Barclays Pulled Into U.S. Money Laundering Investigation

Barclays Yanked Into Money Laundering Investigation
A sign hangs above the windows of a Barclays Plc bank branch in London, U.K., on Tuesday, May 28, 2013. Britain's four biggest banks will have eliminated about 189,000 jobs by the end of this year from their peak staffing levels, bringing employment to a nine-year low amid a dearth of revenue. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images
A sign hangs above the windows of a Barclays Plc bank branch in London, U.K., on Tuesday, May 28, 2013. Britain's four biggest banks will have eliminated about 189,000 jobs by the end of this year from their peak staffing levels, bringing employment to a nine-year low amid a dearth of revenue. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty Images

LONDON (Reuters) - Barclays

U.S. prosecutors have filed an indictment against the operators of Liberty Reserve, accusing the Costa Rica-based company of helping criminals around the world launder more than $6 billion in illicit funds linked to everything from child pornography to software for hacking into banks.

"Barclays can confirm it is co-operating with the investigation, following the notification it received from the authorities," a spokesman for the bank said on Sunday.

The 119-page indictment from U.S. authorities unsealed on Tuesday says on page 45 that Budovsky held an account with Barclays Bank in Spain (http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/May13/LibertyReserveetalDocuments/Liberty%20Reserve,%20et%20al.%20Redacted%20AUSA%20Appln%20with%20exhibits.pdf).

Budovsky, who was arrested in Spain last Friday, opened the personal account in 2009, a source familiar with the situation said on Sunday.

The source added that Barclays has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

(Reporting By Christine Murray; Editing by Greg Mahlich)

Before You Go

11. Journalists

11 Professions Less Trusted Than Bankers

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot