March 2024 - cypherpunks - lists.cpunks.org

JPMorgan’s Federally-Insured Bank Is Fined $348 Million for Losing Track of “Billions” of Trades
by Gunnar Larson 18 Mar '24

18 Mar '24

https://wallstreetonparade.com/2024/03/jpmorgans-federally-insured-bank-is-… By Pam Martens and Russ Martens: March 18, 2024 ~ Jamie Dimon Sits in Front of Trading Monitor in his Office (Source -- 60 Minutes Interview, November 10, 2019) Jamie Dimon Sits in Front of Trading Monitor in his Office (Source: 60 Minutes Interview, November 10, 2019) On Thursday of last week, two of JPMorgan Chase Bank’s federal regulators fined the riskiest bank in the United States $348 million dollars for engaging in “unsafe and unsound banking practices” for failing to supervise “billions” of trades on at least 30 global trading venues. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) fined JPMorgan Chase Bank $250 million while the Federal Reserve fined the bank $98.2 million. The OCC said the misconduct occurred since at least 2019. The Fed said the bank had engaged in the misconduct over the span of nine years, from 2014 to 2023. The key outrage embedded in these charges – that mainstream media failed to point out in its coverage last week – is that this “trading” activity did not occur at the registered brokerage firm of JPMorgan, which has properly licensed traders and trading supervisors. It occurred at the federally-insured bank, which is not allowed to have licensed traders – because casino banking brings on bank runs, bank panics and giant scandals that undermine Americans’ confidence in federally-insured banks. Under Jamie Dimon at the helm of this federally-insured bank, as both Chairman and CEO, JPMorgan Chase Bank has turned giant scandals into an art form. Its rap sheet reads like that of an organized crime family and includes an unprecedented five criminal felony charges. Just last year, its salacious activities with sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, to whom it doled out mountains of hard cash for more than a decade (which he then used to silence his underage victims and accomplices), generated news headlines around the world. The bank settled those charges last year, which had been brought in two civil lawsuits by his victims and by the Attorney General of the U.S. Virgin Islands, for a combined $365 million. (See JPMorgan’s Settlements Reach $365 Million Over Civil Claims It Banked Jeffrey Epstein’s Sex Trafficking of Minors; Criminal Charges Could Lie Ahead.) Adding to the outrage over the mild slap on the wrist from these two regulators last week is that this federally-insured bank was previously charged with engaging in unsafe and unsound banking activities when it used depositors’ money from its federally-insured bank to engage in massive high-risk credit derivative trades in London in 2012 and lost $6.2 billion of depositors’ money. The case became infamously known as the London Whale scandal. The OCC wrote as follows in its settlement document covering the London Whale matter in 2013: “The credit derivatives trading activity constituted recklessly unsafe and unsound practices, was part of a pattern of misconduct and resulted in more than minimal loss, all within the meaning of 12 U.S.C. § 1818(i)(2)(B)”; and “The Bank failed to ensure that significant information related to the credit derivatives trading strategy and deficiencies identified in risk management systems and controls was provided in a timely and appropriate manner to OCC examiners.” The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also settled charges with the bank in the London Whale matter. The SEC focused on JPMorgan’s ineffective internal controls and failure to keep the Audit Committee of its Board informed in a timely manner as required under its own rules and under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The SEC also found the company violated securities laws by filing false information with the SEC: “As a result of its failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2012, and disclosure controls and procedures, and as a result of its filing of inaccurate reports with the Commission (specifically, the Form 8-K filed on April 13, 2012, and the Form 10-Q filed on May 10, 2012), JPMorgan violated Sections 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), and 13(b)(2)(B) of the Exchange Act and Rules 13a-11, 13a-13, and 13a-15 there under,” the SEC said in its settlement document. At the time of the London Whale scandal, a woman named Ina Drew was in charge of the unit of the federally-insured bank that oversaw the derivatives trading in London. That unit of the bank was called the Chief Investment Office. (That unit was created after Jamie Dimon took the helm at the bank.) Ina Drew testified about the matter before the U.S. Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations on March 15, 2013. Drew told the hearing panel that beginning in 1999, she “oversaw the management of the Company’s core investment securities portfolio, the foreign-exchange hedging portfolio, the mortgage servicing rights (MSR) hedging book, and a series of other investment and hedging portfolios based in London, Hong Kong and other foreign cities.” Drew told the Senate Subcommittee that the investment securities portfolio exceeded $500 billion during 2008 and 2009 and as of the first quarter of 2012 was $350 billion. But during the 13 years that Drew supervised massive amounts of securities trading, she had neither a securities license nor a principal’s license to supervise others who were trading securities. At the time, we asked numerous Wall Street regulators to explain how this is possible at Wall Street mega banks. One regulator who spoke on background only told us that Drew could not hold a securities license because she worked for the federally-insured bank, not its broker-dealer (a/k/a brokerage firm). Only employees of broker-dealers are allowed to hold securities licenses. But apparently, not having a securities license does not stop one from supervising a $500 billion portfolio of securities that are, most assuredly, traded by someone. It is a long-held requirement by U.S. securities regulators that if you are going to supervise persons holding a securities license, you must also hold the appropriate securities licenses yourself. Drew, without a license, was supervising traders in London who were registered with the Financial Services Authority (now Financial Conduct Authority). In its 10-K (annual report) filing in February with the SEC, JPMorgan Chase indicated there is a third unnamed regulator that is currently investigating these billions of unsupervised trades. The bank said it was “also in advanced negotiations with a third U.S. regulator, but there is no assurance that such discussions will result in a resolution.” That third regulator should closely examine what is going on in JPMorgan’s own Dark Pools, where the bank is preposterously allowed to trade large amounts of its own bank stock in its own Dark Pools. (See chart below as an example of what went on in the week of October 23, 2023.) Dark Pools are thinly regulated trading platforms inside the mega banks on Wall Street, and elsewhere, which lack the transparency of stock exchanges. Dark Pool Trading in JPMorgan Chase Stock, Week of October 23, 2023 Related Articles: If a Stockbroker Had Jamie Dimon’s BrokerCheck Record, He’d Be Unemployable on Wall Street JPMorgan Chase Owns $2.2 Trillion in Stock Derivatives; Two-Thirds the Total for All Banks OCC Report: JPMorgan Chase and Citibank Control 76 Percent of all Precious Metals Contracts at 5,362 Federally-Insured Banks Both Citigroup and JPMorgan Have Now Received Huge Fines for Crimes the Regulators Won’t Reveal

