Episodi

  • Amex AML Enforcement: Credit Card Risk, SAR Failures, and Board Accountability

    Amex AML Enforcement: Credit Card Risk, SAR Failures, and Board Accountability
    Oct 14 2026
    The award winning, Compliance into the Weeds is the only weekly podcast which takes a deep dive into a compliance related topic, literally going into the weeds to more fully explore a subject. Looking for some hard-hitting insights on compliance? Look no further than Compliance into the Weeds! In this episode of Compliance into the Weeds, Tom Fox and Matt Kelly discuss the recent OCC and Federal Reserve enforcement actions against American Express. The penalties included a $350 million civil penalty, cease-and-desist orders, and extensive compliance obligations tied to weaknesses in customer due diligence, suspicious activity reporting, staffing, and risk assessment. Tom highlighted that Amex processed billions of transactions, many ordinary credit-card transactions, showing banks must know all customers, not just high-dollar activity, and note regulators’ broader pattern of similar actions across the industry as financial innovation outpaced compliance investment. Matt noted that regulators depend on SARs as critical inputs for broader enforcement “mosaics,” explaining why SAR failures draw intense scrutiny. The orders’ notable feature is direct board involvement, requiring a board-level compliance committee and action plan to hold management accountable, with a strong focus on end-to-end documentation and evidence trails; they see no facts suggesting the egregious, employee-involved criminality seen in TD Bank. Key Highlights · Industry Pattern and Root Causes · Innovation as Compliance Risk · Board Oversight Mandates · Why SARs Matter · DOJ Risk and TD Bank Comparison · Disjointed Compliance and Fixes Resources Tom in the FCPA Compliance Report, Part 1 and Part 2 Tom Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn A multi-award winning podcast, Compliance into the Weeds was most recently honored as one of a Top 25 Regulatory Compliance Podcast and a Top 10 Business Law Podcast, and a Top 12 Risk Management Podcast. Compliance into the Weeds has been conferred a Davey, Communicator and w3 Award, all for podcast excellence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    21 min
  • New Fraud Section Guidelines

    New Fraud Section Guidelines
    Oct 7 2026
    The award winning, Compliance into the Weeds is the only weekly podcast which takes a deep dive into a compliance related topic, literally going into the weeds to more fully explore a subject. Looking for some hard-hitting insights on compliance? Look no further than Compliance into the Weeds! In this episode of Compliance into the Weeds, Tom Fox and Matt Kelly discuss the new Fraud Division enforcement priorities issued by the DOJ. The DOJ’s Fraud Division enforcement priorities matter because they can quickly reshape a company’s compliance risk, especially when prosecutors are told to focus on patterns like widespread victimization, large losses, senior management involvement, and obstruction of investigations. Tom argues updates are a practical cue for compliance leaders to reopen discussions with senior management, the audit committee, and the board, while also treating whistleblower incentives and even political risk as real factors on the company risk register. Matt similarly argues that the DOJ’s new posture means enforcement risk has changed and that companies should respond by refreshing risk assessments, sharpening internal controls, and briefing leadership before a problem becomes more costly. Both perspectives are shaped by their long experience covering corporate compliance and enforcement, with Fox emphasizing proactive governance and Kelly stressing the need to translate DOJ signals into concrete, business-specific risk management. Key Highlights · 10-Factor Fraud Prosecution Memo for Corporations · Multiple Small Fraud Indicators, Material Weakness Risk · DOJ Shift Raises Compliance Costs and Stakes · Declinations for Companies That Voluntarily Self-Disclose · Corporate Enforcement Section and 2024 ECCP Resources Matt in Radical Compliance Tom Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn A multi-award winning podcast, Compliance into the Weeds was most recently honored as one of a Top 25 Regulatory Compliance Podcast and a Top 10 Business Law Podcast, and a Top 12 Risk Management Podcast. Compliance into the Weeds has been conferred a Davey, Communicator and w3 Award, all for podcast excellence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    25 min
  • Southern Glazer’s NPA: How Remediation and ECCP Alignment Drove a Favorable Settlement

    Southern Glazer’s NPA: How Remediation and ECCP Alignment Drove a Favorable Settlement
    Sep 30 2026
    The award-winning Compliance into the Weeds is the only weekly podcast that takes a deep dive into compliance-related topics, literally going into the weeds to explore a subject in greater depth. Looking for hard-hitting compliance insights? Look no further than Compliance into the Weeds! In this episode of Compliance into the Weeds, Tom Fox and Matt Kelly discuss the Southern Glazer NPA. The Southern Glazer Wine and Spirits’ non-prosecution agreement is a rare example where prosecutors credited compliance program remediation, rather than self-disclosure or extensive cooperation, as central to a favorable outcome. Southern Glazer, the largest US liquor distributor, faced a major California kickback and bribery scheme involving five former employees, fabricated records, sham agreements, and luxury benefits to retailers and others, along with alleged tax impacts. The company resolved the matter with a $12.5 million payment and a two-year NPA requiring the CEO and CCO to certify program effectiveness. Tom and Matt review how the NPA affirms DOJ’s Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs as still relevant and detail remediation steps: major headcount and budget increases, upgraded compliance leadership, audits of marketing spend, enhanced training, strengthened third-party controls and AP payment blocks, outside reviews, and tone-at-the-top messaging. Key highlights: Southern Glazer Case Setup Industry Risks and Scheme ECCP Guidance Still Matters Program Overhaul Timeline Concrete Remediation Metrics DOJ Signals Under Trump Era Resources: Matt in Radical Compliance Tom Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn A multi-award-winning podcast, Compliance into the Weeds was most recently honored as one of the Top 25 Regulatory Compliance Podcasts, a Top 10 Business Law Podcast, and a Top 12 Risk Management Podcast. Compliance into the Weeds has received Davey, Communicator, and W3 Awards, all for podcast excellence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    22 min
  • Whistleblower Resolution Delays Is Justice Denied

