Federal Money Laundering Charges in Georgia

Federal Money Laundering Charges in Georgia

Money laundering is a big problem in Georgia. Lots of people get charged with money laundering every year. The government takes it really seriously.

Money laundering is when you try to hide where money comes from. Especially if the money is from illegal stuff like selling drugs or stealing. People who get caught laundering money can go to jail for a long time.

How Money Laundering Works

There’s lots of ways people try to launder money. Here’s some common ways:

• Putting dirty money in a business and saying it’s from selling stuff
• Breaking up big amounts into smaller deposits
• Mixing dirty money with clean money
• Sending money overseas and then bringing it back

People who launder money try to make it look clean. So the police can’t tell it’s from illegal stuff. But the government watches for suspicious financial activity.

Recent Cases in Georgia

Here’s some examples of recent money laundering cases in Georgia:

• A big case in Atlanta with dozens of people laundering over $30 million [1]. They did business email scams and romance scams.
• A Russian guy illegally transmitted $150 million through Georgia banks [2].
• The former Georgia Insurance Commissioner was charged with a health care fraud and money laundering scheme [3].
• Some people got arrested for laundering money from a fake charity in Atlanta [5].

As you can see, money laundering happens a lot in Georgia. And people get in big trouble for it.

Georgia Money Laundering Laws

Georgia has state laws against money laundering. But most cases are charged federally. Here’s some key federal money laundering laws:

• Not reporting transactions over $10,000
• Structuring transactions to avoid reporting
• Laundering money through wire transfers
• Mixing dirty money with business revenue

There’s also laws against laundering money for terrorism or drug trafficking. Those can have even higher sentences. The penalties depend on the amounts and how sophisticated it is [4].

Defending Money Laundering Charges

Fighting money laundering charges takes an experienced lawyer. Some possible defenses include:

• You didn’t know the money was from illegal activity
• You weren’t trying to conceal anything
• The money was legally obtained
• You were entrapped by law enforcement

A good lawyer can also negotiate with prosecutors, especially if it’s your first offense. They may agree to drop or reduce the charges. But don’t wait, get a lawyer as soon as you know you’re being investigated.

The lawyer can also help protect your assets from being seized. Money laundering cases often involve asset forfeiture. So you need to act fast before the government tries to take your property [6].

Get Experienced Legal Help

As you can see, money laundering is a big deal in Georgia. The penalties are severe and the government is aggressive about prosecuting. Don’t take chances by going it alone. Get an experienced criminal defense lawyer right away if you’re being investigated. They can protect your rights and give you the best chance of avoiding harsh penalties.