The appointment of Nicholas Colucci as Director of the EB-5 Program appears to signal a shift in focus. Mr. Colucci has an extensive background in financial crimes and investigations, which may alter the way U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) currently administers the EB-5 Program. Mr. Colucci’s financial investigations experience will service him well when dealing with EB-5 investor source of funds issues or reviewing I-829 petitions.

Previously, Mr. Colucci served as the Associate Director of the Department of the Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network’s (FinCEN) Analysis and Liaison Division. The function of the Analysis and Liaison Division of FinCEN is to receive banking information from financial institutions, pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act, and produce statistical or analytical evidence which can be used by federal, state or local law enforcement in criminal investigations. FinCEN plays an important role in the U.S.’s broader fight against money laundering and financing of terrorist activities.

Mr. Colucci has mainly spent his professional career in the service of the Federal Government. Prior to FinCEN, Mr. Colucci worked at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Mr. Colucci spent many years with ATF, working his way up the ladder and holding various positions such as Assistant Director in the Office of Public and Government Affairs, Chief of Field Management Staff, Deputy Division Chief of the Firearms Programs Division, Director of Industry Operations, Area Supervisor, Firearms Specialist and Industry Operations Investigator. Mr. Colucci has an undergraduate degree from Long Island University and a graduate degree in Finance and Information Technology from Loyola College in Maryland.