“Complex and intricate.”
Those are two of the terms we used in our September 5 blog post to describe American money-laundering laws. Indeed, and since the inception of the federal Bank Secrecy Act decades ago, money laundering has endured as a focal point of intense regulatory scrutiny.
The aim of the BSA and kindred legislation (think most recently of the USA Patriot Act passed in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks) has always been described in relatively narrow terms, to wit: to hamper unlawful conduct in areas such as organized crime, cartel-linked drug activity and terrorism.
Although defined somewhat narrowly, the reach and ensnaring ability of money-laundering probes is truly broad.
Indeed, it is vast, with Americans across a seemingly limitless spectrum being targeted and prosecuted in investigations charging financial concealment through laundering activities.
Money laundering is unquestionably a writ-large issue in Texas, given the state’s large and diverse economy, its varied financial institutions and investment opportunities and its close geographical nexus to the illicit global drug trade. State and federal task forces – often working in tandem – commit substantial time and resources to investigate alleged laundering activities.
Unsurprisingly, the consequences of a conviction can be severe, which underscores the importance for a defendant to secure proven defense counsel in what is a sphere of known legal complexity.
We note on our Houston criminal defense website at Hilder & Associates, P.C., that “money laundering charges are complicated to prove and vary by court and judge.” Given that reality, knowledgeable and aggressive representation can be a lifeline for any individual facing the daunting resources and resolve of criminal law authorities.
