Press release: FinCEN Welcomes First-Ever Chief Digital Currency Advisor

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FinCEN Welcomes First-Ever Chief Digital Currency Advisor and First Director of Strategic Communications | FinCEN.gov

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                              FinCEN Welcomes First-Ever Ch...

FinCEN Welcomes First-Ever Chief Digital Currency Advisor and First Director of Strategic Communications

Contact: 

Office of Strategic Communications, 703-905-3770

Immediate Release

July 06, 2021

WASHINGTON—Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Acting Director Michael Mosier today announced leadership additions to the bureau.  Michele Korver, who led a distinguished career at the United States Department of Justice, now serves as FinCEN’s first-ever Chief Digital Currency Advisor.  Jayna Desai, formerly of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, now serves as FinCEN’s first Director of Strategic Communications. 

“I am thrilled to welcome Michele and Jayna to FinCEN.  They truly are experts in their respective fields,” said Acting Director Michael Mosier.  “Michele brings a wealth of digital currency expertise, and will be a tremendous leader in coordinated efforts to maximize FinCEN’s contribution to the innovative potential for financial expansion of opportunity while minimizing illicit finance risk.  Jayna, too, is critical to advancing FinCEN’s mission of public service, as she leverages her years of impressive experience as a communicator to help us continually improve engagement with the public we serve, particularly during this time of landmark opportunity to improve the financial integrity system for everyone, with the implementation of the AML Act.  These are incredible people for an incredible moment for FinCEN and the financial integrity space writ large.”

Michele Korver serves as Chief Digital Currency Advisor to the Director of FinCEN.  In that role, Ms. Korver will advance FinCEN’s leadership role in the digital currency space by working across internal and external partners toward strategic and innovative solutions to prevent and mitigate illicit financial practices and exploitation.  Ms. Korver most recently served as Digital Currency Counsel for the United States Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, where she advised government attorneys and federal agents nationwide on digital currency matters to assist charging decisions and other prosecutorial strategies.  In that role, she also served as an advisor to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Stability Oversight Council and the U.S. delegation to the Financial Action Task Force, and developed cryptocurrency seizure and forfeiture policy and legislation.  Prior to that, Ms. Korver spent more than 10 years as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney’s Office in Denver, Colorado, where she served as a Cybercrime and National Security prosecutor investigating and prosecuting money laundering and darknet drug trafficking cases involving international criminal organizations.  Previously, she served as an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force prosecutor focused on federal offenses involving complex controlled substance matters, money laundering, Bank Secrecy Act violations, and asset forfeiture.  Ms. Korver began her career in the United State Secret Service, serving as a Special Agent in Miami, Florida, before clerking for the Honorable Judge William P. Dimitrouleas in the Southern District of Florida.  Ms. Korver is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law and the University of Florida.

Jayna Desai serves as Director of the Office of Strategic Communications within FinCEN’s Office of the Director.  In that capacity, Ms. Desai will formulate FinCEN’s internal and external communications, and oversee media engagement on behalf of the bureau.  Ms. Desai most recently served as Senior Policy Advisor to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP’s) Office of Operations Support, where she oversaw all communications, including social and digital media, and developed and delivered legislative engagement.  Previously, Ms. Desai served as CBP’s Office of Operations Support’s Director of Communications; as CBP’s Chief Speechwriter and Senior Public Affairs Advisor; and as a writer and editor for CBP’s Department of Field Operations.  Prior to CBP, Ms. Desai worked as an analytical consultant for the World Bank after starting at the Associated Press.

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