CALIFORNIA CRIMINAL LAWYERS

Los Angeles Penal Code 186.10 Money Laundering

Understanding the Severity of Money Laundering in the United States

Money laundering is a pervasive issue in the United States, and it is important to understand its severity to appreciate why it is a critical problem. Money laundering can be defined as the process of rendering “dirty money” clean, where dirty money refers to money obtained through illegal means such as selling drugs. Penal Code 186.10 PC applies to money laundering related crimes within California, and a conviction of a misdemeanor or felony carries hefty punishments.

In the event of a misdemeanor conviction, one may face up to a year in county jail and pay fines amounting to $1,000. However, a felony conviction carries a higher penalty of up to four years’ incarceration and/or a fine of up to $250,000. Given these harsh penalties, it is imperative to seek the services of a legal expert if charged with money laundering.

At our law firm, we specialize in providing legal assistance to clients facing money laundering charges. Our primary objective is to evaluate your case and craft viable defenses that could mitigate your sentence or lead to dropped charges. There are potential defenses available to you, such as an inadequate money threshold to justify the charges, police misconduct, or lack of knowledge that funds were proceeds of criminal activities.

Our firm focuses on building a feasible case for the legal defenses outlined under Penal Code 186.10 PC. Therefore, if you believe that you have been charged with money laundering in error, or if you require legal consultation to navigate your case, reach out to us.

The ideal approach to determine whether our firm is the right match to address your money laundering allegations is to arrange a consultation appointment with one of our lawyers. During this consultation, we will thoroughly review the facts of your case to assess its level of merit and whether it is the option for our law firm to handle. Once we have mutually agreed to proceed, and you decide to retain our services, a retainer agreement is signed. After that, we offer one-on-one guidance through each stage of your case, ensuring that you receive the outcome possible.

In conclusion, do not hesitate to schedule a consultation with our law firm since we aim to provide you with ease and clarity for your legal matter. We would be thrilled to assist in tackling any legal tribulations you may be facing.

Potential Defenses for Money Laundering Charges Under Penal Code 186.10 PC

Penal Code 186.10 PC applies primarily to crimes related to money laundering within California. These crimes carry both misdemeanor and felony charges, and If convicted, an individual may face lengthy jail terms and, more significantly, pay considerable fines. Therefore, it is essential to seek a legal expert to craft defenses that could prove the innocence of the accused. Here are some of the potential defenses available under Penal Code 186.10 that may assist in reducing or dismissing the charges.

Insufficient Threshold for Money Laundering

One potential defense is that the money handled did not reach the minimum threshold to warrant money laundering charges. Prosecutors must provide convincing evidence that the individual intentionally tried to convert the illegally obtained money into legitimate funds. However, the mere transfer of funds does not satisfy the threshold for money laundering— there must be evidence of either attempting to disguise, conceal or transfer the proceeds obtained illegally.

Police Misconduct

In some cases, prosecutors may indulge in police misconduct to obtain evidence or information that leads to a conviction. In most cases, they may use illegal surveillance or searches to gather evidence against the accused. In such scenarios, it is essential to have a legal expert who can point out where the authorities’ actions were in violation of the client’s rights. Evidence that is obtained through unconstitutional means may be excluded from trial, leading to dropped charges.

Lack of Criminal Intent or Knowledge

In some cases, the accused may not be aware that they were laundering proceeds of criminal activity due to the involvement of a third party who misrepresented the funds. In such circumstances, it is possible to argue that the lack of knowledge or criminal intent warrants a dismissal or reduction of the charges.

Conclusion

Overall, money laundering is a grave issue in the United States, and its punishments range from substantial fines to long jail terms. However, having a legal expert to help review your case and craft defenses aligned with Penal Code 186.10 PC could lead to reduced or dropped charges. As such, do not hesitate to reach out to our law firm for a free consultation to review your case’s merits. We take pride in helping clients tackle their legal challenges with ease and dedication.

Table 1: Money Laundering Punishments Under Penal Code 186.10

| Conviction Level | Punishment |
| — | — |
| Misdemeanor | Up to one year in county jail and/or maximum fines of $1,000 |
| Felony | Jail term of up to four years and/or maximum fines of $250,000 |

Table 2: Potential Defenses for Money Laundering Charges Under Penal Code 186.10

| Defense | Explanation |
| — | — |
| Insufficient threshold for Money Laundering | The transferred money does not meet the minimum threshold amount required to warrant money laundering charges. |
| Police Misconduct | Law enforcement officers used illegal means to obtain evidence or information that led to the conviction of the accused. |
| Lack of Criminal Intent or Knowledge | The accused did not have knowledge of criminal activity proceeds or the intention to launder proceeds of criminal activity. |