FTO Archives - Compliance Podcast Network

ACI-FCPA Conference Speaker Preview Series – Matt Ellis on FCPA Enforcement in Mexico

In this episode of the ACI-FCPA and Global Anti-Corruption Conference Speaker Podcasts series, Matt Ellis discusses his panel at the event, “The New FCPA Enforcement Focus in Mexico: A Look at How TCO/FTO Designations Could Impact Prosecutions, Coordination with U.S. Authorities, and the Risk Calculus for Businesses Operating There.”

Some of the issues the panel will discuss are:

The evolving enforcement landscape in Mexico.
The impact of FTO designations; and
Business risks and prosecutorial strategies going forward.

I hope you can join me at the ACI–FCPA Conference. This year’s event will take place on December 3-4 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland, near Washington, D.C. The lineup of this year’s event is simply first-rate, featuring some of the top FCPA professionals, white-collar attorneys, and compliance practitioners in the field.

The 2025 program is being completely redesigned to help your organization stay agile, responsive, and ahead of the curve. Expect a dynamic agenda shaped by real-world priorities, practical takeaways, and the most cutting-edge thinking in compliance—led by a faculty of global practitioners with boots on the ground, encountering the very risks that come across your desk.

Please join me at the event. For information on the event, click here. Listeners of this podcast will receive a discount by using the code D10-999-CPN26.

FCPA Compliance Report – Navigating the Complexities of FTO Designations and Compliance in Mexico and Latin America

Welcome to the award-winning FCPA Compliance Report, the longest-running podcast on compliance. In this episode, Tom welcomes Tim O’Toole and Matt Ellis from Miller & Chevalier Chartered to discuss the significant implications of President Trump’s executive order designating Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs).

Tim and Matt elaborate on the heightened compliance risks and operational challenges now faced by companies operating in these regions. The conversation delves into the legal distinctions between Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs) and FTOs, the broad-ranging impact on industries such as agriculture and logistics, and the urgent need for robust risk assessment strategies to mitigate civil and criminal liabilities under U.S. law. They also explore the broader Latin American context and potential collateral consequences for U.S. and Latin American companies amid anticipations of increased regulatory scrutiny and enforcement actions. The discussion concludes with timely observations on recent U.S. Treasury directives aimed at curbing cartel money laundering activities, showcasing the lengths the administration is willing to go to combat these criminal enterprises.