Money laundering — the process of making illegally obtained funds appear to originate from a legitimate source — is prosecuted as both a state and federal crime, and it frequently appears as a companion charge to drug trafficking, fraud, organized crime, and corruption offenses. At the state level, New York Penal Law Article 470 governs money laundering offenses across four degrees, with penalties up to 25 years for the most serious conduct. At the federal level, under 18 U.S.C. §1956, a conviction can result in up to 20 years in federal prison and fines up to $500,000 or twice the value of the funds involved.

What makes money laundering cases particularly complex is the extent of conduct they can encompass. Simply depositing cash into a bank account, transferring funds internationally, or conducting business transactions with someone who turns out to have illegal income can form the basis of a money laundering charge, even if the defendant did not know the specific origin of the funds.

Knowledge and intent are therefore central to any effective defense. The government must prove that the defendant knew the funds were derived from criminal activity and took specific steps to disguise that origin. We analyze financial records, transaction histories, and communications with forensic precision to challenge the government’s theory, and we work with financial experts when the complexity of the transaction structures warrants it.