This is the next article in my series on defending against white collar charges in the Central District of Illinois. My last article discussed defending against federal theft or fraud charges. Such cases can involve a wide range of conduct and complicated legal issues. Retaining an experienced attorney to assist you can be vital to your defense. Not all attorneys are licensed to practice in Federal Court and fewer do so on a regular basis, so it is important to discuss prior experience with your prospective counsel. In this article, I will be discussing the handling of money laundering charges. If you need assistance, then contact my office today to speak with a lawyer. We are able to handle matters in both Peoria and Urbana.
Federal money laundering charges are often “stacked” on top of other offenses
Federal money laundering charges are typically brought in conjunction with charges for other offenses. This is due to the fact that one will be accused of “laundering” money which they obtained through illegal activities. There are also situations, however, in which money laundering may be a stand-alone offense if one is “cleaning” money for others. If one is convicted on both an underlying offense as well as an accompanying money laundering charge, then they may have to serve consecutive sentences on the various counts. Typically, a Judge will sentence a defendant in accordance with the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, although they are not required to do so.
Examples of activity that can be considered money laundering include taking illegal proceeds and breaking them into numerous small bank deposits to avoid bank reporting requirements. Other examples can include the use of shell companies to pass money through, improper use of cryptocurrency to turn illegal proceeds into a crypto asset and then back into actual dollars, transforming proceeds into gift cards, and more. Crimes that are often charged along with these types of activities include drug trafficking, wire fraud or mail fraud, tax evasion, and more. If the matter goes to trial, then the prosecution will often utilize a forensic accountant or some other form of financial expert in an attempt to prove that fraud occurred. Whether an expert will be utilized is typically determined by the number and complexity of the transactions.
How to best defend against a money laundering charge will depend on the nature of the allegations as well as the underlying charges. Common issues in these types of cases can include whether or not the Fourth or Fifth Amendments were violated by law enforcement, arguing that the prosecution cannot, in fact, prove that the individual committed the financial transactions or underlying crimes, and disputing the actual values that are being alleged by the prosecution. Given the complicated nature of many financial crime cases, it may well be necessary for one’s attorney to retain a financial expert and/or forensic accountant to counter claims made by the prosecution.
Retain a federal defense lawyer if you face money laundering charges in the Central District of Illinois
If you have been charged with money laundering in the Central District of Illinois then it is likely that you face additional charges as well. It is important that you retain an attorney who has experience in dealing with expert witnesses and who is familiar with presenting complicated evidence to a jury. As a federal criminal defense lawyer, I am able to assist with such matters. I am a former prosecutor who believes that everyone is entitled to both quality representation, the benefit of the doubt, and respect. If you need assistance then contact my office online or by telephone today.
My firm is able to handle federal cases in both Peoria and Urbana.