Colorado

Join a community that promotes development and fights for results

Colorado

Join a community that promotes development and fights for results

The Colorado ACFCS Chapter exists to strengthen the community of financial crime specialists through knowledge sharing and collaboration. Our purpose is to help industry professionals improve results in financial crime detection, investigation, and prevention. The Chapter promotes ACFCS as a platform for collaboration between public and private sector financial crime specialists to facilitate the sharing of best practices.
 
We offer unique career development opportunities through the sponsorship of educational programs, including a wide range of events of local interest, featuring speakers from across the financial, regulatory, and enforcement sectors. We also provide invaluable professional networking opportunities for our members from across the great state of Colorado.

OUR MISSION

‘’To develop a community of professionals that promote collaboration, cooperation, innovation, and knowledge sharing in the areas of financial crime investigation, deterrence, and prevention.”

OUR VISION

“To build a safe and inclusive environment that contributes to best practices, shares ideas, and builds relationships across the industry of financial crime professionals with a goal toward investigating and preventing financial crimes globally.”
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Paul Marrinan

Co-Chair

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Paul Marrinan (Co-Chair) works in Blockchain Intelligence for TRM Labs, and is Principal of Túath Consulting, where he has provided consulting services internationally across the African continent, North America, the LATAM region, the Philippines, and Hong Kong. TRM Labs is an industry leading blockchain analytics company. Prior to joining TRM in May 2021, he was Head of Investigations at Inca Digital, a data analytics company focused on cryptocurrency regulation.

Paul has over 16 years of experience in International Law Enforcement, where he worked with INTERPOL, EUROPOL, SIRENE, and An Garda Siochana. During his time in INTERPOL he worked across a broad range of crime areas, including fraud, money laundering, terrorist financing, and a large variety of scams. While working on the SIS II integration project he led the DPIA process for GDPR compliance.

Paul holds a BA in Administration of Justice, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Conflict and Dispute Resolution Studies. In 2019 he graduated with a first-class honors MSc in Forensic Computing and Cybercrime Investigation from University College Dublin, where his dissertation was based on a blockchain use-case for the transfer of digital evidence across borders.

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Aaron Archer

Co-Chair

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Aaron Archer (Co-Chair) is a Senior Manager at Western Union where he is responsible for leading a team of fraud analysts, driving global fraud mitigation efforts, and developing strategies to combat and reduce consumer fraud around the world. Aaron has nearly two decades of experience in the field of financial crime investigations. Since joining Western Union in 2012 he has led investigations related to a variety of typologies including human smuggling, counterfeit goods, and consumer fraud. Aaron has a master’s degree in Criminology from Regis University in Denver, where his thesis focused on persuasion tactics used in online relationship scams. Aaron is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and Certified Financial Crime Specialist (CFCS).

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Micah Velasquez

Programming Director

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Micah Velasquez (Programming Director) is a Manager of Internal Audit Business Intelligence at Charles Schwab. He is responsible for leading and developing strategies in policy, technology, analytics, governance, and risk assessments. Prior to joining Charles Schwab, he conducted global financial crimes investigations at Western Union focused on high-risk areas such as the US Southwest/Mexican Region, Southeast Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Moreover, he produced significant advisory work on a monitored settlement agreement and FTC consent order by providing recommendations to executive leadership on global policies and processes related to transaction monitoring, due diligence, sanctions, fraud, consumer protection, and technology. Micah’s industry experience also includes financial and data analysis at Wells Fargo Corporate Bank, PWC Wealth Management, and Invesco. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado Denver, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance from Colorado State University-Pueblo.

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Justin Wehrheim

Communications Director

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Justin Wehrheim (Communications Director) is the Leader of Western Union’s AML/CTF Transaction Monitoring Program Management Team. Prior to coming to Western Union, Mr. Wehrheim served as an Army Officer for nearly 10 years primarily serving as an Intelligence Officer with part of his mission to combat terrorist financing. Mr. Wehrheim served over three years in the Afghanistan and Iraq conflict zones. Mr. Wehrheim is also a graduate of U.S. Army Ranger School and the Military Intelligence Officer Advanced Course. Mr. Wehrheim has 12 years of compliance experience. Mr. Wehrheim is CFCS certified by the Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists (“ACFCS”). Mr. Wehrheim is also certified as an International Project Manager and a Master Project Manager by the American Academy of Project Management Board of Standards. Mr. Wehrheim holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and Affairs from Webster University.

