According to the FBI, the definition of money laundering is the process by which criminals conceal or disguise their proceeds and make them appear to have come from legitimate sources. This allows guilty parties to hide wealth they have accumulated from untoward or illegal means and avoid taxes, prosecution, and other consequences of reporting while giving them a way to illegally increase profit and the ability to invest in other illegal activities.
Put simply, money laundering is turning “dirty” money into “clean” money.
This can be money gained from crimes which have their own serious consequences, including:
- Complex financial crimes
- Health care fraud
- Human trafficking
- International and domestic public corruption
- Narcotics trafficking
- Terrorism
It may have been a financial difficulty that led you down this path, but now you are facing charges for a white collar crime and, unfortunately, it’s serious. White collar crimes carry with them extensive penalties, including fines and up to 30 years in prison. It doesn’t matter if you are considered the ringleader of a white collar scheme or a cog in the machine, you are subject to the same penalties. To ensure that you are properly defended, it’s vital that you contact the best federal criminal defense lawyer in St. Petersburg to handle your case. A free consultation with Anthony Rickman is just a phone call away.