Greeting! It’s May 28, and we’re tracking today’s top stories: The sanctions era is quietly ending, top U.S. high school traded curriculum for China-tied donations, Iranian man pleads guilty in Robbinhood ransomware scheme, North Korea infiltrates U.S. remote jobs with the help of everyday Americans, and much more…

***

First time reading?
Subscribe to Illicit Edge and never miss a story!

Powered by

🎯 FEATURED STORY

The Sanctions Era Is Quietly Ending. The West Isn't Ready. Sanctions, originally considered a serious diplomatic tool, are increasingly used like political bandages, quickly slapped on, soon ignored, and easily peeled off. Newsweek

🔥 TOP STORIES

Top U.S. High School Traded Curriculum for Donations in Secretive Business Deals With CCP-Tied Groups Free Beacon

Iranian man pleads guilty in Robbinhood ransomware scheme CyberScoop

North Korea Infiltrates U.S. Remote Jobs With the Help of Everyday Americans WSJ

📘 Featured Report: All Roads Lead to China – North Korean hackers, fentanyl, cartel money laundering, and global organized crime TRM Labs

Crypto kidnappings leave investors, executives on edge Semafor

Unsealed Court Documents Reveal How Drug Traffickers Targeted U.S. Banks OCCRP

Miami man pleads guilty to stealing millions from Venezuelans for wedding at French chateau Miami Herald

Turkish Fintech Firm Papara Seized in Illegal Gambling Probe Reuters

Russian billionaire Valery Kogan has sold his Versailles-style NYC condo — to another wealthy Russian NYP

Quantum Computing Could Break Bitcoin-Like Encryption Far Easier Than Initially Thought CoinDesk

🚩 RUSSIA & CHINA

EU Finds China Responsible For 80 Percent Of Russia Sanctions Avoidance RFERL

Putin Has Retooled Russia’s Economy to Focus Only on War WSJ

Senate GOP demands new sanctions against Russia Axios

ICE investigation leads to indictment of 8 individuals with ties to China in transnational elder fraud scheme DHS

This Chinese woman became the 'two-faced female tyrant' in a wheelchair, orchestrating one of the largest money laundering schemes in history Binance

🔐 CRYPTO & CYBER

Trump’s media company to take $2.5B investment to buy bitcoin Guardian

Shutdown Russian Exchange Garantex is Still Laundering Crypto via Tornado Cash BeInCrypto

Adidas warns cyberattack stole customer data Independent

IMF Says 'Efforts Will Continue' to Ensure El Salvador Doesn't Accumulate More BTC CoinDesk

💸 CORRUPTION & FINANCIAL CRIME

Trump Pardons Reality Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley Following Tax Evasion and Bank Fraud Convictions Variety

U.S. grants Chevron narrow authorization to keep assets in Venezuela Reuters

South African Firms Suspect UAE Companies May Have Obtained Military Intellectual Property OCCRP

Albanian ex-President Ilir Meta charged with corruption and money laundering AP

Another person arrested in connection to Feeding Our Future fraud investigation CBS

The impact of anti-money laundering measures on remittance costs Nature

🚚 TRAFFICKING

Cocaine Cartel with Global Links Hit in EU Crackdown OCCRP

So, what really happened at the cartel training site dubbed ‘Mexican Auschwitz’? Reuters

Italy’s mafia joining forces, turning to Chinese ‘shadow banks’ Reuters

“I know no method to secure the repeal of bad or obnoxious laws so effective as their stringent execution.” —Ulysses S. Grant

Share Illicit Edge with friends!

They can subscribe here for free and never miss a story.