North America: Criminal Law

On April 16, 2026, FINTRAC published information on the new initiatives and updates it is implementing as a result of recent or upcoming legislative amendments to the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act and the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations.

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FinCEN has proposed a rule to formalize and expand its whistleblower program, offering financial rewards of 10-30% of collected monetary penalties to individuals who report violations of major financial crime laws. The proposed framework establishes clear eligibility criteria, submission procedures, and protections for whistleblowers, while implementing a 120-day waiting period for those in fiduciary or compliance roles to allow entities time to address issues internally.

The Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York have introduced competing corporate enforcement policies that promise declinations for companies that voluntarily self-disclose misconduct.

The Trump administration's new National Fraud Enforcement Division takes operational shape as Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issues a memorandum consolidating major DOJ fraud prosecution units...

The Department of Justice has established a new National Fraud Enforcement Division to combat fraud involving taxpayer dollars and federally-funded programs. Led by newly confirmed Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald, this initiative represents a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to investigating and prosecuting white-collar crime that impacts public funds.

The Federal Court of Appeal (FCA) has ruled that Cabinet lacked reasonable grounds to believe that a national emergency existed when it invoked...

Dozens of college and university campuses experienced protests in April and May of 2024 due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Many were peaceful, but some turned violent...

Ben Cohen charged with "unlawful entry" whilst protesting against the prosecution of Julian Assange.

An INTERPOL Red Notice is one of the most powerful and most frequently misunderstood tools in international law enforcement cooperation. It is often described in the media as an "international arrest warrant," but that characterization is not accurate. A Red Notice is not a warrant and, by itself, does not automatically authorize an arrest in most jurisdictions.

FinCEN has proposed a rule to formalize and expand its whistleblower program, offering financial rewards of 10-30% of collected monetary penalties to individuals who report violations of major financial crime laws. The proposed framework establishes clear eligibility criteria, submission procedures, and protections for whistleblowers, while implementing a 120-day waiting period for those in fiduciary or compliance roles to allow entities time to address issues internally.

Facing an Interpol Red Notice is a serious international legal event, not a minor administrative issue. Individuals subject to Red Notices frequently encounter airport detentions, travel bans, immigration denials, frozen bank accounts, and long-term reputational damage—often without ever being convicted of a crime.