Federal Money Laundering Attorneys

You may have heard the term “money laundering: before. It is common terminology used in TV crime dramas in relation to drug conspiracies or major drug traffickers. However, the federal offense of money laundering refers to any sort of financial maneuvering that attempts to hide the source of illicitly obtained money.

AS defined by the FBI, “money laundering is the process by which criminals conceal or disguise their proceeds and make them appear to have come from legitimate sources.”  Whether you or a loved one finds themselves under investigation for participating in a money laundering scheme, or you or a loved one has already been arrested on these charges, you need to get in touch with an experienced federal crimes attorney as soon as possible.

What is Money Laundering?

The media attention that this crime has attracted has most people believing that money laundering is a way for drug dealers to conceal the source of their illicit activities. This is a fact, and it is generally accomplished via a “front business.” For example, a drug dealer may own a restaurant and, to conceal the source of the cash made from drug dealing, the restaurant owner adds extra profits on the business’s accounts. In other words, the restaurant may have brought in only $1,000 in a week through normal activities, but the money launderer writes that the restaurant made $4,000 on paper. Thus, the extra $3,000 earned from drug dealing has been “cleaned up” and it appears to be a legitimate income.

It is critical to remember that money laundering is not a tool for drug dealers, traffickers, and drug conspiracies alone. Some other offences that require money laundering often include:

• Health care fraud
• Human trafficking
• Complex financial crimes
• International and domestic public corruption
• Narcotics trafficking
• Terrorism

On top of that, criminals employ more than just small businesses to launder money. Other vehicles through which criminals launder their funds include:

DEFENSE TEAM SPOTLIGHT

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Legal Scenario: What Would You Do?

Scenario

Your business partner used your shared commercial bank account to deposit cash from an illegal gambling operation without your knowledge. Federal investigators have now frozen all accounts tied to the business and served you with a grand jury subpoena.

Can I be charged with money laundering even though I had no idea my partner was funneling illegal proceeds through our account?

Attorney's Answer

Under 18 U.S.C. § 1956, prosecutors must prove you knowingly conducted a financial transaction involving proceeds from unlawful activity with the intent to conceal their source. If you genuinely had no knowledge of your partner's illegal deposits, that lack of intent is a strong defense, but prosecutors often argue that you should have known based on red flags like unusual cash volumes or inconsistent revenue. A skilled federal defense attorney can challenge the government's evidence of your alleged knowledge through forensic accounting, communication records, and witness testimony to demonstrate you were an unwitting party. Early intervention is critical because cooperation strategies and proffer agreements can significantly affect whether you face charges or are treated as a witness.

This is general information only. Contact us for advice specific to your situation.

• Third party service providers
• Virtual currency
• Financial institutions
• International trade
• Real estate
• Money Laundering as a Federal Crime
• Precious metals

Both states and the federal government law enforcement target money laundering operations. Even though state governments do aggressively investigate and prosecute individuals who are suspected of money laundering, the federal government will get involved when the alleged offenses cross state or international lines, or when large-scale criminal dealings are taking place. The federal penal statutes that cover money laundering include:

1. Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956
2. Title 18, United States Code, Section 1957