FinCEN Names Thomas Ott as Associate Director of Enforcement

WASHINGTON—Jamal El-Hindi, Acting Director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), announced today the selection of Thomas P. Ott as Associate Director for its Enforcement Division. Mr. Ott will oversee FinCEN’s Bank Secrecy Act compliance and enforcement program. This includes developing and implementing compliance and enforcement strategies, supervising investigations, enforcement actions, and other activities that have industry-wide, national, and international impact.

“Tom brings years of directly related experience to this important position,” said Acting Director El-Hindi. “His impressive background and his solid reputation as an outstanding public servant will enhance the Enforcement Division’s growing tradition of excellence.”

Mr. Ott has acted in this position since March 2016. He joined FinCEN in May 2014 as a Senior Advisor to the Director, and was responsible for providing guidance on various matters regarding law enforcement and transnational crime. Prior to joining FinCEN, he was a prosecutor for over 25 years with both the Tax and Criminal Divisions of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ). Most recently, he served for eight years as Deputy Chief of the Organized Crime and Racketeering Section. Throughout his career, he prosecuted and supervised prosecutions of numerous multi-defendant cases involving RICO, public corruption, national security, tax evasion, financial fraud, and money laundering. He was also responsible for the implementation and management of DOJ’s International Organized Crime Program, including the coordination of interagency targeting, development of strategic policy initiatives, training, and outreach. A key part of his responsibilities included building partnerships with law enforcement and foreign counterparts.

Tom received his Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law. He has been the recipient of several Justice Department awards, including the Attorney General’s John Marshall Award for Trial of Litigation, and the Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Reduction and Deterrence of Violent and Organized Crime.