New Jersey Money Laundering Lawyers Defend Clients in Federal Court
Have you been arrested and charged with money laundering under federal law? Because money laundering is often connected with organized crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism, the federal government vigorously investigates and prosecutes those involved in money laundering. You need experience legal representation to protect your rights and reputation from money laundering charges. Turn to the federal money laundering defense attorneys of Agre & St. John. With seven decades of combined legal experience, our lawyers have tried numerous cases to verdict as both defense attorneys and prosecutors. We have what it takes to pursue your case all the way to trial if necessary. Our firm is dedicated to doing everything within our power to secure a favorable result for you.
If you are facing federal money laundering charges, you face the risk of severe penalties and consequences in the event of a conviction. Contact Agre & St. John for a free initial case review to see how our New Jersey money laundering lawyers can assist you with defending yourself from criminal charges and protecting your freedom and future.
When facing federal charges, trust Agre & St. John's experienced attorneys to mount a vigorous defense and protect your rights in complex federal criminal cases. Call 856-454-8674 or complete our online contact form for a confidential consultation.
What Is Money Laundering?
Money laundering is a criminal offense that involves putting money gained through criminal activity into legitimate financial channels for the purpose of disguising the illegal source of that money. Money laundering is usually conducted by criminal organizations to make it look like their money was legitimately obtained or to avoid having to pay taxes on the proceeds of illegal activity. Money laundering often involves putting illegally-obtained money into legitimate businesses or financial transactions, where the money is commingled with legitimate funds; the perpetrators of the money laundering scheme then withdraw their money, which now appears “clean.”
The federal money laundering statute is contained in 18 U.S.C. s. 1956. The statute makes it illegal for a person, knowing that property involved in a financial transaction was the proceeds of unlawful activity, to conduct or attempt to conduct that financial transaction with the intent to promote unlawful activity or engage in conduct constituting tax fraud, or knowing that the transaction was designed to conceal the nature, location, sources, or ownership of the unlawful proceeds or to avoid transaction reporting requirements under federal or state law. The statute also makes it illegal to transport, transmit, or transfer, or attempt to transport, transmit, or transfer any funds or monetary instruments across state or national borders with the intent to promote unlawful activity, commit tax fraud, or conceal the nature of unlawful proceeds.
Money laundering may be committed in conjunction with other criminal offenses, such as mortgage fraud, securities fraud, or bank fraud.
Defenses to Money Laundering Charges
A conviction for money laundering will require proving beyond a reasonable doubt that you had knowledge of the unlawful source of money and the intent to launder it. Common defenses that may be available to fight money laundering charges include:
- You didn’t know that money or property was obtained from illegal activity
- The proceeds did not come from illegal activity
- You did not participate in any transactions that were part of the money laundering scheme
- You were coerced or intimidated into participating in a money laundering scheme, such as when organized crime syndicates force legitimate businesses into laundering money for the organization
Don't face federal charges alone – schedule a confidential consultation with Agre & St. John's skilled defense team to understand your options and build a robust defense strategy.
How Will the Federal Money Laundering Defense Attorneys of Agre & St. John Fight to Protect Your Freedom and Future from Criminal Charges
Because money laundering is often connected to serious criminal offenses like drug trafficking, organized crime, or terrorism, federal prosecutors aggressively pursue convictions in money laundering cases. If you’ve been charged with money laundering offenses, you need experienced legal counsel to give you the best chance of securing a favorable resolution to your case. Let the New Jersey money laundering lawyers at Agre & St. John advocate for your rights and interests by:
- Thoroughly investigating the facts and circumstances underlying your charges to secure evidence we can use to build an effective defense for you
- Identifying potential defenses and case strategies, especially if you were forced or coerced into participating in a money laundering scheme
- Ensuring you understand your charges and legal rights, and providing you with honest advice and answers to your questions so you can make informed decision
- Vigorously contesting the government’s case by filing motions with the court to exclude evidence or witnesses or to dismiss your charges if the government doesn’t have enough evidence to bring you to trial
- Pursuing a favorable resolution to your charges, whether that involves negotiating with prosecutors for a plea deal if appropriate, or advocating your defense at trial if you decide to fight your charges
Contact Us for a Free Confidential Consultation to Discuss Your Legal Options in Your Case with Our New Jersey Money Laundering Lawyers
Don’t wait to get legal representation to protect your rights and interest after being arrested and charged with money laundering. Contact Agre & St. John today for a free consultation to learn more about how our federal money laundering defense attorneys will fight for your reputation and freedom as you face your federal criminal charges.
