged with tipping off his broker about the company’s pivot to blockchain technology before it was publicly announced.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said Eric Watson, a New Zealand national, engaged in an insider trading scheme with Oliver Barret-Lindsay, his friend and broker, and stock promoter Gannon Giguiere, that allegedly resulted in Giguiere making a profit of $162,500 on Long Blockchain shares.

According to the SEC, Watson tipped off Lindsay in December 2017 that the company formerly known as Long Island Tea would be switching from making iced tea and lemonade to providing blockchain technology and Lindsay passed the tip on Giguiere. Continue reading “Article: Three Sued Over Blockchain Firm Trading”

Article: NAB and CBA exposed over PNG money laundering

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NAB and CBA exposed over PNG money laundering

Angus Grigg, 12 July 2021

The largest lender in the Pacific, BSP Financial Group, has been ordered to remove senior managers following breaches of anti-money laundering laws in Papua New Guinea, putting further pressure on Commonwealth Bank of Australia and National Australia Bank to cut ties with the troubled institution.

BSP, which listed on the ASX in May and trades as the Bank of South Pacific, was found by the PNG regulator to have committed dozens of violations of anti-money laundering laws, running to thousands of individual breaches. Continue reading “Article: NAB and CBA exposed over PNG money laundering”

Article: UK faces severe money laundering threats

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UK faces severe money laundering threats

LLB EDITOR , 12 July 2021

Leading UK RegTech specialist SmartSearch has warned the UK could be left behind in the fight against money laundering and financial fraud, if it fails to coordinate with the new agency being formed by the EU.

It has emerged that the European Commission will launch the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) as part of a raft of measures contained in its action plan, set to be revealed on July 20. Continue reading “Article: UK faces severe money laundering threats”

Article: For democracy, it’s a time of swimming against the tide

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For democracy, it’s a time of swimming against the tide

Tim Sullivan, 12 July 2021

The old Nicaraguan revolutionary, with his receding hairline and the goatee that he had finally let turn grey, spoke calmly into the camera as police swarmed toward his house, hidden behind a high wall in a leafy Managua neighborhood. Surveillance drones, he said, were watching overhead.

Decades earlier, Hugo Torres had been a revered guerrilla in the fight against right-wing dictator Anastasio Somoza. In 1974, he’d taken a group of top officials hostage, then traded them for the release of imprisoned comrades. Among those prisoners was Daniel Ortega, a Marxist bank robber who would become Nicaragua’s elected president and later its authoritarian ruler. Continue reading “Article: For democracy, it’s a time of swimming against the tide”

Article: Ten Long Island Residents Charged in Nationwide Identity Fraud Scheme

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Ten Long Island Residents Charged in Nationwide Identity Fraud Scheme

Law Firm Newswire, 12 July 2021

Thirteen people and three corporations were charged on a 108-count indictment in relation to a nationwide synthetic identity fraud scheme that netted over $1 million from financial institutions. Authorities believe the defendants also amassed a credit limit of hundreds of millions of dollars across the United States.

The scam’s alleged mastermind was Adam D. Arena, 43, of Corona, California. He is facing multiple counts of grand larceny and money laundering, among other charges. The other defendants, including ten residents of Suffolk County, Long Island, were charged with grand larceny. Three corporations were charged with money laundering. Continue reading “Article: Ten Long Island Residents Charged in Nationwide Identity Fraud Scheme”

Article: The ‘king of fraud’ who commanded an army of millions

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The ‘king of fraud’ who commanded an army of millions

Joel Khalili, 11 July 2021

Earlier this year, the self-described “king of fraud” stood trial in a federal court in Brooklyn, New York. Aleksandr Zhukov was said to have defrauded the advertising industry of upwards of $7 million dollars, in what has been described as one of the most sophisticated ad fraud campaigns to date.

Although he pled not guilty, unlike his co-conspirators, Zhukov was ultimately convicted of four charges related to wire fraud and money laundering, and now awaits sentencing. Continue reading “Article: The ‘king of fraud’ who commanded an army of millions”

Article: Feds indict ‘The Bull’ for selling insider trading info on the dark web

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Feds indict ‘The Bull’ for selling insider trading info on the dark web

Richard Lawler, 10 July 2021

Nearly four years after the lights went out at AlphaBay, the feds are still charging people with criminal activities linked to the dark web marketplace. On Friday the SEC and the Department of Justice announced charges against Apostolos Trovias, a Greek national who they allege posted on dark web marketplaces using the nickname “The Bull.”

However, unlike drug dealers targeted in previous actions, the authorities allege Trovias used dark web forums as a way to troll for people willing to buy or sell insider trading information while hiding behind “anonymizing software, screen names, and bitcoin payments.” Continue reading “Article: Feds indict ‘The Bull’ for selling insider trading info on the dark web”

Article: RSF man dealt $337 million fraud, DOJ says

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RSF man dealt $337 million fraud, DOJ says

Special to The Grapevine, 10 July 2021

The United States District Court for the Northern District of California this week unsealed an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in San Francisco charging Rancho Santa Fe resident Racho Jordanov with conspiracy to commit trade secret theft and wire fraud, international money laundering, and related charges including obstruction of justice.

Jordanov was the co-founder and former Chief Executive Office of JHL Biotech. He was charged along with Rose Lin, another of the company’s co-founders and former Chief Operating Officer Continue reading “Article: RSF man dealt $337 million fraud, DOJ says”

Article: Malaysia, 1MDB seeks more than $ 5.6 billion in damages from KPMG partners

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Malaysia, 1MDB seeks more than $ 5.6 billion in damages from KPMG partners

Rosanna Zambon and Liz Lee, 10 July 2021

Kuala Lumpur (Reuters)-Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a Malaysian government and state fund, has sought more than $ 5.6 billion in damages from KPMG partners on suspicion of violations and negligence related to corruption scandals at the fund. A court document seen by Reuters showed.

