Daily financial-crime intelligence · Updated 20 Jul 2026, 02:01 UTC
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig presented a comprehensive action plan on July 16, 2026, to combat tax evasion, financial crime, money laundering and organized crime.
Money laundering
A Chilean court sentenced three people—two former municipal officials (N.C.M. and B.G.) and an associate (C.M.F.)—for tax fraud and asset laundering. The women received combined sentences of 8 years, while C.M.F. received 7 years.
Fraud & scams
Law No. 2026-534 of June 25, 2026 relating to combating social and tax fraud (articles 34 and 35) strengthens the AMF's sanctioning powers.
Fraud & scams
A Judicial Convention of Public Interest (CJIP) between the Public Prosecutor for Financial Crime and SHAD SA was validated on July 9, 2026 by the president of the Paris Judicial Tribunal. This is the 32nd CJIP signed by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office.
Money laundering
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating Argentina's Football Association (AFA) for financial crimes, with prosecutors in Florida examining approximately $300 million in transactions connected to the association's commercial operations.
Fraud & scams
Mario Adinolfi, journalist, political figure and professional Italian poker player (born August 15, 1971), was arrested by Italy's Guardia di Finanza.
Tax evasion
The Israel Tax Authority suspects attorney Ahikam Gridi of tax evasion involving approximately 10 million shekels.
Fraud & scams
Trader Alexis Kuperfis and his former associate Thierry Braha, active in Switzerland, were sentenced on 7 July 2026 by the Paris tribunal in proceedings pursuant to a plea agreement concluded with the National Financial Prosecutor.
Fraud & scams
Néstor Humberto Martínez, former Colombian Attorney General, is allegedly accused of designing a legal scheme that enabled Odebrecht to evade taxes and secure public contracts without competitive bidding in the Ruta del Sol II megaproject.
Bribery & corruption
Colombia loses approximately 5.2% of GDP annually to tax evasion, according to experts, with corporate income tax evasion accounting for 3.4% of GDP and VAT evasion 1.1%.
Tax evasion
Chile's Confederation of Production and Commerce (CPC) published on July 2, 2026 a report revealing that the illicit economy mobilizes over US$5.700 million annually, equivalent to 1.5% of national GDP and greater than the GDP of entire regions such as Ñuble or Los Ríos.
Money laundering
The Paris Court of Appeal on 1 July 2026 convicted actress Isabelle Adjani to 10 months imprisonment with suspension and a €10,000 fine for aggravated tax fraud and money laundering.
Fraud & scams
The Israel Tax Authority is investigating suspected tax evasion at DC Protection, a startup in the Red-Binot group owned by the Zisapel family. The probe centers on a February 2022 transaction in which Radware acquired DC Protection for $42.5 million.
Money laundering
Representatives of Banfileños S.A. and the Banfileña Reconstruction Trust did not appear to testify before the Federal Criminal Court in Lomas de Zamora.
Money laundering
Five people were charged with operating an illegal network for producing and distributing counterfeit cigarettes in five provinces.
Money laundering
Parisian lawyer Amar Bouaou, known for defending organized crime figures linked to drug trafficking, has been charged with organized money laundering and tax fraud, according to the Paris prosecutor's office.
Tax evasion
Argentina's appellate court upheld charges against AFA president Claudio Tapia and treasurer Pablo Toviggino for unlawful retention of withheld funds totaling 19 billion pesos.
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Money laundering
The National Financial Prosecutor's office (PNF) opened a preliminary investigation in June 2026 for aggravated tax fraud and organized money laundering targeting the Altrad construction group and its founder, Mohed Altrad.
Money laundering
The National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) opened a preliminary investigation into the Mohed Altrad group for aggravated tax fraud and organized money laundering, with tax authorities claiming 331 million euros in unpaid taxes for the 2018-2024 period.
Money laundering
The National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) opened a preliminary investigation into the Altrad group for aggravated tax fraud and organized money laundering, according to Mediapart. Authorities claim €331 million in unpaid taxes (2018-2024), with total damages estimated at €350-400 million.
Money laundering
The Altrad Group, based in Montpellier, is under preliminary investigation by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) for aggravated tax fraud and money laundering of aggravated tax fraud as part of an organized gang.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman announced felony state tax evasion charges against comedian Carlos Mencia for failing to report $8.7 million in personal and corporate income taxes between tax years 2019-2024.
Moscow's Tverskoy District Court convicted blogger Alexandra Mitroshina of money laundering under Article 174.1 of the Russian Criminal Code for legalizing over 127 million rubles obtained through tax evasion by purchasing real estate in Moscow.
Fraud & scams
Barceló Hotels raised 400 million shekels in bond issuance without disclosing in the prospectus that criminal proceedings are pending against owner and CEO Moti Green for tax offenses.
