May 10,2016

Wyden Probes Into Anonymous Shell Companies with Ties to Mossack Fonseca in Nevada and Wyoming

Wyden Calls on Secretaries of State to Share Information on Company Owners and Activity

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today sent letters to the Secretaries of State for Nevada and Wyoming inquiring about anonymous shell companies in both states – over 1,000 in Nevada and 24 in Wyoming -- with ties to the Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca.

“It’s clear you don’t need to go outside the U.S. to set up anonymous shell companies,” said Wyden. “We need to better understand what these companies are up to. As shell companies can be abused for tax evasion, government fraud and terrorist financing, Congress needs to work with the states and the administration to investigate the issue and take any necessary action.”

In February 2016, Wyden called on the U.S. Treasury to do everything possible to stop abuses by anonymous shell companies.

Today’s letter to Nevada can be found here. The letter to Wyoming can be found here. Wyden’s prior letter and the response from U.S. Treasury can be found here.

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