The stakes are huge. The entire organized criminal class hide their large-scale continuing operations with anonymous shell companies.

The stakes are not millions of dollars, but rather trillions of dollars.

And it’s not just American organized crime. It’s large criminal organizations from Italy, Russia, China, the Philippines — you name it.

These international organized crime families shelter much of their wealth in American real estate. To do it they easily use layer upon layer of anonymous shell companies — either corporations or limited liability companies (LLCs).

But American law firms of even the largest size cater to anybody and everybody that has money. So you can be sure, Mr. Vance, that any law requiring transparency of these anonymous companies will be fought tooth and nail by law firms.

And, of course, it must be remembered that most members of congress are lawyers, and they can and do accept contributions from people acting through shell companies.

Excellent article.