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The Incorporation Transparency and Law Enforcement Assistance Act: Another Tool to Fight Transnational Crime

August 5, 2011
Around the globe today, criminals are seeking to exploit the lack of transparency associated with U.S. companies to harm our national and economic security. Major drug trafficking cartels, arms traffickers and other criminal organizations have employed shell corporations to further their illegal activities and launder their ill-gotten proceeds.  The Department of Justice joins our partners at the Departments of Treasury and Homeland Security in welcoming the introduction of an important bill  (PDF) this week in Congress to “combat U.S. corporations with hidden owners” that would require disclosure of beneficial ownership information in the company formation process. Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division noted:
"It is essential to our national and economic security that we close the loophole enabling some of the world's worst actors in the criminal underworld to use shell companies established in the United States to move and hide their money. The proposed legislation represents an important step toward that goal."
This proposed legislation would facilitate the transparency of the financial system by making it more difficult for criminal organizations to hide behind front companies and shell corporations, an objective referenced in the President’s Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime announced last week.
Component(s): 
Criminal Division

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State-Federal Cooperation in Environmental Enforcement

May 24, 2017
Courtesy of Acting Assistant Attorney General, Jeffrey H. Wood
As a new official within the Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), I have appreciated the positive outreach from a wide range of stakeholders, especially our State partners. State attorney general offices and State environmental officials have reached out or visited the ENRD front office to share their perspectives across a broad range of issues. The Environmental Council of the States, the Association of Air Pollution Control Agencies, and other State associations have afforded me an opportunity to visit with their members to hear about their concerns and priorities. I have tried to approach these first few months of the new administration with open ears, listening more and speaking less, particularly when it comes to the States. On many occasions, when discussing a matter that is taking place in a particular State, I have asked our ENRD attorneys a straightforward question: What does the State have to say about it?
Updated June 1, 2017

ENRD Marks National Park Week and Earth Day with Project at Meridian Hill Park

April 21, 2017
Today, at Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C., employees of the Environment and Natural Resources Division joined Washington Parks & People to plant trees, remove trash and invasive species, and spruce up the Josephine Butler Park Center. Continuing an ENRD tradition, it was the 14th consecutive year the Division’s staff have recognized Earth Day with local public service. Jeff Wood, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division, opened the event. Following below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:
Updated April 28, 2017

An Important Court Opinion Holds Lawful Warrants Can Be Used to Obtain Evidence from U.S. Internet Service Providers When those Providers Store Evidence Outside the U.S.

February 6, 2017
Courtesy of Acting Assistant Attorney General Kenneth Blanco
On Friday, a United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania issued an important opinion in a dispute between the United States and Google over whether Google must comply with warrants issued by United States judges. The matter involved two warrants to search Google accounts belonging to suspected criminals in the United States who communicated with others in the United States. Google refused to fully comply with the warrants, asserting that it could not be compelled to disclose data unless it knew the data was actually located in the United States. The Magistrate Judge ordered Google to comply with the search warrants, specifically finding that no seizure occurs outside the United States and that the search occurs in Pennsylvania.
Updated February 17, 2017

What We Know About Preventing Sexual Assault on Campus

April 25, 2017
Courtesy of Acting Director Nadine M. Neufville, Office on Violence Against Women
The more you know, the safer you will be. That axiom is certainly true for campuses that are working to prevent and reduce sexual assault. When campus communities know more about the many interconnected aspects of sexual assault, the safer their campus will be.
Updated April 25, 2017
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Updated April 7, 2017