The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "money laundering" ...
-
Documenting Russian Federation Corruption
With documentation from several secret bank accounts and offshore corporate records, Barron's Dow Jones traced how Russia's most powerful officials have looted their nation in cahoots with cops, gangsters, and oligarchs. They show how a worldwide network of money laundering professionals that facilitates that plunder, while also abetting other global mischief like drug smuggling and arms trafficking.
Tags: corruption; drug smuggling; arms trafficking; Russia
-
Offshore Crime, Inc./Miskovic Millions
An investigation of business practices by East European criminals and corrupt politicians uncovers money laundering, tax avoidance, and other illegal actions costing $250 billion each year in lost tax revenues.
Tags: money laundering; tax evasion; offshore; European crime; offshore accounts
-
Lee Sheriff's Link With Felon Raises Influence Fears
Lee County’s Sheriff has been close friends with a convicted money launderer and kidnapper. During the campaigns for sheriff, he obtained money and advice from the convicted felon. Though, being associated with a felon is not a crime, it is prohibited by the sheriff’s office policy. Once the sheriff learned of his past, he talked less and less to him but they still remain friends today.
Tags: Mike Scott; Richard Spence; law enforcement; police officers; deputies; drug cartel; corruption; connections
-
Rat Trap
In the story, an FBI informant has been known to hound the targets of the investigation with money and gifts, but also “led them by the nose”. He has also “prodded, persuaded and cajoled the targets to advance plans to launder money supposedly used to purchase an anti-aircraft missile”. So this article brought up the FBI’s use of informants and the ethical lines crossed by some of them.
Tags: Federal Bureau of Investigation; anti-American; violent; terrorists; corruption; Middle Eastern descent
-
That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles; Tales of the Dragon
A network of ranch homes in a sleepy suburb became the site of Colorado's largest indoor marijuana bust. Dan Tang, the pot-growing ring leader, got off on just one charge of money laundering.
Tags: Dan Tang; Colorado; marijuana; drug bust; growing; indoor; police; largest indoor drug bust;
-
Financial Fraud
Wall Street Journal reporter, Mark Maremont exposes a California investment banker turned con man who was charged with money laundering. A deeper look into the life of Danny Pang reveals questions about the validity of his credentials and of the mysterious death of his first wife. Mr. Pang denied any wrongdoings until his death was found dead in September 2009.
Tags: Danny Pang; Private Equity Management Group Inc.; Ponzi scheme; Janie Louise Pang;
-
The Shadow Economy
This series of investigations into the Baltimore crime scene was inspired by the public interest in the HBO show The Wire, a show highlighting Baltimore crime. The paper uncovers the shadow economy in which launderers and drug dealers meet and develop political connections to stay in business
Tags: Milton Tillman Jr.; gangster; money-laundering; bondsman; felony;
-
Dirty Money
Some law enforcement agencies have become addicted to seizing drug money. This story found:</p> <p>*Police agencies are seizing bulk cash from drivers and alleging it's drug money without finding any drugs, or, in many cases, without ever filing criminal money laundering charges.</p> <p>* Underfunded, usually rural police and prosecutor's offices have become dependent on seizing suspected drug money to carry out the basic functions of their offices, a state of affairs specifically discouraged by federal asset forfeiture laws.</P> <p>* In the extreme, some corrupt police forces are setting up "forfeiture traps," reminiscent of small-town speed traps, to catch suspected drug couriers and take their currency, a practice some attorneys call "highway robbery"</p> <p>* Some sheriff's departments have become more interested in confiscating cash than drugs, i.d. working southbound lanes into Mexico -- "our piggybank," one South Texas sheriff told me -- where they're more likely to catch money couriers. The reporters also found that these departments are not interested in investigating the couriers as a way to disrupt cartel activities -- all they're interested in is seizing the cash.</p> <p>* With little oversight built into state or federal asset forfeiture laws, some prosecutors' office are misspending their seized drug funds on things like margarita machines for the annual picnic and soccer uniforms for the police soccer team.</p> <p>* More and more law enforcement agencies are taking advantage of the "piggy banks" on their highways. According to the US Justice Department, in the past four years seized assets tripled from $567 million to $1.6 billion.</p>
Tags: Drug enforcement; seizure of money; US Justice Department; radio; forfeiture traps
-
Bush Library Scandal
The three parts of the series deal with indications that senior White House officials in the administration of George W. Bush were being made available to foreign politicians and making policy announcements in return for donations to the Bush library fund.
Tags: lobbying; Bush administration; misuse of funds; money laundering; library fund; politics; international policy
-
Robert Felner
Former University of Louisville Dean Robert Felner was involved in a money laundering scheme that led to the misappropriation of $2.3 million in contract and federal grant funds.
Tags: Thomas Schroeder; mail fraud; University of Rhode Island; education; graduate school;