United States Department of Justice United States Attorney Southern District of West Virginia Robert C. United States Courthouse Post O?ice Box I 713 300 Virginia Street, East, Suite 4000 Charleston, WV 25326 Charleston, WV 25301 FAX: 304?347?5443 Telephone: 304-345?2200 1-800n659?8726 1'54} 2 September 12, 2019 a John D. Perdue, Treasurer .. West Virginia State Treasurer's Of?ce to 1900 Kanawha Boulevard Capitol Complex Building Room E-145 09 Charleston, West Virginia 25305 Us 1'9 RE: FOIA Request Relating To Banking Services Involving The West Virginia Medical Cannabis (Marijuana) Banking Program Dear Mr. Perdue: Pursuant to the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, Code 29B?1-l, et seq., United States Attorney Michael B. Stuart and the Of?ce of the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, are requesting copies of the following documents from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture 1. All emails, correspondence, bid documents, and other documents relating to requests for proposals and/or the awarding of any contract for banking services to Element Financial Credit Union in connection with the West Virginia medical cannabis (marijuana) banking program. 2. All documents relating to the bidding process for awarding any requests for proposals or contracts for banking services in connection with the West Virginia medical cannabis (marijuana) banking program, including any information sheets, requirements for any contracts and/ or the services to be provided under such contracts. 3. Any information provided to any potential bidders for any requests for pr0posa1s and/or contracts to be awarded involving the West Virginia medical cannabis (marijuana) program relating to Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) reporting requirements to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network under the terms of the United States Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) of 1970 and related statutes. 4. Any correspondence, emails, or other documents issued, provided, or sent to any ?nancial institutions in West Virginia relating to Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) reporting requirements that must he must ?led with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network under the terms of the United States Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) of 1970 and related statutes concerning any ?nancial transactions involving medical cannabis, medical marijuana, medical; marijuana businesses, marijuana, marijuana related products, and/ or marijuana related John D. Perdue, Treasurer September 12, 2019 Page 2 businesses. The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act requires a response within ?ve days (not including Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays-W.Va. Code If the reSponse to this request will take longer than this amount of time, please contact me to discuss when I can expect the requested documents. While I do not anticipate a denial of any aspect of this request, if the West Virginia State Treasurer?s Of?ce feels that some speci?c exemption applies to any aspect of this request, and, thus, denies production of any speci?c documents, then I would request a citation to the speci?c exemption being applied, a description of the documents being withheld, and the justi?cation for the application of the exemption being applied. If you have any questions regarding this request, please do not hesitate to call me at (304) 345-2200. Sincerely, MICHAEL E. STUART United States Attorney By: FRED B. WESTFALL, JR. Assistant United States Attorney FBW/fbw cc: Diana Stout, General Counsel West Virginia State Treasurer?s Of?ce Building 1, Room 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East Charleston, WV 25305