Any person who has allegedly been engaged in a financial transaction that was intended to take money obtained through criminal activities and to use it in any way that appears to be from a legitimate source could be accused of money laundering. If you have been accused of money laundering, it is imperative that you take steps as soon as possible to protect yourself from the possible criminal allegations and damaging harm that a money laundering conviction can have on your record.
There are several different types of money laundering charges under the federal law, and you need help developing a critical legal defense strategy as soon as possible to respond to money laundering charges sooner rather than later. Rarely is someone brought in and charged with only a money laundering offence. Typically, money laundering cases are linked when someone is also being accused of wire fraud, mail fraud, drug conspiracy, racketeering or other types of financially motivated crimes. Furthermore, the government might also use undercover sting operations to prosecute and investigate money laundering offences. In cases in which the money is not actually considered dirty money, an undercover agent might be eligible to claim that the money is dirty even if it clearly is not.
This can put the person who is accused of a crime in a serious and dangerous position since money laundering is a serious crime under federal law. Being convicted of money laundering could lead to up to 20 years in prison and the exact sentence is determined largely by the amount of money involved in the offence. So, the more serious the allegations against you, the more important it is to work directly with an experienced lawyer who can help you figure out what to do next and how to most appropriately protect yourself in this unfortunate and potentially devastating situation.
Anyone who has been accused of money laundering should not speak to the authorities or participate in any conversations with people who purport to be working with the federal government until they have had the opportunity to talk to a lawyer.