U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. appointed James H. Freis Jr. the director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the Treasury responsible for safeguarding the financial system from money laundering and other illicit financial activities through the administration of the Bank Secrecy Act. Freis previously served as deputy assistant general counsel for enforcement and intelligence, providing legal support to the Treasury’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. He replaces Robert Werner, who left FinCEN in December.