Building a Clearwater Money Laundering Defense
Getting arrested for money laundering can result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years and a fine of $250,000 or more. This is why if you have been arrested for money laundering, you should seek legal counsel. A seasoned lawyer is going to be experienced with building a Clearwater money laundering defense for you. Call today to schedule a consultation.
Interesting Aspects of Money Laundering Cases
Lawyers find money laundering cases intriguing because financial crimes involve so many calculations. Money laundering causes are so paper intensive, therefore, lawyers have to search through so much information. White-collar cases like fraud are such complex crimes that once an attorney is able to gather all the documents, they have to extensively review the documents to see what is important. A lawyer may have to review 10,000 documents and only 10 of them may be important to the case. Attorneys who are detailed oriented are best suited for building a Clearwater money laundering defense.
Important Information Defendants Should Know
The defendant should understand that depositing dirty money into a bank is a separate charge from the original crime. Sometimes people struggle to comprehend the connection between the bank deposit and the crime that generated the money. Many white collar criminals believe they are simply conducting normal business. The attorney may have to explain to the defendant that there are many other ways to obtain illegal money than just from drug sales.
Defense Strategies
The most common defense used in a money laundering case is claiming that the money transaction was not illegal. If the defendant can prove that the money was obtained from a legitimate transaction then it would not be illegal. If the defendants business transaction was legitimate, then there is no money laundering offense.
The defense has to convince the jury that the proceeds were not illegal and that the money being deposited in the bank did not facilitate the criminal activity. The prosecutors must prove to the court that the money laundering crime happened beyond a reasonable doubt. This can be difficult for them to accomplish, especially if the defendant has a seasoned lawyer representing them.
Benefits of an Experienced Attorney
There are numerous benefits that a well-established lawyer can offer to a defendant. An accomplished attorney is going to be knowledgeable about building a Clearwater money laundering defense. Money laundering cases involve complicated transactions, which is why it is essential to have a legal professional by your side to review all the documents related to the case. A lawyer is going to know how transactions, business, stock bonds, Medicare, and any kind of government assistance work.
Legal counsel will know instantly what to investigate for each case and what things to bring to the attention of the government to try to convince them that this is not a case that should be charged. Getting your charges dropped or mitigated can help you avoid prison, expensive fines, and other consequences that come with money laundering offenses. Call today to schedule a consultation to find out more about how an attorney can help you.