ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Renowned former FBI agent, Joseph Pistone, who was the subject of the critically acclaimed mafia movie Donnie Brasco, arrived on island yesterday to lead an anti-money laundering workshop.

The six-session workshop that is targeted towards financial institutions, law enforcement officers and regulators is introducing new information and trends in money laundering, fraud, terrorism and financial crimes.

“I think we … will be able to pass on our experiences and information that we have regarding money laundering and undercover operations investigating money laundering,” Pistone said in an interview with OBSERVER Media.

“We have been working along with various partners trying to bring the level of awareness. At the end of the day it will allow institutions to have individuals well trained with new information, as they themselves will be able to protect these institutions, Managing Director of KAW Management Services, Kem Warner, who facilitated the Pistone Brasco Group’s participation, said.

“Not only will the institutions be protected, but the entire country on a whole,” Warner said.

Warner believes that the workshop is an important first step in dispelling longstanding beliefs that Antigua & Barbudan regulators are not tough on money laundering.

The workshop includes seminars on interviewing techniques for compliance officers, evidence gathering for money laundering, the art of reporting and new trends in money laundering worldwide are some of the topics that will be broached.

The three-day workshop starts today and ends on Friday; it is being held at the Brysons complex on Friars Hill Road.

Joseph Pistone worked undercover, infiltrating the New York Mafia for six years and is said to have pioneered long term undercover work. He worked for the FBI for 17 years.