West Palm Beach Money Laundering Defense Attorney
While money laundering may seem like an outdated charge, more suited to the prohibition-era than modern-day Miami, the consequences can nevertheless be very serious. Money laundering is a felony, which may be charged in state or federal court. The penalties include jail time, a fine, and the forfeiture of any cash seized by the government. If the cash from an illegal enterprise is deposited in a bank account that contains other funds, the entire bank account could be seized.
Money laundering, or "smurffing" as it is otherwise known, occurs when you conceal the use of funds or money that came from an illegal enterprise. In reality, money laundering charges are usually the result of over-zealous prosecutors.
Any time you deposit cash from an illegal enterprise into a bank account, or attempt to pay someone with cash that was gained from an illegal enterprise, you could be charged with money-laundering. You could also be charged with money laundering if you are a business person or professional, such as a lawyer, who accepts cash payments from clients without reporting the transaction to the IRS. Under Florida and federal law, cash transactions of $10,000 or more have to be reported to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Attempting to structure cash payments to avoid the $10,000 IRS reporting requirement is also a crime.
At the law firm of Andrew D. Stine, P.A., in West Palm Beach, we are very experienced in defending people who are charged with this crime, which is often associated with drug trafficking and fraud charges. To protect your money and your freedom, we will be proactive in addressing the underlying criminal charges, whether that is drug trafficking, fraud, or another white-collar crime.
Free consultation 24/7: Call West Palm Beach criminal defense lawyer Andrew D. Stine, P.A. at (561) 832-1170. Se habla español.
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