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Fake Heiress, Trojan Horse, and Bad Manosphere
Illicit Edge - Edition for December 14, 2025
Greetings! It’s December 14, and we’re tracking top stories to take you through the weekend: The 73-year-old fake heiress defrauding banks out of millions, China's Auto Threat to America, How a Manosphere Star Accused of Trafficking Was Freed, how Minnesota fraudsters spent millions intended for hungry kids, and much more…
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🎯 FEATURED STORY
The 73-year-old fake heiress defrauding banks out of millions. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Mary Carole McDonnell after she was charged with Bank Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft in 2018. People
🔥 TOP STORIES
Trojan Horse: China's Auto Threat to America – Testimony Before the U.S. House of Representatives Elaine Dezenski
How a Manosphere Star Accused of Rape and Trafficking Was Freed NYT
Luxury cars and private villas: See how Minnesota fraudsters spent millions intended for hungry kids CBS News
Nationwide fined £44m by watchdog for financial crime control failings Guardian
A Chinese official exposed his boss. Now in Texas, he’s hunted by Beijing - with help from US tech AP
Ominous fleet of Iranian-linked tankers off US coast sparks alarm about Trump's widening war with Venezuela Daily Mail
US special ops ‘intercepted Chinese military shipment heading to Iran’ The Telegraph
Treasury’s Bank Regulation Takeover Has a New Goal: Anti-Money-Laundering Rules WSJ
Crypto mogul Do Kwon sentenced to 15 years in prison for $40 billion stablecoin fraud AP
The forensic archaeologist on the hunt for trafficked antiquities CNN
China's ZTE may pay over $1 billion to the US over foreign bribery allegations Reuters
Oklahoma Black Lives Matter leader indicted for fraud, money laundering AP
EU indefinitely freezes Russian assets so Hungary and Slovakia can’t veto their use for Ukraine CNN
Putin can fund Ukraine war for years to come, ex-official says as Trump’s resolve is tested CNBC
Belarus frees 123 prisoners as US lifts sanctions BBC
Columbia Architecture School Partnered With Terror-Tied Lab in Beirut on Ford Foundation-Funded Project Free Beacon
Plus Ultra airline probed over use of bailout money to launder funds from Venezuela in France, Switzerland and Spain El País
IN THE NEWS
💥 SANCTIONS
Trump sanctions Maduro's nephews, 6 ships carrying Venezuela oil Axios
U.S. Unseals Warrant for Tanker Seized by Coast Guard Off the Coast of Venezuela DOJ
‘Everything Is On the Table’: Trump Admin Weighs Terror Sanctions for UNRWA Free Beacon
Top Hamas commander Raad Saad, a key planner of Oct. 7, killed in Gaza City strike BBC
U.S. removes Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes from its sanctions list CBS News
🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA
Russia files lawsuit against Euroclear as Europe bickers over frozen assets Politico
Google faces $129 million French asset freeze after Russian ruling Reuters
'They're no longer hiding': How Russia is shipping liquefied natural gas to China despite sanctions AFP
How Russia Distorts Global Anti-Money Laundering Efforts National Interest
China’s fake name scandal sparks warnings about government credibility and corruption SCMP
💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME
California corruption crisis infests Newsom’s Sacramento New York Post
Financial fraud cost older adults up to $81.5 billion in 2024 CNBC
🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER
Trump Approves First Round of Crypto-Focused Banks WSJ
Tracing firms say Binance’s claims of improving financial crime left out key stats ICIJ
Hamas-affiliated APT targeting government agencies in the Middle East, Morocco The Record
Trump signs executive order on 'national framework' for AI regulation The Record
Apple Issues Security Updates After Two WebKit Flaws Found Exploited in the Wild Hacker News
Jaguar Land Rover workers’ payroll data stolen in cyberattack The Telegraph
What a $440,000 Hack Shows About the Rising Threat of Ethereum 'Permit Scams' Decrypt
🚚 TRAFFICKING
47 Nepalis Rescued From Scam Centers in Myanmar Arrive in Kathmandu OCCRP
Trump expected to sign executive order to reclassify marijuana as soon as Monday CNBC
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!
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