Law enforcement officers say than nine residents of Broward County are involved in a money laundering scheme that involves more than $94 million. Officials say that the scheme goes all the way back to 2008. Those involved range in age from 24 to 38.
Authorities say those involved in the high-stakes scheme laundered money using romance scams and email phishing. They also used lottery schemes and inheritance fraud. The accused face federal money laundering charges. They have the right to the assistance of a Fort Lauderdale money laundering attorney.
The scheme involved bank accounts and international wire transfers. When the alleged conspirators cheated a victim, they convinced the victim to wire money to a bank account. They set up fake bank accounts and shell corporations across Florida in order to collect the money.
Criminal money laundering takes money from an illegal source and tries to make it look like it comes from a legal source. Federal money laundering laws prohibit taking money from an illegal operation and transferring it in order to hide the fact that it’s illegal. A separate federal law makes it illegal to transfer more than $10,000 if you know the money is from an illegal source. It doesn’t matter if you transfer the money within the United States or internationally.
The penalties for federal money laundering range from 10 to 20 years in prison. The exact sentence for each individual depends on the circumstances of their conviction. The amount of money involved often has a big impact on the severity of the sentence. A person convicted of money laundering has the right to be represented by a money laundering criminal defense attorney at sentencing.
If you’re facing charges of money laundering, your Fort Lauderdale criminal attorney can help you explore the defenses that may be available to you. State attorneys have the job of proving the case against you. You also have the right to hear your Miranda rights before questioning if you’re in police custody. Money laundering charges also require intent. You must know that the money is illegal when you transfer it.
If you’re facing criminal charges, the Fort Lauderdale money laundering attorney team at Hassett & Associates can help you defend yourself to the fullest extent of the law. They can help you explore possible defenses and assert your rights aggressively. If you or someone you know have been in a similar legal situation, contact Hassett & Associates, P.A. at 954-791-3939.
