The Department of Justice is not just bringing traditional money laundering cases anymore. Federal prosecutors rely primarily on Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956 and 18 U.S.C. § 1957, statutes that prohibit the use or concealment of unlawful proceeds. While those laws have been in place for decades, today they are being applied in modern and complex ways—especially in cases involving cryptocurrency, cross-border transfers, and sanctioned countries.” – David Tarras, Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
In this video, South Florida federal defense attorney David Tarras, founder of Tarras Defense, explains how money laundering cases are evolving and why defending them requires both legal skill and technological knowledge.
David highlights:
- Money laundering statutes: 18 U.S.C. § 1956 and 18 U.S.C. § 1957
- How laundering charges often connect to fraud cases (wire fraud, healthcare fraud, PPP loan fraud)
- Traditional “cleaning money” concepts applied to modern financial systems
- The DOJ’s renewed focus on overseas transactions and sanctioned countries
- The rise of cryptocurrency money laundering as federal enforcement priority
- How foreign actors collaborate with domestic individuals to move unlawful funds into the United States
“The statutes are the same as they’ve been for decades—it’s still about disguising money—but today we’re seeing them used in new and inventive ways. Cryptocurrency, overseas transfers, and sanctions violations are at the forefront of federal money laundering prosecutions,” David explains.
For individuals and businesses facing money laundering allegations, early representation by an experienced federal criminal defense lawyer is critical. These cases often involve asset seizures, forfeiture actions, parallel fraud charges, and international investigations.