YOU MAY HAVE SEEN TODD SPODEK ON THE NETFLIX SHOW INVENTING ANNA
When you’re facing a federal issue, you need an attorney whose going to be available 24/7 to help you get the results and outcome you need. The value of working with the Spodek Law Group is that we treat each and every client like a member of our family.
MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES LAWYERS
MONEY LAUNDERING CHARGES
Charges of money laundering can be rather serious and quite complex. Our law firm can help you.
How is Money Laundering Defined by Law?
Money laundering speaks of any financial transactions that involve funds gained from criminal activity. Generally speaking, the reason behind a money laundering transaction is to take money earned through illegal activity and make it look legitimate. This is called “laundering” since the process involves someone attempting to take “dirty” money and “clean” it up.
If you are looking for a lawyer that listens, is aggressive where needed, and holds his word above all else, Todd is the best pick. I had hired multiple attorneys prior to hiring the Spodek Group for a white collar case. The first thing that stood out to me was the cost, as anyone going through the process and dealing with the system, money was tight at that time - especially after hiring and firing multiple lawyers. The cost was not as high as others which was definitely a plus. Todd's intake process was also unlike other attorneys. He took the time to actually listen. He cared. He was trying to put himself in my shoes while I was explaining the situation to him and he really took the time to understand the whole situation. Other lawyers will give you 15 mins and send you a retainer agreement. Not Todd, I think he spent almost two hours with me as I was explaining everything.Not only was he great during the onboarding process, he was supportive and very informative through the entire plea process and eventually sentencing. After hiring him, I asked if I should hire a prison consultant, he told me to save my money as he would do everything they would. He was right and held up to his word. Later on I would hear from others that went with the prison consultants that they were a waste of money - I am glad I listened to Todd!When it came time for sentencing, two days prior to sentencing, the prosecutor tried increasing my proposed prison time by almost double - apparently a normal move. Todd and his team worked with me non-stop through the weekend prior to sentencing to ensure that I was not given additional prison time. Again, he took the time to listen and came up with a strategy to explain the case with great detail.Unfortunately, I did plead guilty as that was my best option. Todd and his whole team wrote up nearly 300 pages of a summary of what happened and why I should not be given prison time. If I breakdown the amount I spent with Todd versus the amount of work that I saw being done, I am shocked I was not charged four times as much. The other benefit was, a lot of criminal defense lawyers were just a single attorney with a paralegal or two. Todd had a team of people that I dealt with (5-7 people that I interacted with), but he was ALWAYS accessible. It would never take him more than an hour to reply unless he was in court.I was sentenced to prison and I was emotionally distraught. Todd and his team did whatever they could even after sentencing to make sure I was alright. He personally stayed in touch with my family to ensure I was doing alright and offered support to them. Most lawyers would consider the job complete at sentencing, not Todd.After prison, Todd still spent time with me to make sure I was on the right track and avoiding any potential risks in the future. He has also been giving advice on how to navigate probation etc and has not been looking at the clock for billing.Although I wish I had never been arrested in the first place, I am glad I had Todd and his team in my corner. Without them I likely would have had to spend a lot more time in prison than I did.Thank you, Todd, and the entire Spodek Law team, for helping turn what was a nightmare into a manageable situation!
I am immensely grateful to the entire team at Spodek Law Group for their unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise throughout my case. From our initial consultation to the final resolution, their professionalism and tireless advocacy made all the difference. Their strategic approach and attention to detail instilled confidence in me every step of the way.Thanks to their hard work and commitment, we achieved a truly favorable outcome that exceeded my expectations. Not only did they navigate the complexities of my case with precision, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. I cannot recommend Spodek Law Group highly enough, especially attorneys Todd Spodek and Claire Banks; they are beacons of excellence in the legal profession.YSP.
Todd, Ralph and Alex are amazing. Helped my husband get from a double digit number with multiple charges to a single digit, by the time I blink he will be out. They very professional and help with all your needs. They dealt with my anxiety and worry very well and they understand that your family member needs to get home as soon as possible.
Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.
I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence.Thank you team!
I recently had Spodek Law Group represent me for a legal matter in NYC and I am thoroughly impressed with their services.Alex Zhik secured the best possible outcome for my case.It was a seamless journey from the initial consultation to the resolution of my legal matter. From the moment I spoke to Todd about my case, his enthusiasm to help was evident, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. The efficiency and professionalism displayed by the team is commendable.A particularly noteworthy aspect of their service is their user-friendly portal to upload your documents/evidence. This not only simplified the process, but showcases their commitment to streamline the client experience.Lastly, in an industry where legal fees can often be a concern, I found their pricing to be very reasonable, making needing legal assistance feel accessible and stress-free.I am grateful for their support and wouldn't hesitate to turn to them again in the future.
