If you have been charged with Money Laundering in Orange County for laundering money, you should contact The Atias Law Firm. Our law firm works with a team of professionals on the matter and knows how to handle these particular kinds of <strong>Money Laundering</strong> charges. In Orange County, Money Laundering is a wobbler so it is divided into two degrees, Felony Money Laundering and Misdemeanor Money Laundering. Money Laundering is usually committed when someone conducts or attempts to conduct a transaction with money that the person knows is being used to promote criminal activity, or money that was derived from criminal or drug activities.

Money Laundering Orange County Penal Code 186.1

First, let the top Money Laundering Lawyers in Orange County give you the relevant law. The relevant portion of the law that is applicable to Money Laundering in Orange County is summarized below. However, the full text of the Money Laundering laws in Orange County can be found in California Penal Code Section 186.1 and Health and Safety Code Section 11370.9. To prove that the defendant is guilty of Money Laundering, the Prosecutor must prove that:

• the defendant
• conducted, or attempted to conduct,
• a transaction through a bank,
• involving a total value of more than $5,000 in a 7-day period, or more than $25,000 in a 30-day period, and
• with the specific intent to promote criminal activity, or
• knowledge that the money came from criminal activity.

However, there is also a more specific law that prohibits laundering of drug money. To prove this law has been violated the prosecutor must show:

• The defendant,
• received, acquired, or engaged,
• in a transaction involving money or property,
• that he knew was derived from a controlled substances offense,
• with the intent to conceal or disguise the source, ownership or control of the money, and
• more than $25,000 was laundered in a 30-day period.

The Money Laundering laws in Orange County can be confusing to a defendant charged with a crime. The criminal defense attorneys at the Atias Law Firm know the ins and outs of these particular criminal charges and we may be able to help you get your case dismissed or lowered to a lesser offense.

Reducing A Money Laundering Charge To A Lesser Crime

Circumstances may allow the Prosecutor to charge you with Misdemeanor Money Laundering, rather than Felony Money Laundering. Whether your case should be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony will depend on the facts of your case and your criminal record. Our attorneys may be able to show that your Felony Money Laundering charge should be reduced to a Misdemeanor Money Laundering charge. Call today for a free and confidential initial consultation. We can go over the facts of your case and help you understand the possible outcomes, and possible strategies for successfully getting your case reduced or dismissed. Our Money Laundering lawyers in Orange County aggressively challenge the facts of the case. We may be able to get an Investigator to obtain contradictory statements from witnesses. If we can convince the court that the witnesses are not credible, your Money Laundering charges may be reduced and you could avoid jail or prison.

Will I Go To Jail?

Possibilities & Penalties For Money Laundering in Orange County

Money Laundering is generally a wobbler, meaning that it can usually be charged as a misdemeanor or felony. Misdemeanor Money Laundering is punishable by a maximum of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. Felony Money Laundering may result in a sentence ranging up to four years in state prison or jail and a fine of $250,000 or double the amount of money laundered. As detailed below, your case may be reduced to a lower crime, or your case may be dismissed.

Money Laundering Defenses in Orange County

Our criminal defense attorneys knows the defenses that may help get your Money Laundering charge dismissed. There are a number of defenses to Money Laundering in Orange County, however the applicability of those defenses depends on the facts of your case. For example, as you can see above, the Prosecutor has a lot to prove. We may be able to show that any number of the requirements of the law aren’t met. For instance, we may be able to show that you lacked the intent to promote criminal activity. Also, we may be able to show that you did not know the money was derived from crime or drugs. We may be able to fight the prosecution’s valuation of the money laundered. If we can show that some of the money was legitimate then your charges may be reduced or dismissed. A common discrepancy that we may take advantage of is that the amount of money you laundered is less than the statutory requirements. We can challenge the Prosecutor’s valuations to show that you technically did not violate the law because you did not move as much money as alleged.

Another common defense is that the police did something wrong while investigating your case. For instance, if the Officer who stopped you did not have reasonable suspicion to stop and detain you then our Money Laundering lawyers in Orange County may be able to get your case dismissed. Also, if you were detained by Officers who used an unreasonable amount of force then that may be a defense in your case. Also, if you have been charged with multiple counts of Money Laundering, we may be able to get all of your charges consolidated into one charge, with one penalty.

How Can Money Laundering Charges Be Reduced?

When the prosecution case is strong, sometimes the best tactic is to try to work out a plea deal with the Prosecutor. Our attorneys may be able to help you get your Money Laundering charge reduced to a lesser charge. One possibility is we may be able to get your Money Laundering charge, and the penalties reduced to those penalties associated with Misdemeanor Money Laundering.

What Happens If I Have a Prior Conviction?

If you have prior convictions for Money Laundering, then you may face increased penalties in your current Money Laundering case. The criminal defense attorneys at The Atias Law Firm aggressively challenge any prior convictions. For instance, if your prior Money Laundering conviction occurred more than 10 years ago, or if it occurred in another state, then we may be able to get those prior convictions stricken. If we can successfully strike your prior convictions, then you will only face 1st time Money Laundering penalties. Call our team of Money Laundering defense lawyers today to see how your prior convictions may impact your current Money Laundering charge.

What Should I do about a Money Laundering charge in Orange County?

Contact The Atias Law Firm now for a free and confidential consultation regarding your case. We will look at your personal history and the facts surrounding the charges against you, and then we can discuss possible outcomes with you at no cost.