Kristi Knowles

Membership Director

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Kristi Knowles (Membership Director) is the Financial Crime Investigator for Grand Junction Police Department. She is responsible for investigations involving elder financial exploitation, identity theft, employee embezzlement, credit card fraud, check fraud, and scams. She is also responsible for community fraud education. Kristi teams with many local bank investigators to enhance case prosecution. Kristi has over 20 years of experience in law enforcement and financial crime investigations.

Kristi was a recognized, DUI Expert, Drug Recognition Expert Instructor, Forensic Investigator and member of the Chiefs Honor Guard.  Kristi received honors as Officer of the Year in 2004. Kristi graduated from Colorado Mesa University on the Dean’s List with a Bachelor of Science. Kristi is a Certified Fraud Examiner and Certified Financial Crime Specialist.

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Sandra Stevenson

Treasurer

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Sandra Stevenson (Treasurer) is the Regulatory Compliance Manager for WorldRemit Corp. She oversees licensing, exam management, and consumer protection requirements. Mrs. Stevenson has extensive compliance experience having worked for Western Union, Wells Fargo, MoneyGram, and as a consultant for money services businesses. Within these previous organizations, she was variously responsible for compliance processes as well as conducting internal and external audits of AML/CFT/Sanctions, consumer protection, and privacy programs. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Colorado Christian University and was awarded an LL.M. with merit in International Commercial Law and Practice from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland). She is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP).

Mark Lawin

Revenue

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Mark Lawin (Revenue) is a Director at Moody’s Analytics, where he collaborates with Financial Institutions, Fintech, and Digital Asset firms to devise effective strategies to combat and decrease Anti-Money Laundering (AML) activities across the globe. With over 15 years of experience, Mark has been assisting clients in optimizing their data and technology processes, resulting in actionable insights. Since his arrival at Moody’s in 2021, he has spearheaded initiatives with several of the world's top 20 Banks, leveraging automation to streamline client onboarding and reduce friction and false positives. Mark holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin.

Melanie Ragan

Secretary

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Melanie Ragan (Secretary) is a Senior Manager at Charles Schwab Brokerage and Bank where she is responsible for conducting Enhanced Due Diligence on high risk clients.  As a tenured member of the Financial Crimes Risk Management team, Melanie serves as a coach and mentor by reviewing and approving the work of peer analysts, she creates and facilitates trainings on various BSA/AML and procedural topics, and is a trusted resource for knowledge in numerous financial crime typologies including complex relationships, tribal accounts, and marijuana-related businesses.  Melanie has served over 16 years in financial services and holds a FINRA Series 7, 63, 9, and 10.  She has an MBA from Regis University in Denver and is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and a Certified Financial Crime Specialist (CFCS).

12/08/2022 5:00 PM MT

ACFCS Colorado Chapter Networking Event

UPCOMING EVENTS

PAST EVENTS

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See What Certified Financial Crime Specialists Are Saying

"The CFCS tests the skills necessary to fight financial crime. It's comprehensive. Passing it should be considered a mark of high achievement, distinguishing qualified experts in this growing specialty area."

KENNETH E. BARDEN 

(JD, Washington)

"It's a vigorous exam. Anyone passing it should have a great sense of achievement."

DANIEL DWAIN

(CFCS, Official Superior

de Cumplimiento Cidel

Bank & Trust Inc. Nueva York)

"The exam tests one's ability to apply concepts in practical scenarios. Passing it can be a great asset for professionals in the converging disciplines of financial crime."

MORRIS GUY

(CFCS, Royal Band of

Canada, Montreal)

"The Exam is far-reaching. I love that the questions are scenario based. I recommend it to anyone in the financial crime detection and prevention profession."

BECKI LAPORTE

(CFCS, CAMS Lead Compliance

Trainer, FINRA, Member Regulation

Training, Washington, DC)

"This certification comes at a very ripe time. Professionals can no longer get away with having siloed knowledge. Compliance is all-encompassing and enterprise-driven."

KATYA HIROSE
CFCS, CAMS, CFE, CSAR
Director, Global Risk
& Investigation Practice
FTI Consulting, Los Angeles

READY TO BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY TOWARDS
CFCS CERTIFICATION?