A Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer in Los Angeles CA Explains the Three Elements That Must Be Proven for a Conviction of Money Laundering

A Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer in Los Angeles CA Explains the Three Elements That Must Be Proven for a Conviction of Money LaunderingMoney laundering, in its most basic form, entails shifting funds earned through illicit conduct into lawful channels in order to conceal the fact that they were obtained legitimately. This is a tough charge to prove, and an experienced criminal defense attorney will be able to advise you on your defense choices.

Continue reading to discover the three major factors that must be shown in a money laundering prosecution. Then call 714-760-4088 to schedule a free legal consultation with Chambers Law Firm, a federal criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles.

1. The Defendant was aware that the money involved was derived from a felony

You have not committed money laundering if you “laundered” money that you did not know came from the commission of a criminal. However, keep in mind that the prosecutor’s burden of proof is quite low. They simply need to establish that you were aware that data was obtained unlawfully in some manner — not that you knew where it originated from.

They can show this using circumstantial evidence but your federal criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles CA will work to have this evidence thrown out.

2. A Financial Transaction Must Have Been Started or Completed by the Defendant

A purchase, pledge, sale, loan, gift, withdrawal, exchange of currency, extension of credit, purchase or sale of a safe-deposit box, transfer between accounts, or any other type of payment, transfer, or delivery to, through, or by a financial institution is legally defined as a “financial transaction.” The prosecutor must show that you were involved in the beginning or ending of one of these transactions.

3. The Defendant Had One of Several Specific Intentions

The prosecution must show that the defendant acted with at least one of the following four intentions: to encourage the conduct of a specific illegal activity, or to participate in tax evasion / fraud, or to hide proceeds of an illegal activity, or to dodge state or federal transaction reporting laws.

The Penalty for Money Laundering is Determined by Several Factors

If a defendant is found guilty of money laundering, their sentence will be determined in part by the number of different violations they committed, the amount of money involved in the transactions, and whether or not the person has a criminal record. A single first offense can carry a sentence of up to a year in prison. The defendant may face years in jail if convicted of several counts.

Consult a Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer in Los Angeles Who Can Assist You

You are not on your own when it comes to dealing with this charge. Call Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 for assistance with this challenging situation. We’ll start with a free consultation with a federal criminal defense lawyer in Los Angeles so that we can learn more about the charges you’ve been facing and hear your side of the story. Then we can provide you our best legal advice on how to proceed.

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