Joann Alicea, Certified Financial Crimes Investigator and Certified Human Trafficking Investigator. Joann is a ACAMS Houston Chapter founding board director. Joann has received commendations for excellent investigative work from the United States Secret Service and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for assisting in domestic and international fraud/money laundering cases.

Joann has written several published articles entitled: $5.00 to ruin the life of children, and women: Internet ad sites used to launder money in promoting prostitution/human trafficking, How you can help in the fight against human trafficking and United States Treasury FinCEN SAR Checkbox for Human Trafficking published in the 23rd edition of the SAR Activity Review Trends, Tips and Issues. Joann is also a public speaker on how Financial Crime Investigators fight Human Trafficking; Updating the FinCEN SAR for Human Trafficking and Victim Money Laundering Scams.

She has over 10 years of regulatory compliance Fraud/AML & Risk experience in monitoring bank accounts, merchant, cardholder credit card and prepaid card transactions as an employee of First Data Merchant Services, PreCash, Inc. and JPMorgan Chase. Joann worked for 7 years for the FinCEN Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) to be updated for the Human Trafficking checkbox that was successfully implemented in June of 2018.

Joann is a recipient of the First Data Leader of the Pack Award and the PreCash Dazzle Award for outstanding work. Joann is a recipient of the CFCS Scholarship award for Human Trafficking Prevention. She is a member of the IAFCI, ACAMS and InfraGard. Joann is the proud sister of an NYPD Detective, New York’s Finest. Joann is one of the Women showcased in ACAMS Today for being influential in AML and Fraud Crime Prevention.

Joann is a recipient of the ACFE Houston Chapter 2013 Service Appreciation Award for Fighting Human Trafficking and the JPMorgan Chase Employee of the Quarter Award for going Above and Beyond. Joann has completed 21 marathons including 17 NYC Marathons and is an advocate of children and women’s rights in helping in the fight to end human trafficking.

Joann is a co-author in the Handbook of Sex Trafficking; Feminist Transnational Perspectives

Please check out Joann’s Interview in ACAMS Today on Human Trafficking/Smuggling: Joann Alicea: The Fight Against Human Trafficking/Smuggling Continues.