Fraud & scams
A 45-year-old man from Pornic was convicted by the Saint-Nazaire tribunal correctionnel for tax fraud after concealing €272,000 in drug trafficking proceeds between 2018-2021. The tax authority imposed a total demand exceeding €320,000 including penalties. He received a six-month prison sentence.
Money laundering
Four individuals were formally charged on June 17, 2026, for breach of trust, undeclared work, and aggravated money laundering of tax fraud following an investigation into the association Les Pelloux, a medico-social housing facility for vulnerable minors in Lozère.
Fraud & scams
A Dubai Court of First Instance ordered two men to jointly repay Dh723,500 to a company and its manager after they were convicted of impersonating Federal Tax Authority officials. The defendants used forged state seals, official stamps, and fake signatures to defraud victims.
Tax evasion
Amjad Ibrahim of Johns Creek, Georgia, was sentenced to one year and three months in prison following his conviction for evading nearly $1.5 million in federal income taxes over a four-year span. According to the IRS, Ibrahim willfully failed to file tax returns and pay taxes owed on his income.
A soccer player who competed in Israel's top league during the 2026 season was arrested on suspicion of illegal gambling, match-fixing, money laundering violations, and tax evasion offenses committed with others.
Money laundering
Jason Noah Feinman, of Calabasas, California, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for tax evasion, operating an illegal gambling business, and money laundering. Feinman operated a Costa Rica-based business running a website that facilitated illegal gambling activities.
Tax evasion
Argentina's Federal Criminal Cassation Court ruled that the Fiscal Innocence Law (Law 27,799) must be applied retroactively in tax evasion cases when more favorable to the defendant. A company executive facing charges involving approximately $1.99 million in unpaid income tax and roughly $33.
Money laundering
A. P., the brother of former judoka Hugo Peszynski, was convicted by the 32nd Correctional Chamber of the Paris Judicial Court of aggravated money laundering involving organized tax fraud. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment with 18 months suspended, plus a €250,000 fine.
Tax evasion
Chilean PDI (Investigative Police) dismantled criminal organization in Valdivia involved in illegal trafficking and sale of seafood products (salmon, hake). Over 54 individuals detained including 3 Carabineros (police), 1 former Sernapesca official, 1 Valdivia municipality employee.
Money laundering
This investigation documents how Rifaat al-Assad, former commander of Syria's Defence Brigades and alleged architect of the 1982 Hama massacre, accumulated approximately €1 billion in concealed assets across Europe while evading accountability.
Tax evasion
The Supreme Court of Argentina rejected a motion by Alejandro Burzaco and upheld the decision that revoked his dismissal in a case for alleged tax evasion and illicit association related to television rights for football tournaments.
Jamshid Ghomi, 63-year-old Iranian-American trader, arrested in California for evading U.S. sanctions over more than a decade by supplying advanced computer equipment to entities affiliated with Iran's regime for military and nuclear programs.
Fraud & scams
Money tied to notorious Russian Magnitsky tax fraud (perpetrators fraudulently extracted $230 million tax rebate from Russian treasury) slipped into Armenia's financial system unnoticed by regulators.
Money laundering
The FGR detailed how the criminal organization 'El Caballito' operated through 15 shell companies and civil associations in Jalisco, Michoacán, Sinaloa, Sonora, and Quintana Roo, generating over 12 billion pesos in false invoices.
On September 8, 2025, the Paris judicial court approved the CJIP signed on September 5, by which Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank (CACIB) undertook to pay EUR 88.2 million to avoid trial. Crédit Agricole became the first French bank to acknowledge this practice before the courts.
Israel's government legal advisor announced revocation of tax deductions for donations to organizations where individuals evade military service, following Supreme Court ruling requiring elimination of economic benefits for draft-dodging ultra-Orthodox citizens.
Tax evasion
Ricardo Magro, head of the Refit Group and fuel sector tycoon, has been placed on Interpol's Red Notice list by the Brazilian Supreme Court, framed as the largest tax evader in Brazil's history.
Sanctions
On May 14, the economic criminal court rejected AFA's and Claudio 'Chiqui' Tapia's attempt to appeal the decision to prosecute for alleged improper withholding of tax and social security contributions linked to Argentine football clubs.
A social media influencer failed to report the full income he earned from his work in 2020 and 2021 by withholding information from his tax preparer regarding an additional $807,142 and $390,566 in those respective years.
Fraud & scams
Caroline Cayeux, 77, former senator and minister delegate responsible for Local Authorities (July to November 2022), was convicted on April 1, 2026 by the Paris judicial court to ten months suspended imprisonment and to a fine of EUR 100,000 for tax fraud under a CRPC (guilty plea procedure).
