Los Angeles Money Laundering Defense Lawyer

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Defending Money Laundering Charges in Los Angeles

Money laundering charges in Los Angeles carry serious prison time, massive fines, and mandatory asset forfeiture that can begin before any verdict is reached. These charges almost never stand alone. They are attached to underlying investigations involving drug trafficking, fraud, embezzlement, or organized crime and the money laundering count is used to compound the sentencing exposure of every other charge in the case. If you have been charged or are under investigation you need a money laundering defense lawyer working on your case immediately. At The Law Offices of Arash Hashemi Attorney Hashemi has spent over 20 years defending clients against financial crime charges at both the state and federal level in Los Angeles. Call (310) 448-1529 or contact our office today for a free confidential consultation.

Money Laundering Under California and Federal Law

California Penal Code 186.10 defines money laundering as conducting or attempting to conduct financial transactions involving money derived from criminal activity with the intent to promote that activity or conceal the origin of the funds. The statute requires that the transactions exceed $5,000 within a seven-day period or $25,000 within a 30-day period. If those thresholds are not met the charge cannot stand.

Federal money laundering charges under 18 U.S.C. 1956 apply when the conduct involves interstate commerce or federal financial institutions and carry dramatically higher sentencing exposure than the state statute. In the Central District of California federal prosecutors regularly charge money laundering alongside drug trafficking and fraud offenses using it to add mandatory consecutive sentences and forfeiture provisions to cases that would otherwise carry more limited exposure. A money laundering defense lawyer with experience in both state and federal court is essential when charges are filed at either level.

Common conduct charged as money laundering includes structuring cash deposits to stay below federal reporting thresholds, routing funds through shell companies or third-party accounts, purchasing real estate or high-value assets with cash to conceal the source of funds, and using cryptocurrency wallets or foreign accounts to move funds beyond domestic scrutiny.

Penalties for Money Laundering in California and Federal Court

California Penal Code 186.10 — State Charges:

  • Misdemeanor: up to one year in county jail and fines up to $1,000
  • Felony: 16 months, 2 years, or 3 years in state prison
  • Fines up to $250,000 or twice the value of the laundered funds whichever is greater
  • Enhanced sentences of an additional 2 to 4 years when the laundered amount exceeds $2.5 million
  • Subsequent convictions: fines up to $500,000 or five times the value of the laundered funds

Federal Money Laundering — 18 U.S.C. 1956:

  • Up to 20 years in federal prison per count
  • Fines up to $500,000 or twice the amount laundered whichever is greater
  • Mandatory forfeiture of all property involved in or traceable to the laundering activity
  • Asset seizure can begin before trial and recovering seized property requires immediate legal action
  • Federal sentences are served without parole — defendants serve at least 85 percent of the sentence imposed

How Money Laundering Investigations Develop in Los Angeles

Money laundering charges rarely arise on their own. They develop out of investigations into drug trafficking, fraud, and organized crime where financial analysts begin tracing how money moved between accounts, businesses, and individuals. By the time charges are filed investigators have typically already subpoenaed bank records, business filings, tax returns, and wire transfer records going back years.

This means that by the time you learn you are under investigation the government already has a substantial financial picture of your transactions. Speaking to investigators at this stage without a money laundering defense lawyer present is one of the most damaging things you can do. Explanations you believe are helpful frequently provide the government with new investigative leads or admissions that strengthen their case.

How We Fight Money Laundering Charges in Los Angeles

Lack of Knowledge or Intent

Money laundering requires proof that you knew the funds involved were derived from criminal activity and that you intended to conceal their origin. Many clients charged with money laundering are professionals, business owners, or family members who processed transactions without knowing the source of the funds. When knowledge and intent are absent the prosecution cannot meet its burden and our firm builds that defense through your records, your communications, and the business context surrounding every transaction at issue.

Challenging the Source of Funds

If the money involved in the transactions came from lawful sources the prosecution’s case has no foundation. Our firm works with independent forensic accountants to trace the origin of every transaction and present evidence that the funds were legitimately earned. When the government cannot establish that the money derived from criminal activity the charge falls apart entirely.

Statutory Threshold Challenges

California’s money laundering statute requires transactions exceeding $5,000 in seven days or $25,000 in thirty days. When the prosecution cannot prove these thresholds were met with reliable evidence our firm challenges the sufficiency of the charge directly. This defense is particularly effective when the government has relied on estimated or aggregated transaction figures rather than documented financial records.

Suppression of Financial Records and Electronic Evidence

Money laundering investigations rely on bank records, business documents, and electronic communications obtained through subpoenas, search warrants, and court orders. When those were obtained through unlawful searches or without adequate legal process our firm files suppression motions to exclude the evidence. Removing key financial records from a money laundering prosecution can fundamentally change what the government is able to prove at trial.

Contact a Los Angeles Money Laundering Defense Lawyer

If you have been charged with money laundering or are under investigation in Los Angeles contact our office immediately. The financial evidence against you is being assembled right now and the earlier a money laundering defense lawyer is working on your case the more options you have to challenge the charges protect your assets and avoid the most severe outcomes.

Contact our office today for a free confidential consultation. Attorney Hashemi will review the charges, analyze the financial evidence, and begin building your defense from day one.

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We are conveniently located in the Westside Towers serving clients facing money laundering and financial crime charges across Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, the San Fernando Valley, Long Beach, and all surrounding communities. Your defense starts the moment you call.