Contrary to the common idiom, crime can pay. It can pay so much, in fact, that people with illegally acquired funds often develop complicated plans to make it appear as if the money originated from a legal source. This act is money laundering.
Money laundering occurs whenever a person attempts to conceal the source, destination, or identity of illegally obtained or acquired money. Money laundering is criminalized under both state and federal laws.
Money laundering applies when a person attempts to conceal illegally obtained funds, but it doesn't include merely spending money. If, for example, you make $1,000 selling stolen goods and then go out and buy something, you haven't laundered any money. Though you have committed the crime of dealing in stolen goods, money laundering charges don't apply unless you try to conceal or disguise where the money originated or otherwise disguise it.
The Supreme Court has ruled that in order to prove federal money laundering charges, prosecutors must show a person concealed money specifically to conceal the location, ownership, source, nature, or control of the money. It isn't money laundering, for example, to try to conceal money during transportation by putting it in a hidden place. Laundering would involve taking that money and trying to make it appear as if it came from a legitimate source.
Supreme Court rulings also clarify that federal money laundering laws don't apply when someone is simply making money from crime. For example, if you decide to run an illegal lottery in which you collect money from people who play and then pay the winners, this isn't money laundering. Though you're receiving money from illegal activity and using that money to pay winners, money laundering requires that you in some way try to hide the profits from your activity. Paying money to winners isn't considered concealing profits.
Money laundering targets the specific act of concealing, or attempting to conceal, the ill-begotten proceeds of criminal activity. Courts have ruled that there must be some criminal activity involved that produced the profits before it can be money laundering. If, for example, you make $10,000 by selling a car and then try to hide that money from the IRS at tax time, you haven't committed money laundering. You've violated tax laws, but because the sale of the car was legal your actions do not count as money laundering.
State and federal money laundering laws differ significantly in the potential penalties associated with them.
Federal law prohibits money laundering under two statutes. Both provide stiff felony penalties for a conviction. A defendant faces 10 to 20 years in federal prison, plus fines up to $500,000 or twice the value of the laundered funds involved in the crime. Additional penalties may apply if the money laundering was a part of an ongoing criminal enterprise or related to terrorist activities.
(18 U.S.C. §§ 1956, 1957, 1961, 1963, 2339C (2021).)
State laws on money laundering vary widely. For instance, California makes money laundering a wobbler offense, meaning it can be penalized as a misdemeanor or felony. Any crimes involving more than $50,000, though, must be punished as a felony. These high-dollar crimes are also subject to increasing sentencing enhancements based on the dollar amounts involved. (Cal. Penal Code § 186.10 (2021).) New York divides money laundering offenses into four degrees based on the amounts involved—all carry felony penalties. A person convicted of money laundering in the first degree faces a class B felony, punishable by up to 25 years in prison. The lowest offense is a fourth-degree offense that carries a class E felony penalty of four years' incarceration. (N.Y. Penal Law §§ 470.10 to 470.20 (2021).)
Money laundering charges are very serious and a conviction can haunt you forever. If you're charged with money laundering you need to speak to a local criminal defense attorney who can review your case, evaluate your options, and give you advice. Most local attorneys are versed in state criminal laws. So if you're facing federal charges, make sure to find an attorney who practices in federal court.
Start here to find criminal defense lawyers near you.