Money laundering
OCCRP investigation revealed Worldclear, tiny New Zealand payment firm, transferred hundreds of millions for high-risk clients including wire fraud fugitives, tax fraud convicts, and Belarusian oligarch.
Fraud & scams
Two US tax advisers, Matthew S. and Jerôme L., were sentenced in Belgium to two years in prison and ordered to pay €13.3 million in damages in the CumEx scandal.
Money laundering
The Paris criminal court convicted former UDI Senator Aymeri de Montesquiou on May 7, 2026 for aggravated tax fraud and money laundering.
Money laundering
CHP Istanbul Deputy Fethi Açıkel submitted 11 questions regarding allegations that the Treasury and Finance Ministry is preparing a new asset reconciliation.
Russian businessman Denis Katsyv, suspected in money laundering from the Magnitsky case, withdrew approximately 6 million Swiss francs from Switzerland to his accounts abroad. Switzerland had blocked the assets for ten years as part of the tax fraud investigation uncovered by Sergei Magnitsky.
Money laundering
Israeli police and tax authorities arrested a Tax Authority employee and insurance agent suspected of orchestrating a scheme to unlawfully withdraw pension funds while evading taxes.
Fraud & scams
An amendment was voted on 1 April 2026 proposing the elimination of CJIP provisions for integrity-corruption and tax fraud cases, as well as environmental CJIPs, which sparked significant debate on the future of this mechanism in French law.
Fraud & scams
Spanish National Court judge attributed alleged €88 million tax fraud to Álvaro Romillo, businessman who provided €100,000 to MEP Luis 'Alvise' Pérez. Romillo faces charge alongside criminal allegations as suspected ringleader of cryptocurrency investment scam through Madeira Invest Club platform.
Money laundering
French-language rapper GIMS formally charged March 27, 2026 with aggravated money laundering following arrest March 25, 2026 upon arrival at Paris airport.
On March 10, 2026, Luc Pastorel, CEO of SOS Oxygène group, was sentenced by the Paris court to twenty months suspended prison sentence and a €1.5 million fine for organized tax fraud.
Fraud & scams
A judicial settlement agreement of public interest (CJIP) was concluded on January 6, 2026 between the National Financial Prosecutor's Office and HSBC Bank plc, validated by the Paris judicial court president on January 8, 2026.
Tax evasion
The High Criminal Court in Bahrain sentenced an Arab businessman to 5 years in prison and imposed a fine for VAT evasion after false filings were exposed.
Fraud & scams
On 10 March 2026, Luc Pastorel, director general of the SOS Oxygène group (€578.3 million revenue in 2025), was sentenced by the Paris criminal court to 20 months' suspended prison and a fine of €1.5 million for organized tax fraud.
Fraud & scams
Supreme Court rejected former Manufacturers Association President Sharga Baruch's appeal; sentenced to 12 months imprisonment beginning April 15, 2026 at Nietzana Prison. Convicted of tax evasion, fraud under aggravating circumstances, and document forgery.
Fraud & scams
Thomas Goldstein, a prominent appellate attorney, was convicted of tax evasion, assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, willful failure to timely pay taxes and making false statements to mortgage lenders.
Fraud & scams
Justin Ryan Schmidt, a Cayman national who renounced his U.S. citizenship, was charged with tax evasion, filing false returns and willfully failing to file tax forms disclosing foreign assets.
Fraud & scams
French authorities convicted organizers in fraud case involving Neuchâtel-based Fondation Elysium used to conceal €65 million from French tax authorities. In France, fraudsters have paid and trial of organizers concluded with convictions.
Money laundering
Israel Tax Authority exposed tax evasion method in grocery stores using private ATMs. Suspects allegedly deposited cash from customers into private ATMs, then received funds back via bank transfers plus commissions, laundering proceeds and evading taxes.
Money laundering
French authorities conducted searches at the Institut du Monde Arabe on February 16, 2026, as the PNF launched a preliminary investigation for 'aggravated tax fraud laundering' targeting Jack Lang and his daughter Caroline.
On February 11, 2026, the president of the Paris judicial court Stéphane Noël validated the CJIP concluded between the financial prosecutor and Paprec Group.
Tracfin published on 3 February 2026 the first issue of 'FOCUS TRACFIN' dedicated to money laundering in the art sector. In 2024, Tracfin received 1,109 suspicious transaction reports related to the art market, representing a 35% increase compared to 2023.
Tax evasion
Property sellers and buyers are suspected of false reporting on a transaction involving four apartments in a building for approximately 6 million shekels only, in order to evade capital gains tax and purchase tax, when according to the Tax Authority's investigation, eight apartments were actually sold worth approximately 11 million shekels.
