State Coordinator's Case Example (Elder Abuse-Financial)

In early 2012, FinCEN conducted outreach to all of its state and local law enforcement partners, and asked for cases where FinCEN data played a useful role in their investigations. Below, in their own words, is an example of how FinCEN's stakeholders use FinCEN data. It has been edited only for confidentiality and privacy concerns.The following example is from a state coordinator's case. State coordinators are the primary contact points for local and state law enforcement agencies to obtain FinCEN records. Depending on the state, the coordinator could be the attorney general, state police, or the department of public safety. Frequently, the state coordinators are the primary contact point for a variety of resources that can benefit law enforcement agencies.

"FinCEN data was critical in identifying the disposition of a $20,000 withdrawal from a bank account of elderly persons. Investigators had earlier executed a search warrant for the records of the victims at the bank that had filed the CTR, but the bank had inadvertently missed the transaction in question. The discovery of the CTR resulted in us urging the bank to complete its compliance with the initial search warrant. Records pertaining to the cash withdrawal helped arrest the subject on charges of larceny totaling $218,000."