{"id":375682,"date":"2018-01-17T14:28:09","date_gmt":"2018-01-17T19:28:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/ohio-law\/ohio-money-laundering-laws.html"},"modified":"2018-01-17T14:30:14","modified_gmt":"2018-01-17T19:30:14","slug":"ohio-money-laundering-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/ohio-law\/ohio-money-laundering-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Ohio Money Laundering Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ohio Money Laundering Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\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

Money laundering occurs when an individual takes measures to hide the fact that certain money was obtained through criminal activities. The reasoning behind the name is based on the idea that money laundering<\/a> involves attempts to "clean" the dirty money through a series of transactions to make the money appear as though it was earned legitimately; the goal is it to make it difficult to trace the real source of the income. For example, a drug trafficker<\/a> purchases gift cards with funds that he earned from selling methamphetamines. Next, he uses the gift cards to buy electronics, which he then sells to a legitimate purchaser. After the purchase is made, the trafficker deposits the money into a bank account for a company that he uses as a front.<\/p>\n

Those who engage in money laundering can face charges under both federal and state laws. Additionally, many money laundering charges in Ohio can also include other related charges such as conspiracy<\/a>, racketeering<\/a>, especially if the money launderer is involved with organized crime or with other federal crimes.<\/p>\n

Ohio Money Laundering Laws at a Glance<\/h2>\n

The chart below provides a summary of laws related to money laundering in Ohio, including links to important code sections.<\/p>\n\n

Statutes and Elements of the Crime<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Penalties and Sentencing<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • The charges and the penalties depend on the specific circumstances in your case.<\/li>\n
  • Generally, money laundering in Ohio is a felony in the third degree, which is punishable by a fine of $7,500 or two times the value of the property involved, whichever is greater.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Possible Defenses<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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  • Lack of intent<\/li>\n
  • Duress<\/li>\n
  • Entrapment<\/li>\n
  • Lack of knowledge: You were unaware that the money received was obtained illegally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>

Related Offense<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n