Special Agent Brings Legal & Criminal Experience to MSB Banking Team

Miami, FL, December 22, 2016 (Newswire.com) - NATIONAL CHECK & CURRENCY announces the hiring of Louis Skenderis as General Counsel. Louis comes to National Check & Currency from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the main investigatory arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  As an HSI special agent for over nine years, Louis has comprehensive experience conducting criminal investigations involving money laundering, investment fraud, bank fraud, unlicensed and illegal money services businesses, and other offenses involving the Money Laundering Control Act, Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), and the USA PATRIOT Act.

Before working as a special agent for HSI, Louis worked at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Louis is a powerful addition to NCC’s MSB banking team, with diverse experience at FinCEN in both the criminal and the regulatory departments. This dual experience gives Louis unparalleled insight into what check cashers and MSBs need to do to prevent fraud, stay compliant, and operate efficiently.  

Louis' background with both the criminal and regulatory departments of FinCEN coupled with his work for the US Department of Homeland Security make him a triple threat. This experience gives him special insight into how the federal government views and regulates businesses in the financial sector. Furthermore, Louis' legal degree and experience with complex regulation will allow NCC to react instantly and accurately to regulatory changes. The fact that Louis is a former federal agent reiterates that NCC takes compliance seriously.

Mark Ochab, Director of Banking

For several years in the Office of Investigative Support, Louis worked alongside federal, state and international law enforcement and intelligence officials to exploit BSA data and uncover the activities of terrorist financing networks and other sophisticated global criminal organizations. Louis then transferred to the Regulatory Policy and Programs Division, where he drafted anti-money laundering regulations and composed administrative guidance to MSBs pertaining to the BSA.  

At FinCEN, Louis was also responsible for conducting legal sufficiency reviews of every law enforcement request to financial institutions under Section 314(a) of the USA PATRIOT Act. Louis’ peerless experience with both criminal investigations and the MSB regulatory regime will provide strong leadership for NCC. Louis holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bucknell University and a law degree from Syracuse University College of Law.

As General Counsel for NCC, Louis Skenderis will oversee operations to ensure that all financial activities are conducted in a compliant, lawful manner.  Louis will also serve as a vital part of the new client acquisition team. In this role, Louis will guarantee that all banking customers presented by NCC are well capitalized and fully compliant with state and federal laws and regulations.

Louis notes, “I am honored to join NCC’s team of extraordinary professionals. I believe in the unrivaled products and service NCC provides to their MSB clients. NCC's banking partners will appreciate the insight I bring from my regulatory work at FinCEN and my criminal casework at Homeland Security as it pertains to anti-money laundering issues and the check cashing industry.  This insight will help NCC and its banking partners create workable solutions that benefit both our financial institutions and our clients through NCC’s one of a kind business model.”

Likewise, NCC’s customers will benefit from Louis’ insights into the money laundering trends within the industry, which he gained working on the prosecution of illicit check cashing operations and unlawful MSBs.  Having seen first-hand what money laundering looks like on the ground level, Louis is be able to assist NCC’s MSB customers in their development of workable and realistic anti-money laundering compliance solutions.

NCC’s Director of Banking, Mark Ochab, affirms, “Louis’ background with both the criminal and regulatory departments of FinCEN coupled with his work for the US Department of Homeland Security make him a triple threat. This experience gives him special insight into how the Federal government views and regulates businesses in the financial sector. Furthermore, Louis’ legal degree and experience with complex regulation will allow NCC to react instantly and accurately to regulatory changes.  The fact that Louis is a former Special Agent reiterates that NCC takes compliance seriously.”

NCC’s record of hiring experienced federal agents, who specialize in financial crime and regulation, shows their unwavering commitment to compliance and transparency. As the check cashing industry evolves, NCC is committed to staying ahead of the curve. NCC’s clients benefit from this forward-looking mindset and from the high caliber team at their disposal.

In addition to real MSB bank accounts, NCC supports every client with strategic MSB services. These services are the icing on the cake for check cashing clients. NCC’s supported MSB services include Remote Deposit Capture (RDC), Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposits, wire transfer, armored cash delivery, advanced POS technology, and more.

Source: National Check & Currency

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