Marietta Money Laundering Attorney

White Collar Crimes Defense in Georgia

Have you been accused of money laundering? Money laundering is a federal crime and so it is important that you have a qualified legal representative on your side if you have been accused of this offense. When money has been gained illegally, such as through the sale of illegal drugs, sex trafficking, embezzlement, or tax evasion, that money cannot be used without the possibility of attracting the wrong type of attention. In order to be able to use this "dirty money," it must first be "laundered." Team up with a Marietta criminal lawyer from our firm for assistance.

What are the Consequences for Money Laundering in Georgia?

If you are facing charges for money laundering, you may be subject to the following penalties.

Federal Criminal Statute: 18 U.S.C. §1956 - Laundering of monetary instruments:

• Up to 20 years in prison
• Heavy fines
• Restitution to the victim(s)

Federal Criminal Statute: 18 U.S.C. §1957 - Engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity:

• Up to 10 years in prison
• Heavy fines
• Restitution to the victim(s)

Defense Strategies Against Money Laundering

The first step of money laundering is placement. This means that the money is placed in a bank or another reputable financial institution. Since large deposits have to be reported to the authorities, this is the stage of money laundering which carries the most risk. Once it has been successfully deposited, the money can be layered. The goal of layering is to make the money as difficult as possible to trace back to the original source. The funds could be divided and deposited into bank accounts all over the world as well as used to make huge purchases. Finally, the last stage is integration, where the money is able to reenter the economy as "clean money."