Lexington Money Laundering Lawyer

Were you recently arrested for money laundering in Lexington, Kentucky? If so, you need to take swift and decisive measures to make it hard for the federal government to convict you and send you to prison. You can begin by contacting a seasoned Lexington money laundering lawyer from Suhre & Associates, LLC.

Your first consultation with our experienced legal team is free – so call now at 859-569-4014.

How Our Lexington Criminal Defense Attorneys Can Help You Fight Money Laundering Charges

Money laundering is a serious white-collar crime. The government will not make an arrest or file charges until there’s substantial evidence to back the allegations. It is important to take these criminal charges seriously and put everything you have into your defense.

Hiring an experienced Lexington criminal defense lawyer from Suhre & Associates, LLC, is a great way to tips the scales of justice in your favor. 

At Suhre & Associates, LLC, we fight for the people of Lexington, KY every day. Our team includes a former prosecutor and a former police officer, which makes us uniquely qualified to represent you in these serious criminal matters. When you turn to us for help, we’ll put the full force and weight of our law firm behind your defense. 

We’ll defend you by:

  • Protecting your rights as a citizen of the United States
  • Filing documents with the court and other parties on your behalf
  • Conducting an investigation into the events that led to your arrest
  • Working tirelessly to secure a reasonable bond on your behalf
  • Providing you with you sound legal advice when necessary
  • Helping you understand how the federal justice system works
  • Consulting with financial experts about the nuances of your case
  • Communicating with the prosecution on your behalf
  • Searching for evidence that might sway the case in your favor
  • Putting together a customized legal strategy for your case
  • Offering you honest answers to your legal questions
  • Negotiating a plea bargain deal with the prosecuting attorney
  • Arguing on your behalf at trial, if necessary

Don’t try to battle back against the allegations of the federal government on your own. Reach out to the experienced criminal defense attorneys at Suhre & Associates, LLC, in Lexington, Kentucky, for all the advice and guidance you need to handle your case the right way. We have years of experience in the legal industry, so we know what it takes to win.

An Overview of Federal Money Laundering Laws

The act of concealing the sources of unlawfully obtained money became illegal in the United States when Congress passed the Money Laundering Control Act in 1986. This piece of legislation introduced two new sections to the Code of Laws of the United States of America. 

They are:

Laundering of Monetary Instruments

18 US Code § 1956 explains that it is unlawful for an individual to conduct or attempt to conduct a financial transaction with money they know to be the proceeds of illegal activity:

  • With the intent to promote the continuance of that illegal activity, or
  • With the intent to violate the Internal Revenue Code

While knowing that financial transaction is designed to:

  • Conceal or disguise the location, nature, source, or ownership of the proceeds of illegal activity, or
  • Avoid a transaction reporting requirement under state and federal law

This federal statute further stipulates that it is unlawful for an individual to transport, transmit, or transfer funds into or out of the United States:

  • With the intent to promote the carrying on of an illegal activity
  • To knowingly conceal or disguise the location, nature, source, or ownership of the proceeds of illegal activity, or
  • To knowingly avoid a transaction reporting requirement under state and federal law

This federal law concludes by noting that it is unlawful for an individual to conduct or attempt to conduct a financial transaction involving a property represented to be the proceeds of illegal activity with the intent to:

  • Promote the carrying on of an illegal activity
  • Knowingly conceal or disguise the location, nature, source, or ownership of the proceeds of illegal activity, or
  • Knowingly avoid a transaction reporting requirement under state and federal law

A brief list of the illegal activities that most commonly generate proceeds for money laundering would include theft crimes (like robbery) and drug crimes (like drug trafficking).

Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Unlawfully Derived Property

18 US Code § 1957 states that it is unlawful for an individual to knowingly engage or attempt to engage in a monetary transaction in illegally derived property with a value of more than $10,000 when:

  • They are located in the United States
  • They are located in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, or
  • They are located abroad but are a “United States person”

Over the years, the attorneys at Suhre & Associates, LLC, have defended many clients who stood accused of engaging in money laundering, fraud schemes, and a variety of other white-collar crimes. To have our law firm assist you with your case, all you need to do is give us a call and arrange a free consultation at our law office in Fayette County, KY.

