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ReadersSpeak

Operation Choke Point gone for good? "Ordinarily speaking, law enforcement moves from the
specific to the general," Boyd wrote in the August 2017
s Operation Choke Point really, truly officially letter. "A bad actor is identified and then gradually the
dead? I work with a couple of high-risk businesses, net widens to capture co-conspirators or a larger criminal
not my specialty by a long shot. They are perfectly enterprise. OCP started by presuming a whole industry
I legitimate but getting processing relationships for guilty until individual merchants prove their innocence."
them was a bear. Banks didn't want to go near them was
the word I got. This was a couple years back. I'm hoping That presumption rankled people on both sides of the
things will be smoother in the future when (if?) I try to aisle. However, it's impossible to predict what shifts in
board similar merchants. I've actually been avoiding policy will occur as leaders with contrasting views come
them. Are we really going to be safe from government and go in Washington. The good news is that reputable
overreach? companies exist that are highly skilled in working with
high-risk merchants, helping them navigate whatever the
Turner Greene current challenges are. To learn more about overcoming
Merchant Level Salesperson the challenges high-risk merchants pose, access our
archives via the Search function at www.greensheet.com.
Turner, You'll find informative articles on this topic written by
industry experts.
The end of Operation Choke Point (OCP) was conveyed
in an Aug. 16, 2017, letter from U.S. Assistant Attorney What's your plan for 2018?
General Stephen E. Boyd to House Judiciary Chair Bob Do you have new strategies or initiatives for 2018? Are
Goodlatte, so you are correct: the anti-crime initiative that you making big changes or basically tweaking what you
put extreme (some called it draconian) pressure on banks already have?
and payment processors to deny services to select high-
risk, cash-dependent businesses is gone. OCP assumed Let us know at greensheet@greensheet.com, and please keep
those business categories were prone to illegal activities sending your press releases to press@greensheet.com.
and posed reputational risks to banks.

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