If you are accused of committing “money laundering” – in other words, prosecutors claim you helped manage the proceeds of illegal drug sales or any other type of criminal activity, Indiana law provides you with several defenses. The simple fact that you may have “touched” money or other assets that resulted from someone’s criminal conduct does not automatically mean you are guilty of money laundering.
Several defenses are written into Indiana’s Money Laundering law. These are:
- You handled the money or assets for a “legitimate law enforcement purpose,” such as to help the police seize the funds. (As a practical matter, this rarely happens, but it’s part of the law and protects those who do help law enforcement.)
- You were using the money to pay your attorneys to help defend you against criminal charges.
- You are an attorney who a client paid to represent them, and you were not aware (“did not have actual knowledge”) that the money came from illegal activity.
There are also defenses that apply because in Indiana, money laundering is a crime of intent. In other words, to be found guilty of money laundering, you have to “knowingly or intentionally” receive or handle funds or assets that you were aware were the proceeds of criminal activity. This means that if you did not suspect that money you received came from that person’s illegal activity, you may have a strong defense if you are accused of money laundering.
Lack of knowledge or intent can be a powerful defense, especially if you can show that you asked the person who was the source of the funds questions about where the money was coming from, and can show that the answers you received – even if they were lies – were reasonable.
There are a number of other ways to show that you did not have the knowledge or intent necessary to support a money laundering charge against you. These depend heavily on the facts of your particular case.
Razumich & Associates Will Defend You Against Money Laundering Charges
If you have been charged with money laundering in Indiana, contact Razumich & Associates for help. We will review your case with you and will tell you what your defenses are to the allegations you’re facing based on your particular situation.
Our firm has decades of experience defending clients against criminal charges in courts all across the state, including in the Indianapolis metropolitan area. We are ready to use that experience to fight for your rights and to defend you if prosecutors have accused you of money laundering.
To schedule a free case evaluation, contact us – either online or by phone at 317-983-5333.