1 0

Trade Secret Cases Are Up As Clients Eye Patent Alternatives
by Gunnar Larson 18 Mar '24

18 Mar '24

Trade Secret Cases Are Up As Clients Eye Patent Alternatives <https://www.law360.com/newyork/articles/1813855?nl_pk=ac5a3855-e47c-4403-be…> By Ivan Moreno Trade secret litigation has seen a gradual increase over the past decade, driven by the promise of substantial damages awards, a new federal law, and frustration over the challenges of patent litigation, according to intellectual property attorneys. Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/newyork/articles/1813855?nl_pk=ac5a3855-e47c-4403-be…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/newyork/articles/1813855?nl_pk=ac5a3855-e47c-4403-be…>

1 0

'This Is Scary, Boss': Jury Hears Secret Audio In LA RICO Trial
by Gunnar Larson 18 Mar '24

18 Mar '24

'This Is Scary, Boss': Jury Hears Secret Audio In LA RICO Trial <https://www.law360.com/governmentcontracts/articles/1814405?nl_pk=4126fe73-…> By Craig Clough A then-assistant to former Los Angeles City Councilman Jose Huizar secretly recorded his boss as they discussed what to do with a $200,000 cash bribe amid an ongoing FBI probe, according to audio heard Friday by a federal jury considering racketeering and bribery charges against another former city official, Raymond Chan. Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/governmentcontracts/articles/1814405?nl_pk=4126fe73-…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/governmentcontracts/articles/1814405?nl_pk=4126fe73-…>

1 0

FTX Bankruptcy Trade Mints 200% Windfall and Sparks Legal Battle
by Gunnar Larson 18 Mar '24

18 Mar '24

FTX Bankruptcy Trade Mints 200% Windfall and Sparks Legal Battle https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-18/london-fund-s-ftx-bankru… The profits were multiplying at a dizzying clip: 50%, 100%, then suddenly almost 200%. Even for long-time veterans at Attestor Ltd., a boutique London firm that specializes in trading distressed assets, this had the makings of a score to remember.

