Putin Pass, ISIS Gold, and Terror Spies

Illicit Edge - Edition for October 28, 2026

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Hello, Wednesday! It’s October 28, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: Trump Explores Lifting Sanctions on Russia’s Flagship Investment Fund, Gold smuggling funds Islamic State-linked insurgency in eastern Congo, British Man Charged With Helping Iranian Intelligence In UK, Hundreds of staged armed robberies helped thousands pose as crime victims in US immigration scam, and much more…

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Breaking News for FinCrime Professionals
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🎯 FEATURED STORY

Trump Explores Lifting Sanctions on Russia’s Flagship Investment Fund. The move would be the latest U.S. concession to Moscow as President Trump pursues economic incentives he hopes will secure an end to war in Ukraine. New York Times

🔥 TOP STORIES

Gold smuggling funds Islamic State-linked insurgency in eastern Congo Reuters

RAF Fairford plot coordinated by handler known as 'Ali' Sky News

Hundreds of staged armed robberies helped thousands pose as crime victims in US immigration scam Fox News

National Security Division Announces First “Near Miss” Non-Prosecution Agreement Under the Department-wide Corporate Enforcement Policy DOJ

Inside Donald Trump Jr’s Mongolian hunting trip with a Kremlin-linked businessman Financial Times

US indicts Malaysian national after Madagascar scam operation uncovered Record

What It Will Take to Defeat the Houthis New York Times

US agency is again probing if Polymarket broke 2022 settlement Reuters

Alexander Brothers Sentenced to 30 Years Each for Sex Trafficking New York Times

Hackers target US FEC system, disrupting campaign finance disclosures days before midterms Reuters

FBI Miami searches for Colombian fugitive in $54M drug-money laundering operation NBC Miami

U.K. man faces allegations of worldwide money-laundering in Northern California courtroom FOX

Russian court sentences IT specialist to 13 years after crypto exchange handed over his data to Moscow Insider

Ghanaian twins and US woman plead guilty to romance scams BBC

Bitcoin Wallet Maker Keystone Pulls Devices as Stolen Key Opens Door to Fakes Decrypt

IN THE NEWS

🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA

China hands former security regulator anti-graft official suspended death sentence Reuters

Russian Satellites Help Iran’s Allies Strike Saudi Arabia Associated Press

DHS suspends visa-free travel program for Chinese nationals amid birth tourism, security concerns New York Post

Caught stealing: An employee of Russia’s top-secret Department K has been convicted of selling a classified database Insider

German soldier led local branch of Putin-linked Night Wolves biker club for years Insider

China’s new trade secrets law draws White House warning Politico

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🚀 SANCTIONS & TERROR

Iraqi court sentences seven French ISIS members to prison The National

NYC native who became ISIS teen bride faces decade in prison as she's found guilty of training with terror group New York Post

State Department ‘monitoring’ Palestine Action for ignoring new terror sanctions Washington Examiner

Can The EU Put Russia's GRU On Its Terror List? RFE/RL

Europe's New Financial Firewall: Closing the Door on Iranian Terror Financing and Russian Sanctions Evasion JCFA

Dozens of Somali soldiers killed in battle with al Shabaab Reuters

At least 62 people killed in attack on a community in northeastern Nigeria Associated Press

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

Evening sessions urged as fraud, money-laundering cases pack Hong Kong courts South China Morning Post

Fugitive Fraudster Herb Kimble Sentenced to 20 Years for International Healthcare Fraud Scheme DOJ

U.S. Court Sentences Lender to 15 Years over $76M Ponzi Scheme OCCRP

Nigerian Man Extradited from Benin to Face Federal Charges in $100 Million Stolen Identity Tax Scheme DOJ

Minnesota appeals court reinstates guilty verdict in $7.2 million fraud case Star Tribune

Multiple Individuals Arrested for Health Care Fraud Conspiracy following Homeland Security Task Force Investigation DOJ

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

Ukrainian National Sentenced for Role in Hacking Hospitals, Businesses, and Governments as Part of Ransomware Conspiracies Causing Over $100 Million in Losses DOJ

Japan internet giant GMO says hackers posted stolen customer data TechCrunch

“Bulletproof” website domain seized in international law enforcement operation DOJ

CyberStrikeAI Uses 44 AI Agents to Automate Hacking Operations Against Japan Targets The Hacker News

Crypto Casino Gamdom Faces $15M Bitcoin Ransom After Multimillion-Dollar Hack Bitcoin.com

US government says hackers are now exploiting critical PHP web bugs TechCrunch

🚚 TRAFFICKING

Attorney General James Uthmeier Charges Sinaloa Cartel Network in RICO Cocaine Trafficking Case Florida Attorney General

Fugitive mom wanted in daughter’s Arizona murder used cartels to hide for years before capture in Mexico Fox News

Terrorism-Linked Colombian Drug Trafficker Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Import Nearly 62 Pounds of Cocaine into U.S. DOJ

Guatemalan National Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Narcotics Trafficking DOJ

El Paso federal court sentences human smuggler 'Monstro' to 9 years in prison KFOX14

Indonesia Seizes More Than 2 Tons of Narcotics in Major Anti-drug Operations Diplomat

“I can resist everything except temptation.” — Oscar Wilde

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