    Whistleblower Resolution Delays Is Justice Denied
    Sep 23 2026
    The award winning, Compliance into the Weeds is the only weekly podcast which takes a deep dive into a compliance related topic, literally going into the weeds to more fully explore a subject. Looking for some hard-hitting insights on compliance? Look no further than Compliance into the Weeds! In this episode of Compliance into the Weeds, Tom Fox and Matt Kelly discuss a GAO audit of the Department of Homeland Security’s whistleblower retaliation program. They use it as a case study for corporate compliance officers. DHS employees can report internally via the Office of Inspector General hotline or externally to the Office of Special Counsel, but the GAO review focused on DHS’s internal process, where the OIG’s Whistleblower Protection Division (eight investigators) investigates retaliation and, if substantiated, sends cases to the Office of the Secretary and ultimately the DHS Secretary for corrective action. Although targets are six months for investigation and 30 days for secretarial action, GAO found investigations averaged 3.2 years (some up to six) amid rising complaint volumes, turnover, and evidence-gathering challenges, while none of 11 substantiated cases were decided within 30 days due to missing written procedures and no designated accountable official—illustrating how delayed resolution erodes reporting culture and “institutional justice.” Key Highlights · Why the GAO Report Matters · DHS Whistleblower Program Structure · Timeline Expectations vs Reality · Compliance Lessons and GAO Value Resources Matt in Radical Compliance Tom Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn A multi-award winning podcast, Compliance into the Weeds was most recently honored as one of a Top 25 Regulatory Compliance Podcast and a Top 10 Business Law Podcast, and a Top 12 Risk Management Podcast. Compliance into the Weeds has been conferred a Davey, Communicator and w3 Award, all for podcast excellence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    21 min
  • Governing Agentic AI: DFS Cyber Risk Assessments, EU AI Act Accountability, and the Inventory Problem

    Governing Agentic AI: DFS Cyber Risk Assessments, EU AI Act Accountability, and the Inventory Problem
    Sep 16 2026
    The award-winning Compliance into the Weeds is the only weekly podcast that takes a deep dive into compliance-related topics, literally going into the weeds to explore them fully and uncover hard-hitting compliance insights. Look no further than Compliance into the Weeds! In this episode of Compliance into the Weeds, Tom Fox and Matt Kelly discuss the growing compliance and cybersecurity challenges posed by agentic AI. They focus on New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) guidance on cybersecurity risk assessments and a European survey Kelly cites. They argue DFS’s rule, requiring annual or as-needed reassessments after significant technology and threat changes and maintaining an accurate IT asset inventory, implicitly compels organizations to identify and track AI agents, even though agents are not mentioned. Kelly cites a Veeam Software survey of 1,000+ European executives reporting limited visibility into employee-created autonomous AI workflows and AI interactions with sensitive data, complicating EU AI Act requirements for human accountability. The conversation compares potential governance models to Sarbanes-Oxley sub-certifications and enterprise software management, questions whether CISOs can certify compliance amid decentralized agent creation, and notes potential enforcement avenues and the risks of industry self-regulation. Key highlights: Why DFS Guidance Matters Risk Assessments Meet Agents Accountability Under EU AI Act SOX Style Governance Model Enforcement and Self-Regulation Resources: Matt in Radical Compliance (2 posts) Tom Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn A multi-award-winning podcast, Compliance into the Weeds was most recently honored as one of the Top 25 Regulatory Compliance Podcasts, a Top 10 Business Law Podcasts, and a Top 12 Risk Management Podcasts. Compliance into the Weeds has received Davey, Communicator, and W3 Awards, all for podcast excellence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    28 min
  • Clippers Salary-Cap Circumvention: Sham Endorsements, Contract Red Flags, and Compliance Lessons