Money laundering takes place whenever money earned through illegal activity gets deposited in a bank or other financial institution. Also, money laundering happens wherever illegally obtained money is spent in a manner that helps promote or conceal the illegal activity.
Money Laundering Charges in Connection with Other Crimes
A person is almost never charged with a money laundering offense alone. By and large, we have seen money laundering charges brought in cases where the person is also charged crimes such as mail and wire fraud, drug conspiracy, racketeering (RICO), or some other financially motivated offense.
The government might also launch undercover “sting” operations to investigate and prosecute money laundering offenses in which the money is not actually “dirty money.” In such operations, an undercover agent can claim that the money is “dirty” even if it is clearly not.
Agreeing to Commit Money Laundering
Federal law also renders it illegal to enter into an agreement to launder money. Money laundering conspiracy charges are frequently brought against indviduals who have only played a small role in a larger, alleged criminal act. To demonstrate that a person is a party in a money laundering conspiracy, the government needs to prove that there was an agreement to commit money laundering and that the indvidual knew about the agreement and wanted to participate in it. The government is not required to demonstrate that the individual in question actually handled the funds or did anything specific to further the money laundering offense.
Possible penalties for Money Laundering Under Federal Law
Violating 18 U.S.C. §1956 can result in a sentence of as many as 20 years in prison. For violating 18 U.S.C. §1957, you could be looking at up to 10 years in prison. The precise sentence will be determined primarily by the amount of money involved in each unique offense.
Possible Defenses against Money Laundering Charges
Questioning the Origins of the Money
In all money laundering cases (except an undercover “sting” operation, explained above), the government must prove that the money was in fact earned through a criminal activity specified by federal law. The government also has to demonstrate that the person being charged was aware that the funds had been obtained from criminal activity.
Lack of Awareness
Although the government does not have to prove that the indvidual was aware of the specific crime that yielded the money, the government must still demonstrate that the facts and circumstances of the case would be sufficient to lead a reasonable person to conclude that the money was derived from the proceeds of illegal activity. A defendant cannot be found guilty of money laundering if they simply accept money without being aware that the money was obtained through criminal activity.
Absense of Financial Transaction
To convict someone of money laundering, the government must also show that there was a monetary or financial transaction involved. This generally means that the government would have to show that the person did something with the money other than put it in a safe or their closet. Depositing the money in a bank or spending the money in any way that helps promote or conceal criminal activities would normally be enough to show that a financial transaction was involved.
Connection to a Qualifying Crime
Of course, in any case other than an undercover “sting” operation, the government must show that the money involved in the case actually came from the commission of one of a list of specific crimes covered by federal law. If the money was not derived from one of these specific criminal activities, there can be no money laundering conviction regardless of how the person obtained the money or what the person did with it.
Recent Trends in Money Laundering Cases
An international money laundering, drug trafficking and illegal wildlife trade conspiracy was targeted in a recent indictment in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.
In addition, FBI and FinCEN increased focus on potential money laundering transactions during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are concerned that fraud may occur with new relief funds available. Also, banks may flag normal financial activity as suspicious after much activity either or significantly reduced or ground to a halt in the midst of the financial hardship caused by the pandemic.
Call Us! We Have Years of Experience with Money Laundering Cases
Federal money laundering laws can be extremely complicated and tricky. Our law firm has assisted clients in fighting money laundering charges in federal courts across the US and in a number of foreign countries.
While the majority of our clients contact us the moment they think they may be a target of a federal money laundering investigation, we are often hired by clients when they have become dissatisfied with the lawyer they have because their attorney is either not very experienced in federal money laundering cases, or they have not been providing the client the time and attention he or she should be getting. When we are retained by people in this category, there are two options. We can either provide support to the client’s current lawyer or take over the case entirely. It depends on what is best in your unique situation.
In addition, we help people who might be experiencing the stress of a federal criminal case for the first time and are looking for a “second opinion” about the strength of the government’s case. We can lend our expertise in federal money laundering matters with the client and the client’s current lawyer. With our help, our clients are well equipped to make what is often a life-changing decision about accepting a proposed plea bargain or taking the case to trial.
Indeed, we have helped many of our clients win favorable resolutions or “not guilty” decisions in federal money laundering cases. We also represent clients on federal criminal appeals, sentencing hearings and grand jury investigations involving connected allegations.
If you or your loved one is currently facing money laundering charges in federal court, contact us today for a free review of your case.
