Money laundering is a serious charge, one that can carry with it the risk of pricey fines, restitution, and jail time. If you find yourself accused of money laundering, it’s essential that you recruit the services of legal professionals who are extremely knowledgeable about the complexities of money laundering. Here’s what you need to know to decode money laundering charges.
What To Know About Money Laundering Accusations
Money laundering refers to when someone is accused of intentionally obscuring the origins of a sum of money. Oftentimes, this involves operating a fraudulent business or engaging in fraudulent transactions in order to try to create a legal paper trail where one does not exist. This can be a complicated charge, as it can be difficult to prove whether or not money changing hands was done with the explicit intention of concealing the money’s original source. In order to build a case, a prosecutor will often try to establish intent, which means they’ll attempt to prove in a court of law that the accused had the motivation and desire to create this fraudulent paper trail.
The Potential Consequences
Being convicted of money laundering can result in substantial fines, the forfeit of one’s assets, and even lengthy prison sentences. In addition to criminal penalties, individuals found guilty will inevitably experience severe damage to their reputations and may find it difficult to engage in public life in the future, particularly if they wish to work in the business world or engage in entrepreneurship. In fact, a judge can and will prohibit someone convicted of money laundering from engaging in these activities.
Potential Legal Defenses
Your attorney might utilize several strategies at trial in order to prove you’re innocent of money laundering charges. One of the most popular strategies is to prove that there was a lack of attempt to launder the funds. This doesn’t mean that the money might not have exchanged several hands, but it means that these exchanges weren’t carried out with the goal of concealing the origin of the funds.
Another strategy that your lawyer might use is to demonstrate that the evidence gathered or the way the evidence was gathered was done illegally or erroneously. If you’ve been under the surveillance of law enforcement, any procedural mistakes on their part could render the evidence gathered inadmissible in a court of law. While this isn’t always a foolproof strategy, especially if law enforcement carried out their investigation by the book, it can be a make-or-break defense in a money laundering trial.
A Strong Legal Team is Essential
Being charged with money laundering is quite serious. Thus, it’s essential that you have the aid of strong legal professionals at your disposal. A good lawyer can be the difference between you receiving justice and you being unfairly found guilty of a crime. If you have been charged with money laundering, or suspect you will be in the near future, reach out to a money laundering defense attorney today.
