MN Money Laundering Attorney

Minneapolis, MN criminal defense lawyer Andrew Birrell explains what money laundering is. He explains that money laundering involves attempting to make money obtained through criminal activity appear legitimate. The purpose is typically to allow the individual to use or invest the funds without detection or legal consequence.

He notes that money laundering charges frequently accompany federal indictments for fraud, as fraud schemes are generally designed to generate illicit funds. Prosecutors often include money laundering counts because they carry a strong rhetorical impact in court, portraying the defendant as a sophisticated criminal, and they also increase the applicable sentencing guidelines in federal cases. In essence, while the concept may sound dramatic, it is fundamentally the process of concealing the illicit origin of money to avoid legal repercussions.