Sam Cooper
National Online Journalist, Investigative
I joined the national investigations team with Global News in spring 2018, after reporting with the Vancouver Province and Vancouver Sun in B.C. Now I’m based in Ottawa, and I focus on political corruption, organized crime and financial crime, foreign influence, national security and intelligence, and holding powerful figures to account. You can follow me on Twitter at @scoopercooper
Sources say RCMP opened file on Liberal MP whose firm facilitated real estate deals in B.C.
Law enforcement sources say the RCMP has a file regarding Liberal MP Joe Peschisolido and allegations made by confidential police informants Continue reading
B.C. casino regulator received complaint alleging BCLC management pressured to ‘allow dirty money’
B.C.’s casino regulator received a complaint alleging B.C. Lottery Corp.’s management could have been pressured to allow dirty cash to enter casinos. Continue reading
‘Organized crime knows fraud is the way to go’: former RCMP financial crime expert
Organized crime is moving into sophisticated white collar fraud schemes involving lawyers, accountants and computer experts Continue reading
Liberal MP involved in second bare trust deal with client named in ‘transnational money laundering’ probe
Another bare trust land deal connects Joe Peschisolido’s legal services to another client from China named in a “transnational money laundering” investigation at a Richmond casino. Continue reading
Trudeau urged to review status of Liberal MP after law firm tied to alleged ‘drug boss’
NDP ethics critic Charlie Angus and fellow Vancouver-area MPs called for an investigation into the matter in a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Continue reading
Alleged gang kingpin may have used Liberal MP’s law firm to launder money through B.C. condo deal
A Liberal MP’s law firm may have facilitated a transaction that might have helped an alleged “drug boss” launder his unexplained wealth through a Vancouver development, a Global News investigation reveals. Continue reading
How Canada’s legal system helped an alleged Chinese gangster avoid deportation for decades
How a convicted drug trafficker and alleged kingpin of a Chinese organized crime cartel managed to avoid deportation for three decades. Continue reading
Alleged ‘heavyweight’ gangster could be poster child for B.C.’s public inquiry into money laundering
Allegations against Kwok Chung Tam could illustrate how the Vancouver-area real estate market may have been exploited by Chinese organized crime. Continue reading
Prime minister calls B.C. money-laundering report ‘extremely alarming’
Ottawa acknowledges the “alarming” B.C. money-laundering report but says the fix for a legal loophole will be difficult. Continue reading
B.C. casino’s $18K severance agreement prevented public criticism about gangs, former employee claims
Documents indicate casino company involvement in the election campaign of former Coquitlam mayor Jon Kingsbury, who reversed his anti-gambling position. Continue reading
Whistleblower warned B.C. casino in 2000 of alleged ‘co-operation with organized crime’
A casino employee concerned about workplace safety informed the company’s founder that she felt staff had to “accept doing business … with organized crime.” Continue reading
Former B.C. casino supervisor blows whistle on when Macau-style money laundering may have exploded
She didn’t know exactly what she was seeing, but one woman’s documents appear to provide a view from the casino floor as frightened staff witnessed the arrival of casino gangs. Continue reading
B.C. real estate industry recommends amending federal money laundering laws to improve enforcement
The recommendations are part of efforts to halt the flow of criminal money in B.C.’s real estate industry. Continue reading
It’s long been known in B.C. that RCMP not investigating money laundering, sources reiterate
Experts not shocked that B.C. currently has no dedicated federal money laundering investigators, and that civil forfeiture is the only option for police. Continue reading
U.S. deems Canada ‘major money laundering country’ as gangs exploit weak law enforcement
The U.S. State Department says Canada is being exploited by sophisticated transnational organized crime and professional drug-money launderers. Continue reading