Money Laundering Defense With a New Jersey Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Money laundering generally means that the defendant engaged in a financial transaction while having knowledge that the money involved in the transaction was obtained through some specified illegal means. If you have been charged with the crime of money laundering, you should know that you face serious penalties. To learn more about the charges you face, your options and possible penalties, you will want to talk to a New Jersey federal criminal defense attorney.

Elements of Money Laundering

Your attorney can explain to you that there are several elements that a prosecutor needs to prove to show money laundering:

• Knowledge. The defendant must have knowledge that the money was the proceeds of an illegal act. The defendant does not need to know the details of the illegal act, just that the money represents illicit gains;
• Financial Transaction. The defendant must have initiated, participated or concluded a financial transaction such as a sale, transfer, delivery or other disposition of illegal funds; and
• Intent. The defendant needs the intent to engage in some illegal act such as tax evasion, concealment or disguise. So a simple mistake may not be enough to support a money laundering charge.

Prosecutors have the burden of proving each of these elements. Your money laundering defense attorney can help defend any of these elements to make efforts to exonerate you of the crime of money laundering.