News from June 2024

Ex-Department of Justice official: U.S. should stop forfeited fund sharing with Nigeria in light of 'transparently arbitrary, lawless prosecutions'

Andrew Adams, a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP, has called for the U.S. government to cease voluntarily sharing funds from investigations with Nigeria. This recommendation comes in response to what he describes as the Nigerian government's "arbitrary, lawless" prosecution of American citizen Tigran Gambaryan, a Binance employee and former U.S. federal agent. Adams shared his statement in a May 29 opinion regarding Gambaryan, who has been detained in Nigeria since February 26.

Treasury targets companies behind illicit Houthi shipments

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions today on ten individuals, entities, and vessels involved in the illicit transport of oil and other commodities for the Houthi network facilitated by Sa’id al-Jamal. The action targets maritime shipping and financial facilitators, vessel managers, owners, and a company involved in forging shipping documents.

U.S. sanctions key figures involved in corruption network in Guyana

WASHINGTON — The Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned members of one of Guyana’s wealthiest families, Nazar Mohamed and his son, Azruddin Mohamed, along with their company, Mohamed’s Enterprise, and a Guyanese government official, Mae Thomas. These sanctions were imposed due to their involvement in public corruption in Guyana. Additionally, OFAC designated two other entities, Hadi’s World and Team Mohamed’s Racing Team, for being owned or controlled by Mohamed’s Enterprise and Azruddin.

Carlyle sells Tokiwa Cosmetics Group to Nihon Kolmar Holdings

Tokyo, Japan – June 6, 2024 – Global investment firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) today announced it has agreed to sell 100% of Tokiwa Cosmetics Group (collectively with Tokiwa Corporation and its subsidiaries, “Tokiwa”), a global cosmetics research, development, and manufacturing company, to Nihon Kolmar Holdings (collectively with TOA Inc., its 100% subsidiary, “TOA Group”), Japan’s largest cosmetics ODM/OEM manufacturer. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

NCUA grants provisional charter to Fair Break Federal Credit Union

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has granted a federal charter and Share Insurance Fund coverage to Fair Break Federal Credit Union in Memphis, Tennessee. This marks the second federal credit union to receive a charter under the NCUA’s provisional charter pilot initiative.

Richmond Fed highlights key themes at 2024 Investing in Rural America Conference

The Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond recently hosted its fifth annual Investing in Rural America Conference in Roanoke, Virginia. The event aimed to foster partnerships, develop innovative programs addressing community needs, and educate and retain a talented workforce in small towns and rural areas.

NCUA highlights role of Minority Depository Institutions during awareness month

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (June 3, 2024) – June is Minority Depository Institution Awareness Month at the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), and the agency will feature activities and events highlighting the essential role MDIs play in their communities.