Coral Gables Money Laundering Defense Attorneys

Living in Miami, money laundering charges are an ever-present concern. With Miami’s proximity to Latin America and the Caribbean, illicit funds unfortunately do make their way into our area. Even well-intentioned business people can run afoul of complex anti-money laundering laws. If you or your business is being investigated for money laundering in Coral Gables, it’s essential to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

Overview of Money Laundering Laws in Florida

Florida money laundering laws prohibit conducting financial transactions with funds that are the proceeds of or are intended to further specified unlawful activity. Unlawful activity includes drug trafficking, fraud, theft, gambling, and hundreds of other state and federal crimes. To convict you of money laundering, prosecutors must prove you knew the money came from illegal activities. But under Florida law, willful blindness to the source of funds can equal knowledge.

Penalties for a money laundering conviction depend on the value of funds involved. Laundering less than $300 is a misdemeanor with up to 1 year in jail. Laundering between $300 and $19,999 is a third-degree felony with up to 5 years in prison. Laundering $20,000 to $99,999 is a second-degree felony with up to 15 years in prison, and laundering $100,000 or more is a first-degree felony with up to 30 years in prison.

How Businesses & Professionals Get Charged with Money Laundering

Many money laundering investigations begin as drug or fraud probes. But others start when banks, brokerages, or digital currency exchanges file suspicious activity reports (SARs) with the federal government. Financial institutions must file SARs when they suspect money laundering or other financial crimes. Common red flags for SAR filings include:

• Depositing cash in amounts under $10,000 to avoid currency reporting requirements
• Funneling money through shell companies or trusts
• Frequent international wire transfers, especially to or from “secrecy haven” jurisdictions
• Businesses with activities that don’t match their stated purpose
• Buying valuable assets with cash or cash equivalents

The government combs through SAR database looking for patterns. If they find repeat transfers between the same businesses or people, money laundering charges often follow.

Coral Gables Money Laundering Defense Strategy

The best defense against money laundering charges hinges on the prosecutor’s ability to prove you knew funds came from illegal activities. When representing Coral Gables professionals or businesses accused of money laundering, our defense lawyers focus on showing:

You didn’t actually know the money’s origin – The fact you deposited cash from a client doesn’t necessarily mean you knew that cash was from drug deals or fraud. We build a timeline showing what you did know about the client and funds to show you had no cause for suspicion.

The money didn’t come from illegal activities – Even if cash deposits raise eyebrows, the underlying activity may be legal. For example, a jewelry broker may do many cash transactions without it involving crime. We thoroughly investigate the money trail to determine if an innocent explanation exists.

You reported suspicious activity – Although the SAR process causes headaches for financial professionals, filing SARs helps prove you weren’t turning a blind eye. We gather SARs and other activity reports to show you took reasonable steps to uncover and report shady transactions.

The police made mistakes – We scrutinize the investigation for constitutional violations that could result in evidence suppression. For example, we’ve seen cases built on illegal searches or seizures dismissed when we challenged the police conduct.

Why Coral Gables Needs Specialized Money Laundering Defense

Defending complex financial crime allegations requires specific skills and experience. Our firm’s money laundering defense lawyers have the qualifications necessary to win these high-stakes cases:

• Securities industry backgrounds – We understand complex investment vehicles and transactions others may find suspicious. Our experience in brokerage operations, compliance, and regulation helps us evaluate the realistic criminal intent behind financial activities.
• Forensic accounting expertise – Following the money trail is key in money laundering defenses. We work with top forensic CPAs to analyze bank records, wire transfers, accounting ledgers, and other financial documentation.
• Digital currency knowledge – As crypto becomes part of mainstream finance, understanding blockchain analysis and digital coin tracing grows increasingly important. We stay on top of cryptocurrency technology and investigative techniques.
• Past experience defending money laundering cases – There’s no teacher like experience. Our defense team has handled asset forfeiture attempts, Treasury Department investigations, and criminal prosecutions of both individuals and corporations. We’ve successfully defended everyone from bankers to jewelers to lawyers.

Proactive Money Laundering Risk Mitigation

Along with defending money laundering investigations, our Coral Gables attorneys routinely advise financial professionals on proactively mitigating money laundering risks. We help clients in industries like banking, money services, investments, real estate, and legal services implement comprehensive anti-money laundering (AML) programs tailored to their specific needs and risks.

Robust AML programs incorporate policies, procedures, training, and controls designed to prevent, detect, and report suspicious activity. No compliance program eliminates risk entirely, but well-planned AML protocols demonstrate a commitment to financial integrity. Documented efforts to uncover and stop questionable transactions can help deter charges down the road or bolster legal defenses if needed.

Connect with a Coral Gables Money Laundering Defense Lawyer Today

Facing money laundering accusations jeopardizes both your freedom and your livelihood. Don’t go it alone against complex financial charges. To schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced Coral Gables money laundering defense attorney, contact our office today. We have a proven record helping South Florida professionals, investors, and businesses fight back against money laundering allegations. With an aggressive defense strategy built on financial fluency, we can help you too.