{"id":352108,"date":"2023-08-23T14:02:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-23T19:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/money-laundering.html"},"modified":"2023-08-23T14:02:00","modified_gmt":"2023-08-23T19:02:00","slug":"money-laundering","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/criminal\/criminal-charges\/money-laundering.html","title":{"rendered":"Money Laundering Criminal Charges"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Money Laundering Criminal Charges<\/h1>\n
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\n By Hannah Hilst<\/a> | Legally reviewed by T. Evan Fisher, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Money laundering is a method of hiding the source of illegally obtained money. This federal crime risks up to 20 years in prison.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

Anti-money laundering (AML) laws control how money can move through the market. They create rules for financial institutions and other businesses to prevent and detect crime.<\/p>\n

Money laundering laws also establish serious punishments for criminal activity. If you face money laundering charges, learn about the process for these criminal cases. You should also seek advice from a qualified defense attorney<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This article discusses money laundering statutes. It also traces the government’s efforts to make organized crime unprofitable.<\/p>\n

What Is Money Laundering in the Law?<\/h2>\n

Money laundering is a process through which dirty money becomes unrecognizable as connected with a crime. Money becomes \u201cdirty\u201d when it trades hands due to illegal activity. Laundering money makes it \u201cclean\u201d again. It looks like the person gained it legitimately.<\/p>\n

Crime-related money gains a new background through a series of steps:<\/p>\n

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  1. Placement happens when the money enters the legitimate financial system, whether in the U.S. or an offshore bank account.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. Layering is fraudulent <\/a>bookkeeping or a series of financial transactions that make it hard to follow an audit trail.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  3. Integration sees the money come back to the criminal. The funds appear to be legitimate proceeds from a business or real estate investment.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Money laundering often accompanies organized crime, white-collar<\/a> crime, terrorist activities, and drug transactions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    How Criminal Laws Define Money Laundering<\/h3>\n

    Federal criminal statutes expand the definition of the crime of money laundering to include a few specific actions.<\/p>\n

    First, money laundering may involve using the proceeds from certain crimes to engage in a financial transaction to:<\/p>\n