    Clippers Salary-Cap Circumvention: Sham Endorsements, Contract Red Flags, and Compliance Lessons
    Sep 9 2026
    The award-winning Compliance into the Weeds is the only weekly podcast that takes a deep dive into compliance-related topics, literally going into the weeds to explore a subject in greater depth. Looking for hard-hitting compliance insights? Look no further than Compliance into the Weeds! In this episode of Compliance into the Weeds, Tom Fox and Matt Kelly discuss the NBA’s sanctions against the Los Angeles Clippers for a salary-cap circumvention scheme tied to Kawhi Leonard. In this delicious set of compliance imbroglios, senior management, including owner Steve Ballmer, allegedly arranged sham endorsement deals with four business partners and offsetting Clippers business to funnel about $18 million in extra compensation, plus improperly pay Leonard’s personal expenses. Tom and Matt review the Wachtell Lipton 36-page investigation detailing sparse contracts, unusual counterparties, rapid deal timing, and incriminating emails (including from Gillian Zucker), as well as recidivism after a similar 2019 violation. Penalties include a $30 million team fine, Leonard’s $700K fine, loss of first-round picks for five years, and suspensions for Ballmer, Zucker, and the basketball operations executive. Meanwhile, Ballmer denies wrongdoing and says the Clippers will file an appeal. They highlight contract-management and third-party due diligence lessons from FCPA-style guidance, the need to analyze patterns across multiple agreements, and the value of strong compliance roles in pro sports. Key highlights: NBA Scandal Overview How The Scheme Worked and Why Salary Caps Matter Sham Contracts = Red Flags Paper Trail and Intent Recidivism and Tone at the Top Contract Patterns Lessons Resources: Matt in Radical Compliance Tom in the FCPA Compliance and Ethics Blog Tom Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn A multi-award-winning podcast, Compliance into the Weeds was most recently honored as one of the Top 25 Regulatory Compliance Podcasts, a Top 10 Business Law Podcast, and a Top 12 Risk Management Podcast. Compliance into the Weeds has received Davey, Communicator, and w3 Awards, all for podcast excellence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 min
  • Broken Execution in Day-to-Day Compliance Operations – The BAE Enforcement Action

    Broken Execution in Day-to-Day Compliance Operations – The BAE Enforcement Action
    Sep 2 2026
    The award-winning Compliance into the Weeds is the only weekly podcast that takes a deep dive into compliance-related topics, literally going into the weeds to explore a subject in greater depth. Looking for some hard-hitting insights on compliance? Look no further than Compliance into the Weeds! In this episode of Compliance into the Weeds, Tom Fox and Matt Kelly discuss the recent BAE export control enforcement action. Matt views the BAE export control enforcement action as a strong example of how ITAR compliance failures often stem from routine breakdowns in day-to-day operations rather than dramatic smuggling schemes. He notes that BAE’s U.S. subsidiary sent technical information and services overseas without proper licenses, including to China and even some allied countries, showing that export controls apply to both data and services, not just physical weapons. Kelly argues that the case reveals common compliance weaknesses such as poor training, unclear procedures, weak system warnings, and employee turnover that can leave staff unsure of the rules. His broader point is that companies in export-controlled industries must maintain current licenses and build strong, monitored compliance programs because governments will continue using export controls as an important geopolitical tool. Key highlights: ITAR data shipments trigger BAE’s $36 million penalty Broken execution in day-to-day compliance operations Export-control warnings before sensitive file transmission Missing Red-Flag Prompts in Export Control System Self-Disclosed, Cooperated, Remediated, Monitored by Another Name Resources: Matt in Radical Compliance Tom Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn A multi-award-winning podcast, Compliance into the Weeds was most recently honored as one of the Top 25 Regulatory Compliance Podcasts, a Top 10 Business Law Podcast, and a Top 12 Risk Management Podcast. Compliance into the Weeds has been conferred the Davey, Communicator, and W3 Awards, all for podcast excellence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    22 min
  • AI for Compliance: Lessons from Teaching Cohorts⁠

    AI for Compliance: Lessons from Teaching Cohorts⁠
    Aug 26 2026
    The award-winning Compliance into the Weeds is the only weekly podcast that takes a deep dive into compliance-related topics, literally going into the weeds to explore them more fully. Looking for some hard-hitting insights on compliance? Look no further than Compliance into the Weeds! In this episode of Compliance into the Weeds, Tom Fox and Matt Kelly discuss Kelly’s collaboration with Ethena to run short, paid online AI classes for compliance professionals. Since May, there has been an excellent AI training for compliance professionals, covering vibe coding, content/video generation, and data analytics with hands-on exercises using dummy or public data. Kelly says his biggest takeaway has been how much AI education is still needed and that many compliance teams are only scratching the surface, despite fears that “everyone else” is further along. They review common tools but emphasize that success depends more on the inputs and outputs, data readiness, clear use cases, and acting on results than on which model is chosen. They also address governance, security, privacy, maintenance, technical debt, costs and token budgets, and the need to involve compliance, which often leads to AI governance. The episode ends with reflections on Dolly Parton’s leadership and a story about her retaining rights to the hit song “I Will Always Love You.” Key highlights: AI Class Overview AI Skills Gap Reality Check Good Enough to Start AI Angst and Cost Questions Why Compliance Should Lead AI Governance Dolly Parton Tribute Resources Matt in Radical Compliance Tom Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter LinkedIn A multi-award-winning podcast, Compliance into the Weeds was most recently honored as one of the Top 25 Regulatory Compliance Podcasts, a ⁠Top 10 Business Law Podcast⁠, and ⁠a Top 12 Risk Management Podcast⁠. Compliance into the Weeds has received Davey, Communicator, and W3 Awards, all for podcast excellence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    25 min