Discuss Your Case with a Shreveport Money Laundering Lawyer in Strict Confidence
Money laundering is a serious offense that carries serious penalties under Louisiana and federal law. As a result, if you are under investigation or facing charges, you need an experienced Shreveport money laundering lawyer on your side.
Lee Harville is a Shreveport money laundering lawyer who has decades of experience defending clients in high-stakes state and federal cases. Regardless of your case’s current status, Lee can help—but it is important that you get in touch as soon as possible.
We Handle State and Federal Money Laundering Cases in Louisiana
Like many other white-collar crimes, money laundering can be prosecuted under state or federal law in Louisiana. However, state and federal money laundering cases are very different, and this makes it critical to work with a defense lawyer who has experience that is relevant to your case. With extensive experience at the state and federal levels, Lee can help protect you no matter what.
State Money Laundering Charges
At the state level, the crime of money laundering is established in Section 14:230 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. Section 14:230 lists six separate offenses that can lead to a money laundering prosecution under state law:
- Conducting, supervising, or facilitating financial transactions involving proceeds “known to be derived from criminal activity;”
- Giving, selling, concealing, transferring or “maintain[ing] an interest in” any property for the purpose of committing or furthering a crime;
- Directing, planning, organizing, financing, or facilitating the transfer of proceeds “known to be derived from . . . criminal activity;”
- Receiving or acquiring proceeds derived from criminal activity, or “knowingly or intentionally engag[ing] in any transaction” known to involve such proceeds;
- Receiving, acquiring, concealing, possessing, or maintaining an interest in the proceeds of criminal activity; or,
- Investing, offering to invest, or receiving the proceeds of criminal activity.
In all cases, the penalties for money laundering under Section 14:230 depend on the value of the funds involved:
- Less Than $3,000: Up to a $1,000 fine and six months in prison
- $3,000 to $19,999: Up to a $10,000 fine and 10 years in prison
- $20,000 to $99,999: Up to a $20,000 fine and 20 years in prison
- $100,000 or More: Up to a $50,000 fine and 50 years in prison
Due to the breadth of Louisiana’s money laundering statute, all individuals and parties involved (or allegedly involved) in money laundering transactions can face prosecution and sentencing. While there are various potential defenses to state money laundering charges, asserting these defenses effectively requires experienced legal representation.
Federal Money Laundering Charges
At the federal level, the crime of money laundering is established in 18 U.S.C. Section 1956. Under Section 1956, it is a federal offense to knowingly conduct (or attempt to conduct) a financial transaction that involves the proceeds of “specified unlawful activity” either:
- With the intent to promote specified unlawful activity;
- With the intent to engage in tax evasion or tax fraud;
- With the intent to avoid state or federal transaction reporting requirements; or,
- Knowing that the transaction is designed to conceal the source of the proceeds involved.
Section 1956 outlines various other offenses that involve the laundering of proceeds from specified unlawful activity and other illicit financial transactions. “Specified unlawful activity” is defined broadly to include a wide range of crimes under other provisions of the U.S. Code. In federal cases, money laundering convictions carry a fine of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater, and up to 20 years of federal imprisonment.
Potential Defenses to Money Laundering
While state and federal prosecutors have several ways to prove money laundering charges in court, targeted individuals may be able to assert several defenses as well. Some examples of potential defenses to money laundering charges at the state and federal levels include:
- Lack of intent (when intent is required)
- Lack of knowledge
- Acting in good faith
- No actual involvement in the transaction at issue
- Constitutional violations that render the prosecution’s evidence inadmissible
- Insufficient evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
The defenses available in any particular case will depend on the specific circumstances. To find out what defenses you can assert in your case, you should consult with an experienced defense lawyer right away.
Why You Need an Experienced Defense Lawyer on Your Side
Like all serious white-collar charges, defending against state or federal money laundering charges requires experienced legal representation. When you engage Shreveport money laundering lawyer Lee Harville to represent you, he will work quickly to evaluate the government’s case and determine what defenses you have available. He will then assert these defenses on your behalf while working to resolve your case as efficiently and quietly as possible.
FAQs: Defending Against Money Laundering Charges in Louisiana
Will I face state or federal charges for money laundering?
Whether you are at risk of facing state or federal money laundering charges depends on the agency (or agencies) conducting your investigation. As discussed above, both state and federal charges carry substantial penalties, so you will need an experienced defense lawyer regardless of whether you are being targeted by state or federal authorities.
Can I be charged if I didn’t know the money was “dirty”?
As a general rule, money laundering charges require evidence that the defendant acted “knowingly.’’ As a result, if you didn’t know that the money in question was “dirty,” this may serve as a complete defense to criminal culpability.
Will the government seize my assets?
Facing a government seizure is a very real possibility in both state and federal money laundering cases. When you hire Shreveport money laundering lawyer Lee Harville to represent you, he can defend against any government seizure efforts in addition to defending against the government’s money laundering allegations.
Request a Confidential Consultation with Shreveport Money Laundering Lawyer Lee Harville
Are you under investigation or facing charges for money laundering in Louisiana? If so, we encourage you to contact us promptly. Call 318-222-1700 or contact us online to request a confidential consultation.