West Palm Beach Money Laundering & Racketeering Attorney (RICO)

Many federal crimes are so broadly defined that prosecutors can use them as swords against otherwise legitimate businesses and respectable businesspeople. Among the two favorites of federal prosecutors are money laundering & racketeering. If you have been accused of a federal crime, you need to “lawyer up” as soon as possible, contact the West Palm Beach money laundering & racketeering attorneys at Skier Law Firm.

Money Laundering

Money laundering is an attempt to disguise where money is coming from because the money was obtained through illegal activities. By laundering the money, the defendants can introduce it as lawful money into the U.S. financial system.

Money laundering took flight in the 1920s, when the Mafia established laundromats as front business to disguise where their money was really coming from—criminal activity. Because laundromats traffic in lots of cash, it was easy for the Mafia to introduce their illicit proceeds and claim they were really proceeds from the laundry marts. Criminals today establish businesses for the same purpose. For example, someone with a booming drug business might open a nail salon so that they can launder the drug money through the business.

Because front businesses are not operated for profit, they can undercut the local West Palm Beach economy, which is why the government has an added incentive to root out money laundering.  The federal government’s Money Laundering Act, found at 18 USC § 1956 and § 1957, makes it a crime to participate in money laundering.

Why You Need a Criminal Defense Attorney

The penalties for money laundering and racketeering are severe. For example, a person convicted of racketeering can face a fine up to $25,000 and up to 20 years for each count. Furthermore, the government can force the defendant to give back any profits and can also seek an injunction to seize your property to prevent you from transferring it. Many businesses can be outright destroyed if the government secures a conviction for racketeering, and prosecutors have an incentive to push their luck to exploit gray areas in the statute.

At The Skier Law Firm, P.A., we work tirelessly to defend your rights. Call us today at (561) 220-3355 or send us a message to make an appointment with our criminal defense lawyers.