Money laundering involves making illegal or “dirty” money appear “clean.” By laundering the dirty money through a legitimate business, the government alleges that the individual created a false paper trail allowing them to use that money without suspicion. Money laundering is a very serious criminal offense. Used extensively by organized crime syndicates and by those engaging in drug crimes and white collar crimes, money laundering involves concealing the source or destination of money which is gained through illegal means. This federal charge has been expanded to include many more implications than “mob money,” being defined by the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of Currency as “any financial transaction which generated an asset or a value as the result of an illegal act.” This is a sweeping definition, and as you can imagine, one can easily be caught up in something unwittingly that can lead to grievous consequences. If you have been arrested, make no delay in calling us for strong legal counsel.
The crime of money laundering can be committed by everyone from Mafia members to drug dealers, or from corrupt officials to private persons. It is a direct consequence of another illegal act, and is therefore criminal itself. With the expanding global implications of money laundering as critical to terrorism operations, federal and global law enforcement efforts have been greatly increased in recent years. A money laundering conviction can bring fines up to half a million dollars or twice the amount involved in the criminal act, whichever is greater, as well as a prison term of up to twenty years.
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There are many federal statutes that provide the government with the power to investigate and prosecute money laundering, these include the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, the PATRIOT Act, the Money Laundering Control Act of 1986, the Bank Secrecy Act, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act. But even with all these laws, it does not mean that the government can prove you committed money laundering. To convict you for money laundering, the US Government must show each of these elements beyond a reasonable doubt:
To win a money laundering case, your lawyer should challenge the prosecution’s evidence and offer a version of events that raises reasonable doubt. This is often shown by illustrating to the judge and jury that you had no desire to commit the act nor an intent to achieve a specific result. The following are some possible defenses that can help you get a not guilty verdict or reduce the charges in a money laundering case:
You probably have a lot of questions about the criminal law process, that’s why we have assembled some of the most common questions about criminal law so that you can read them while you wait on your appointment with a criminal defense lawyer.
Money laundering convictions carry serious consequences that can destroy your future. If you were arrested or indicted for money laundering in Waco, you need an aggressive, experienced money laundering criminal defense attorney on your side. Talk to a board-certified criminal defense lawyer before talking to anyone else.
Many people accused of federal crimes in Waco hire someone from Houston or Dallas for their defense, while those are also fine lawyers, this deprives the local Waco defendant of crucial knowledge of the local prosecutors, local judge and other local criminal procedures. We have practiced in Waco for generations. Our criminal defense lawyers know how to spot weaknesses in the prosecution’s money laundering case. Call us for a free case evaluation at 254-753-6437.
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