Money laundering
HSBC concluded a judicial interest convention (CJIP) with the National Financial Prosecutor for an amount of 267 million euros (115 million in restitutive component and 152 million in punitive component) for aggravated money laundering of tax fraud.
A CJIP was concluded on January 6, 2026 between the PNF and HSBC Bank Plc regarding intra-group dividend arbitrage operations (cum-cum scheme) involving HSBC's Paris branch between 2014-2019, which allowed the bank to benefit from withholding tax exemptions that could qualify as aggravated tax fraud.
Money laundering
Dubai's highest court rejected final appeal by businessman Balvinder Singh Sahni (also known as Abu Sabah), upholding five-year jail sentence for laundering Dh180 million in Bitcoin proceeds from UK drug trafficking and tax evasion. Court waived Dh150 million fine as assets already seized.
Money laundering
Dubai Court of Cassation issued a final ruling in the high-profile money laundering case against businessman Balvinder Singh Sahni ('Abu Sabah') and 32 co-defendants.
State Prosecutor's Office filed indictments at Central District Court against nine defendants and six companies, plus additional indictment at Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, for tax offenses and money laundering totaling hundreds of millions of shekels.
Fraud & scams
Law enforcement filed an indictment against attorney Alon Goren and real estate broker Shlomo Dhari for systematic tax fraud involving agricultural land transactions in the Ashkelon area between 2013-2018.
Money laundering
Court of Cassation annulled €94 million of €461 million seized from luxury property owner Adrien Labi in 2023 tax fraud and money laundering investigation involving over €500 million unpaid taxes (wealth, corporate, capital gains); seizure technicality involved trust within life insurance policy.
Money laundering
Pakistani customs audit (Dec 2024-Mar 2025) examined 13,140 goods declarations, finding 2,530 with discrepancies involving trade-based money laundering (TBML) risks. Importers drastically undervalued goods (e.g.
Money laundering
The investment banking branch of Crédit Agricole (Cacib) accepted to pay a fine of approximately €88 million to obtain abandonment of an investigation in the 'CumCum' tax fraud affair, at a hearing before the Paris court on September 8, 2025.
A state witness testified in the tax evasion trial of Gal Hirsh, coordinator of hostages and missing persons in the Prime Minister's Office. The defendants allegedly established shell companies to conceal ownership and explicitly did not want to bring money into Israel to avoid taxes.
Fraud & scams
Coordinated operation by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) dismantles tax fraud network in merchandise imports from China. Tax evasion exceeding €700 million in Europe, €56 million in Spain.
Tax evasion
The ADGM's Financial Services Regulatory Authority imposed penalties totaling AED 610,000 across 23 entities for violations of CRS and FATCA regulations.
Fraud & scams
Moshe Barak, former CFO of PlayTech PLC (London-listed online gambling company), was indicted in Tel Aviv District Court for concealing taxable income from exercised stock options worth approximately 4.5 million shekels.
Money laundering
The president of the Paris judicial court approved a public interest judicial agreement (CJIP) between the National Financial Prosecutor's Office and Paprec.
Money laundering
Dubai authorities dismantled two international money laundering networks worth 641 million dirhams.
Money laundering
Dubai Public Prosecution referred defendants to Criminal Court facing charges of possessing illicit funds totaling Dh461 million ($125 million), plus forgery of official documents.
Danish court sentenced British hedge fund trader Sanjay Shah to 12 years in prison for defrauding Danish state of $1.3 billion through 'cum-ex' trading scheme between 2012-2015. Shah, who lived on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, was extradited from UAE in December 2023.
Money laundering
Abu Dhabi Felony Court, which specializes in money laundering and tax evasion cases, convicted 9 defendants and 6 companies of committing fraud resulting in the theft of 18 million dirhams using information technology means.
Frank Carone (former chief of staff to NYC Mayor Eric Adams), Anthony Carone, Crystal Chen, and Yan Po Zhu charged in 13-count indictment for bribery scheme exploiting migrant crisis funding. Carone allegedly received $120,000 in bribes to steer $6.8 million contract to unsuitable hotel.
Money laundering
Former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero appeared at Spain's Audiencia Nacional facing four criminal charges: influence peddling, money laundering, tax fraud, and smuggling.
Director of the Internal Revenue Service (SII) Jorge Trujillo outlined three strategic priorities for 2026-2030: reducing tax evasion, facilitating tax compliance and providing greater certainty to taxpayers.
France enacted a major anti-fraud law (LAW No. 2026-534) on June 25, 2026, published in the Official Journal on June 26, 2026. The law significantly strengthens France's framework for combating social and fiscal fraud.