Texas Money Laundering Laws

Money laundering is a serious crime in Texas. It involves the defendant knowingly having an interest in, concealing, transferring, transporting or facilitating in any way a transaction involving the proceeds of a criminal activity. It may also involve investing these proceeds, receiving them, spending them, or financing them in any way.

It is important to note that Texas money laundering law does not require that the defendant knows about the criminal activity that gave rise to the proceeds in order to be convicted. Just knowing that the proceeds themselves have come from some type of criminal activity is enough. If a peace officer or someone acting at his direction has informed the defendant that the proceeds or funds are either from a criminal activity or are intended to help commit a criminal activity, the defendant will be presumed to have the required knowledge about the proceeds for a conviction.

Money laundering often involves racketeering or other criminal activity.

• Lack of knowledge
• The defendant acted with the intention to facilitate the lawful seizure of the funds
• The transaction was necessary to preserve the defendant's right to representation as guaranteed in the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
• The funds were for legal fees and the attorney did not know at the time they were paid to him that the funds were derived from criminal activity

The severity of the penalty imposed depends on the amount of money at issue. The offense of money laundering carries the following charges for the following amounts of money:

• State jail felony: the value of the funds is $1,500 or more but less than $20,000;
• Third degree felony: the value of the funds is $20,000 or more but less than $100,000;
• Second degree felony: the value of the funds is $100,000 or more but less than $200,000;
• First degree felony: the value of the funds is $200,000 or more.