Audit firm KPMG denied the allegations on Friday, promising to “violently” challenge the proceedings filed against 44 current and previous partners, and auditing 1MDB’s financial statements from 2010 to 2012. Linked to.

The proceedings confirmed by the Treasury on Tuesday are the latest in a series of proceedings filed by Malaysian authorities to recover the billions of dollars missing from 1MDB, worldwide. Continue reading “Article: Malaysia, 1MDB seeks more than $ 5.6 billion in damages from KPMG partners”

Article: Is Elon Musk’s Toxic Reign Coming to an End?

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Is Elon Musk’s Toxic Reign Coming to an End?

Tim Fries, 10 July 2021

Afew years ago, no one would have expected for one man to introduce so much volatility into the crypto space. Elon Musk filled that ignoble role, but everything has its expiry date.

What Did Elon Musk Do to Deserve 58 Million Followers?
Elon Musk got his first major financial breakthrough when he sold his Zip2 company to Compaq in 1999 for $307 million. Three years later, as a co-founder of PayPal, he sold it to eBay for $1.5 billion. Established business pedigree and these two financial injections were sufficient for him to focus on more concrete projects: Continue reading “Article: Is Elon Musk’s Toxic Reign Coming to an End?”

Article: Chinese regulator halts Huya-Douyu game-streaming merger

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Chinese regulator halts Huya-Douyu game-streaming merger

Zen Soo, 09 July 2021

HONG KONG – China’s market regulator on Saturday blocked the merger of Tencent-backed game streaming platforms Douyu and Huya following an anti-monopoly investigation, as authorities ramp up scrutiny of some of the country’s biggest technology companies.

Huya and Douyu — which provide videogame live-streaming services akin to Twitch in the U.S. — are two of the largest companies of their kind in China. Both count gaming firm Tencent among their investors. Continue reading “Article: Chinese regulator halts Huya-Douyu game-streaming merger”

Article: SEC charges three people for Long Blockchain Corp insider trading

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SEC charges three people for Long Blockchain Corp insider trading

Patrick Thompson, 09 July 2021

In December 2017, at the peak of the era that many refer to as ‘crypto mania’, New York-based beverage maker ‘Long Island Ice Tea’ changed its name to “Long Blockchain Corp. At the time of the rebrand, the beverage maker said they would transition out of manufacturing beverages and focus their efforts on blockchain technology.

After the rebrand, shares of Long Blockchain Corp rocketed upward by more than 380% intraday–unfortunately, Long Blockchain Corp never transitioned into producing blockchain technologies; which is one of the reasons that three individuals connected to the company have just been charged with insider trading related to the Long Blockchain Corp stock. Continue reading “Article: SEC charges three people for Long Blockchain Corp insider trading”

Article: Is Discord the Next r/WallStreetBets? 5 Stocks That Suggest That’s the Case

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Is Discord the Next r/WallStreetBets? 5 Stocks That Suggest That’s the Case

Thomas Yeung, 09 July 2021

If you want to become a day trader, I don’t blame you. People who consistently earn several percentage points per day can become wealthy beyond belief. Crypto arbitrageur Sam Bankman-Fried recently became a minor celebrity after revealing he was a billionaire by age 29.

Typically, professional traders like Mr. Bankman-Fried are either exploiting price differentials or using some form of statistical arbitrage. That’s when investors profit from minor pricing divergences across different exchanges or assets. Continue reading “Article: Is Discord the Next r/WallStreetBets? 5 Stocks That Suggest That’s the Case”

Article: Cryptocurrency Fraudster Sentenced To 15 Years For Money Laundering And Securities Fraud In Multi-Million Dollar Investment Scheme

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Cryptocurrency Fraudster Sentenced To 15 Years For Money Laundering And Securities Fraud In Multi-Million Dollar Investment Scheme

Department of Justice, 09 July 2021

SAN FRANCISCO – Roger Nils-Jonas Karlsson, citizen of Sweden, was sentenced today to 15 years in prison for securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering charges that defrauded thousands of victims. The court also ordered the defendant to forfeit several properties in Thailand, including a resort, and a forfeiture money judgment of more than $16 million. The sentence was handed down by the Hon. Charles R. Breyer, U.S. District Judge.

Karlsson, 47, pleaded guilty to the charges on March 4, 2021, without a written plea agreement. According to court documents, Karlsson ran an investment fraud scheme from 2011 until his arrest in Thailand in June 2019. Karlsson induced victims to use cryptocurrency such a Bitcoin and other online payment platforms to purchase shares in a scheme he called “Eastern Metal Securities.” Karlsson promised victims astronomical returns tied to the price of gold. Instead, the funds provided by victims were transferred to Karlsson’s personal bank accounts, and he then used proceeds to purchase personal items including expensive homes, a racehorse, and a resort in Thailand. Karlsson’s fraud targeted financially insecure investors, causing severe financial hardship for many of them. Meanwhile, Karlsson went to great lengths to prolong his scheme, including rebranding, offering updates and account statements that provided assurances to the victims that their assets were secure, and offering explanations for the payout delays – including falsely claiming to be working with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the government’s filings in the case describe Karlsson’s attempt to launder the proceeds of his fraud by using multiple aliases and shell companies, layering transactions through cryptocurrency wallets and exchanges, and using offshore accounts and properties. The government argued in its sentencing memorandum that Karlsson’s cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme is one of the largest such schemes the government knows to have been sentenced. Continue reading “Article: Cryptocurrency Fraudster Sentenced To 15 Years For Money Laundering And Securities Fraud In Multi-Million Dollar Investment Scheme”

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