014 - Certified AML Specialist Credential - ACAMS with Dr. Scott Grob

An unnamed IRS-Criminal Investigation supervisory special agent is making headlines about the politicization of the Department of Justice.  The whistleblower is seeking advice from the United States Congress to disclose what he (assuming it is a he) knows regarding preferential treatment of the Department of Justice.

In this episode, I discuss the role of IRS-Criminal Investigation, the role of a supervisory special agent, the uniqueness of the whistleblowing act, the laws that hamper disclosing tax and grand jury information, and my why this is unchartered territory with IRS-CI.

Leah Wietholter is a CPA, CFE, Private Investigator, and CEO of Workman Forensics, a forensic accounting firm in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  She started her career at the FBI, went to a CPA firm, and then later started her own firm.

https://www.workmanforensics.com/
https://open.spotify.com/show/5XIzhOCoLSoFG1r4IrJ1Lf

In this episode we discuss:

1. Why Leah started a forensic accounting practice
2. How she marketed herself to get clients
3. How her best practices became a book
4. Why customer service exceeds credentials

Karen Webber is a CPA, CFE, and the founder of FraudFindr.com, a software company specializing in fighting financial exploitation of elderly persons.  She is currently a partner at The Bonadio Group.

https://fraudfindr.com/
https://www.bonadio.com/our-people/karen-webber

In this episode, we discuss:

1. How forensic accounting is used to fight elder abuse
2. The effects of financial fraud on elderly victims
3. Why she started Fraudfindr.com
4. How the software service flags suspicious transactions

Brian Behr is the Bankruptcy Administrator for the Eastern District of North Carolina.  The Bankruptcy Administrator's Office and the Bankruptcy Trustee's Office are similar across the country. They serve as the watchdog for the Bankruptcy Court. Very often the Bankruptcy Administrator seeks or refers fraud examiners to assist in bankruptcy proceedings.

https://www.uscourts.gov/services-forms/bankruptcy/trustees-and-administrators

In this episode, we discuss:

1. The role of the Bankruptcy Administrator
2. The biggest misconception of bankruptcy
3. When the bankruptcy court uses fraud examiners
4. How to market professional services to bankruptcy lawyers

Tiffany Couch is an author, forensic accountant and owner of Acuity Forensics.  She has a CPA license, CFE and CFF credential.  She wrote about fraud stories in "The Thief in Your Company."

www.acuityforensics.com

In this episode, we discuss:

1. The emotional toll on fraud victims.
2. How she started her forensic accounting business.
3. Why she wrote her book “The Thief in Your Company.”
4. And her recommendation to new forensic accountants.

Erin O’Loughin is the Senior Director of Training at the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (ACFCS).  She has been an analyst for the CIA and financial institutions.

https://www.acfcs.org/

In this episode we discuss:

1. How she started her career in investigating fraud and money laundering
2. How the ACFCS started
3. The role of the ACFCS in fighting fraud
4. How to qualify for the CFCS credential
5. Why learning the BSA and Patriot Act is beneficial

In this short episode, there are a few updates on what is happening recently.  My new book, Criminal Tax Secrets, is published on Amazon.  Please get a copy for that special someone who needs to know how IRS-CI evaluates criminal tax investigations.  The book is a reference guide, so a paperback will serve you better than a Kindle; or just get both.

A sister podcast (Criminal Tax Files) was created, which is all about criminal tax investigation and prosecutions.  I also created an author website at www.robertnordlander.com.  The normal podcast episodes will start next week.

If you are interested in how IRS-CI evaluates its investigations, my recent book Criminal Tax Secrets is available in paperback and Kindle on Amazon.

www.nordlandercpa.com
www.robertnordlander.com

J.P. Davis is a federal public defender for the Western Judicial District of North Carolina.  The federal public defender's office represents indigent clients in federal criminal court.  At times, those attorneys need experts, especially in white-collar crimes.

https://ncw.fd.org/

In this episode, we discuss:

1. The purpose of the federal public defender's office
2. Why the public defender's office needs experts
3. How forensic accountants can market themselves
4. The role of technology in reviewing large volumes of data.

Sam Azhari is a white collar defense attorney in Chicago, Illinois.  He represents defendants across the country.  As PPP prosecutions are pursued, Sam talks about how the fraud is committed and how the courts are evaluating the crimes.

https://azharillc.com/

In this episode, we discuss:

1. How fraud is committed with PPP and EIDL loans
2. The criteria used to calculate prison time
3. How forensic accountants can market themselves as experts.

Tod McDonald was a CPA investigating a bankruptcy case, when he uncovered the largest Ponzi scheme in the history of the Northwest United States.  Seeing the need for forensic accounting software, he co-founded Valid8, a forensic accounting software company.

https://www.valid8financial.com/

In this episode, we discuss:

1. How he uncovered the largest Ponzi scheme in the Northwest US.
2. The need for forensic accounting software.
3. Why Valid8 was created to investigators quickly follow the money.
4. His observations in the financial and technology field.