Let’s talk it over

Las Vegas Sands Corp is in discussions over a possible settlement with the U.S. Justice Department regarding a probe into whether the company violated U.S. money-laundering rules, The Wall Street Journal reports. The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether Las Vegas Sands, the parent company of Sands China Ltd, failed to report millions of dollars of potentially laundered money transferred to its casinos. U.S. authorities are looking at deposits made in the mid-2000s by a Chinese national who had a Mexican pharmaceutical factory, suspected of connections to drug trafficking, and a Californian executive who later pled guilty to taking illegal kickbacks, the newspaper said. There are no indications that the investigation includes Sands China Ltd. According to The Wall Street Journal, Las Vegas Sands and U.S. Justice Department representatives met last week to discuss a possible settlement. The report said a settlement could include the payment of a fine by Las Vegas Sands, plus a pledge by the company that it will change its practices. Negotiations between both parties are still going on, people familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal.