The Intersection of AML and Human Trafficking

Shelby Katona has spent over a decade at AML RightSource leading complex investigations across alternative investment banks, traditional financial institutions, crypto platforms, and fintech companies. This diverse experience has positioned her and her team as specialists in one of the most critical—and challenging—areas of financial crime: human trafficking detection and prevention. In this conversation, Shelby reveals how FIs, MSBs, and other entities can identify the subtle patterns that expose trafficking networks, sharing real-world insights from her work helping clients build sophisticated detection programs. She'll explore the evolving tactics traffickers use to move money, the connected predicate crimes that often surface alongside trafficking cases, and the practical steps compliance teams can take to strengthen their defenses against these operations. From recognizing transaction red flags to building comprehensive monitoring frameworks, Shelby offers a practitioner's perspective on combating one of today's most devastating crimes through financial intelligence.