Money laundering, in its most basic form, is the act of transferring funds obtained through illegal means into legal ones in order to conceal the fact that they were obtained legitimately. A skilled criminal defense lawyer will have defense options accessible for you because this charge is actually quite tough to establish.
The three essential factors that must be shown in a case of money laundering are described in the following paragraphs. Call Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 to schedule a free legal consultation.
1.The Defendant Was Aware That the Money Was Proceeds from a Crime
You have not engaged in money laundering if you “laundered” funds that you were unaware originated from a crime. Keep in mind, nevertheless, that the burden of proof placed on the prosecution is relatively modest. They merely need to prove that you were aware that it was obtained unlawfully in some way; they don’t need to prove where it came from exactly. They can demonstrate this with circumstantial evidence.
2.The Defendant Must Have Started or Completed a Financial Transaction
A “financial transaction” is defined legally as a purchase, pledge, sale, loan, gift, withdrawal, currency exchange, extension of credit, purchase or sale of a safe-deposit box, transfer between accounts, or any other kind of payment or transfer or delivery to, through, or by a financial institution. The prosecution must demonstrate that you participated in the beginning or end of one of these transactions.
3.The defendant had one of four distinct intentions
The prosecution must demonstrate that the defendant had at least one of the following four intentions when acting: to encourage the conduct of a specific illegal activity, to commit tax fraud or evasion, to hide the proceeds of an illegal activity, or to evade transaction reporting requirements under state or federal law.
A Conviction for Money Laundering May Carry a Range of Penalties
If a person is found guilty of money laundering, their punishment will mostly rely on how many distinct offenses they committed, how much the transactions were for, and whether the offender has a criminal past. A single first offense carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail. The defendant may serve years in prison for repeated charges.
Consult a Criminal Defense Lawyer Who Can Assist You
You don’t have to deal with this allegation alone. Call Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 and let us assist you through this challenging procedure. We’ll start with a complimentary consultation so that we can get to know you better and hear your side of the story.
