LAS VEGAS (AP) — The Nevada Secretary of State has responded to a U.S. senator who raised concerns about shady shell companies in light of the Panama Papers leak.
Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske sent a letter Thursday detailing her office's role in business incorporations and noting that law enforcement hasn't requested ownership lists for suspicious businesses registered in Nevada in the past three years.
The issue of shell companies has been in the spotlight since early April, when stories were published after a massive leak of documents belonging to Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. A Las Vegas-based registered agent who was linked to the firm has since dropped more than 1,000 business clients she represented.
Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden told Cegavske he's concerned that anonymous shell companies are being used in criminal activities.