1 0

Roblox's Casino Games Are 'Preying On Children,' Suit Says
by Gunnar Larson 18 Mar '24

18 Mar '24

Roblox's Casino Games Are 'Preying On Children,' Suit Says <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1814138?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…> By Katryna Perera Online game platform Roblox Corp. has been hit with another proposed class action suit in California federal court accusing it and other companies of "preying on children nationwide" through an "illegal gambling ecosystem" that specifically targets minors. Complaint attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1814138?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/fintech/articles/1814138?nl_pk=d2b3e7ef-ab62-4a62-80…>

1 0

How AI May Be Used In Fintech Fraud — And Fraud Detection
by Gunnar Larson 18 Mar '24

18 Mar '24

How AI May Be Used In Fintech Fraud — And Fraud Detection <https://www.law360.com/capitalmarkets/articles/1813323?nl_pk=abe82add-2a33-…> Recent enforcement actions in the fintech and finance industries show that the government is increasingly pursuing fraud enabled by artificial intelligence — at the same time it’s using AI innovations to enforce regulations and investigate fraud, say attorneys at ArentFox Schiff. Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/capitalmarkets/articles/1813323?nl_pk=abe82add-2a33-…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/capitalmarkets/articles/1813323?nl_pk=abe82add-2a33-…>

1 0

Bitcoin 'Founder' Held In Contempt For Disclosure Delay
by Gunnar Larson 18 Mar '24

18 Mar '24

Bitcoin 'Founder' Held In Contempt For Disclosure Delay <https://www.law360.com/capitalmarkets/articles/1812907?nl_pk=abe82add-2a33-…> By Carolina Bolado A Florida federal judge on Friday held self-professed bitcoin inventor Craig Wright in civil contempt for delaying disclosure of financial information to the holder of a $143 million judgment against him and said a sanctions award of reasonable attorney fees and costs would be appropriate. Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/capitalmarkets/articles/1812907?nl_pk=abe82add-2a33-…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/capitalmarkets/articles/1812907?nl_pk=abe82add-2a33-…>

1 0

Influencer Says Ex-BigLaw Atty Can't Get Stalking Injunction
by Gunnar Larson 18 Mar '24

18 Mar '24

Influencer Says Ex-BigLaw Atty Can't Get Stalking Injunction <https://www.law360.com/insurance/articles/1814058?nl_pk=59612751-8689-4b1e-…> By Andrea Keckley A social media influencer urged a Florida federal court on Thursday to throw out a request from former Greenberg Traurig LLP patent attorney Allan Kassenoff for an injunction against cyberstalking as the lawyer pursues a $150 million defamation suit against him. Motion attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/insurance/articles/1814058?nl_pk=59612751-8689-4b1e-…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/insurance/articles/1814058?nl_pk=59612751-8689-4b1e-…>

1 0

FARA Enforcement May Soon Be In The Halls Of Higher Ed
by Gunnar Larson 18 Mar '24

18 Mar '24

FARA Enforcement May Soon Be In The Halls Of Higher Ed <https://www.law360.com/compliance/articles/1813939?nl_pk=ab5ce197-c1fb-4d8e…> Given Congress’ increased attention to rising foreign influence on U.S. college campuses, the U.S. Department of Justice may soon turn the Foreign Agents Registration Act spotlight on educational institutions and groups, which will need to review their possible obligations under the statute, says Tessa Capeloto at Wiley. Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/compliance/articles/1813939?nl_pk=ab5ce197-c1fb-4d8e…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/compliance/articles/1813939?nl_pk=ab5ce197-c1fb-4d8e…>

1 0

FTC Inks $26M Deal With Two Cypriot Tech Scheme Cos.
by Gunnar Larson 18 Mar '24

18 Mar '24

FTC Inks $26M Deal With Two Cypriot Tech Scheme Cos. <https://www.law360.com/compliance/articles/1814163?nl_pk=ab5ce197-c1fb-4d8e…> By Joyce Hanson The Federal Trade Commission said it has reached a $26 million settlement in D.C. federal court with two Cyprus-based companies that it accuses of defrauding elderly consumers out of tens of millions of dollars in a tech support scam. 2 documents attached | Read full article » <https://www.law360.com/compliance/articles/1814163?nl_pk=ab5ce197-c1fb-4d8e…> | Save to favorites » <https://www.law360.com/compliance/articles/1814163?nl_pk=ab5ce197-c1fb-4d8e…>

1 0