INTERVIEW
reached his office. As he fired up his com-
puter and we started planning the day, he
told me that he had received word that
there had been a big money laundering
bust the night before and that there were
three guests staying in the HSI EDTF hotel
(holding cell). He asked if, during our tour, I
would like to go for a visit. My response
was a quick “Yes.”
Erik dove right in and began to share HSI
EDTF’s mission, which is “To disrupt and
dismantle transnational criminal organiza-
tions involved in money laundering and
other financial crimes affecting New York,
but our reach is worldwide.”
HSI EDTF’s mission seems simple enough,
but when Erik began to describe the extent
of HSI’s responsibilities, which range from
financial crimes, anti-gang enforcement,
cybercrimes, narcotic smuggling/trafficking
to human rights violations to name a few, I
was left in awe of the many areas of exper-
tise encompassed by one single task force
(TF). In striving to fulfill their mission, HSI
EDTF is comprised of 30 federal, state and
local participating agencies and over 200
federal, state and local investigators, intel-
ligence analysts and prosecutors. “EDTF
would be near impossible to replicate, but
we collaborate with other HSI offices and
our federal partners all over the country, in
addition to foreign law enforcement organi-
zations, to support their ongoing investiga-
tions and to help grow their financial crime
investigations and financial intelligence
functions,” Erik explained. The benefits of
such a wide and diverse network of agen-
cies and individuals is astounding. The size
of the TF was reemphasized as we later
walked through the office and passed a
wall, which featured all of the official seals
of the various agencies.
Erik went on to share the importance of
deconfliction and how inter-agency commu-
nication within the HSI EDTF assists so
that each agency is not duplicating efforts
or arresting each other’s undercover agents
or ruining well-executed sting operations.
One thing that Erik mentioned that reso-
nated with me is the business side of finan-
cial crime fighting. Due to the collaboration
amongst all of the agencies, every time
agencies pool their resources together, if
Erik Rosenblatt sharing the importance of interagency communication
and the business side of financial crime fighting
assets are seized, each department participa tes in asset sharing to further assist in the fight
against financial crime and other crimes that affect the partner agency’s hometown, such as
combating the heroin and fentanyl epidemic. I asked Erik what was the biggest asset he had
confiscated. He told me the most exciting was a jet, but the biggest was a commercial
building.
Erik went on to share that HSI EDTF is passionate about its outreach program Cornerstone.
At least a couple of times a month HSI EDTF provides trainings for the community on what
individuals can do to assist in the fight against financial crime. Erik said, “We have an open
door policy. We want to work with people to solve crime.” When asked why HSI EDTF has
been so successful, Erik said, “HSI is a collaborative agency. This is why it works.”
During the tour, Erik received word that it would be a good time to visit the holding cells. As
we made our way down to the floor on which the cells are located, we passed a couple of
high-end stores, a gym and some locals, who as Erik put it, had no idea what was behind the
non-descript door. As I passed through that door, I started to think about all the cop shows
I had seen on TV and wondered if those fictionalized events would bear even a passing
resemblance to the reality before me. I was not disappointed. After many past discussions
with various members of the law enforcement community of their daily activities, it was
gratifying to see first-hand a part of the investigation process. In seeing the HSI EDTF
agents at work, I gained a greater appreciation for everything they do to keep our cities safe.
After our sojourn in the holding cells, we continued the tour by walking to the other side of
the office city block before returning to Erik’s office where I would have the privilege of con-
versing with six members of the HSI EDTF.
ACAMS TODAY | SEPTEMBER–NOVEMBER 2017 | ACAMS.ORG | ACAMSTODAY.ORG
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