Consequences of Money Laundering Convictions in Kentucky

When a federal court convicts Lexington residents of money laundering, they almost always dole out hefty fines and lengthy prison sentences. The specifics of an individual’s criminal punishment typically depends on the nature of their offense.

Kentuckians who violate 18 US Code § 1956 (laundering of monetary instruments) can face a fine of up to $500,000 (or twice the value of the property) and up to 20 years in prison.

Meanwhile, Lexington residents who violate 18 US Code § 1957 (engaging in monetary transactions in unlawfully derived property) can get a fine as high as twice the value of the criminally derived property and up to ten years in prison.

Of course, individuals who engage in money laundering in the state of Kentucky don’t just receive a fine and a prison term. They also get a permanent criminal record.

This criminal record can cause them to experience a wide range of collateral consequences, such as:

  • Trouble Finding Housing: Landlords and leasing managers in the City of Lexington do not usually like to rent homes to people with criminal records.
  • Immigration Issues: The federal government regularly deports non-citizens with criminal records once they get out of prison.
  • Difficulty Landing a Job: A sizable portion of the businesses in the state of Kentucky have policies against hiring convicted criminals.
  • Professional Licensing Issues: People with criminal records can find it all but impossible to obtain the professional licenses they require for their careers.
  • Loss of Privacy: The details of a convicted criminal’s past are free to view online. All it takes to find this info is a quick search.
  • Harsher Future Sentences: People with criminal records tend to get more severe sentences if they get into trouble with the law again in the future.
  • Trouble Obtaining Student Loans: The federal government does not make it easy for convicted criminals to obtain loans for school.
  • Loss of Gun Ownership Rights: State and federal law forbid people with criminal records from buying, owning, or carrying guns.

Do you need an experienced federal crimes defense lawyer in Lexington to help you fight to avoid the negative consequences of a money laundering conviction? If so, please do not hesitate to contact the team at Suhre & Associates, LLC. We have the legal skills and statutory knowledge required to provide you with the assistance you need.

Defenses Against Money Laundering Charges in Kentucky

Lexington residents who find themselves charged with money laundering can use one of the following legal strategies to attempt to get their case dismissed or their charge reduced:

Lack of Evidence

To convict a person of money laundering, or any other crime, in the United States, prosecuting attorneys must go to court to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. To accomplish this feat, they usually present relevant evidence to the jury.

When Lexington criminal defense lawyers argue that the prosecution has not brought forth enough evidence to meet their burden of proof, they are often able to secure not-guilty verdicts for their clients.

Absence of Knowledge

To be guilty of money laundering in the United States, an individual must know that they are conducting a financial transaction with the proceeds of illegal activity. When an attorney shows that their client believed the funds to be legitimately obtained, they can frequently get their charges dismissed.

Duress

Duress occurs when an individual believes that harm will come to them or their loved ones if they do not take part in a crime. If a defense lawyer can prove that their client or their family received threatening messages instructing them to commit money laundering, they should have little trouble getting their case dismissed or their charges reduced.

Would you like to have one of our experienced criminal defense attorneys in Lexington review your money laundering case and help you develop an effective legal strategy? If so, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us to set up a free consultation with a member of our team. We have been working on cases like yours for years, so we know which techniques work and which ones do not.

Your Skilled Lexington Money Laundering Lawyer

When you need a knowledgeable Lexington money laundering lawyer to help you fight back against the accusations of the United States federal government, you can always count on Suhre & Associates, LLC. We have been standing up for the people of Kentucky for many years – securing a plethora of favorable verdicts along the way. To find out more about how we can assist you, all you need to do is pick up the phone and give us a call.

For more information, contact the criminal defense attorneys at Suhre & Associates, LLC give us a call today at (859) 569-4014 or visit us at our Lexington law office.

Suhre & Associates, LLC – Lexington 

333 West Vine Street #212 

Lexington, KY 40507 

United States

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