Money Laundering Crimes in Florida

Remember that scene in the movie Office Space when three co-workers accidentally steal more than $300,000 from their company?

Michael: “Uh, launder. To clean– No. Wash– Here it is… To conceal the source of money as by channeling it through an intermediary. To conceal a source of money–“

Samir: “That– That doesn’t really help us, Michael.”

Peter: “I can’t believe what a bunch of nerds we are. We’re looking up ‘money laundering’ in a dictionary.”

According to the Bouvier Law Dictionary, the term “Money Laundering” refers to the crime of knowingly engaging in a financial transaction or property transfer using the proceeds of illegal activity, with the result being that money, property, or proceeds from a crime are converted to assets that are otherwise lawfully acquired.

Under Florida law, a conviction for money laundering requires proof that the defendant was transporting money or conducting transactions with the intent to conduct some other illegal activity.

A conviction requires proof that the defendant actually knew that the property involved in a financial transaction represented the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity.

In federal court, these cases might involve the money laundering statutes in Title 18 of the U.S. Code, the currency reporting and bulk cash smuggling provisions in Title 31, and the civil and criminal forfeiture provisions that apply to both sets of offenses.

Attorneys for Money Laundering in Tampa, FL

Contact an attorney at Sammis Law Firm if you are accused of laundering money or economic crime in Tampa, Hillsborough County, or any surrounding counties throughout the greater Tampa Bay area.

Our attorneys are familiar with the tactics used by local law enforcement officers with the Economic Crimes Unit in Hillsborough County and the surrounding areas when investigating money laundering crimes.

Accusations of laundering money are prosecuted by the local State Attorney in each judicial circuit or by a statewide prosecutor with the office of the Florida Attorney General.

At the federal level, we understand the tactics used by federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office when prosecuting these cases.

The prohibitions against money laundering apply to all individuals, businesses, and organizations that use financial transactions to hide the proceeds of unlawful activities.

A conviction for money laundering can result in lengthy prison time and significant fines. Additionally, civil penalties can attach to money laundering cases that might allow the victims to obtain money damages in addition to any restitution awarded in the criminal case.

At both the state and federal levels, prosecutors often use criminal and civil asset forfeiture laws to seize all property involved in the offense or traceable to such property.

The attorneys at Sammis Law Firm represent clients accused of economic crimes throughout the state of Florida. For more than ten (10) years, our main office has been at the same location in downtown Tampa, FL.

We have additional offices conveniently located in New Port Richey in Pasco County and Clearwater in Pinellas County, FL.

Call 813-250-0500.

Prosecuting Money Laundering Crimes under Florida Law

Under Florida law, prosecutors have several options when proving an allegation of money laundering.

Whether the defendant is merely transporting money or conducting a complex financial transaction, both subsections of the money laundering statute require an “intent to promote the carrying on of a specified unlawful activity.

This intent must be proven at trial beyond all reasonable doubt.

Florida Statute Section 896.101(1) of the Florida Money Laundering Act prohibits the following types of activities:

• conducting financial transactions that promote racketeering under § 896.101(3)(c), Fla. Stat.;
• transporting monetary instruments or funds to promote racketeering under § 896.101(3)(b), Fla. Stat.; and
• conducting financial transactions involving the proceeds of unlawful activity under § 896.101(3)(a), Fla. Stat.

The most common types of illegal activities in Florida that generate funds and financial transactions involving laundering money include:

• white-collar crimes;
• property crimes such as theft or embezzlement;
• trafficking in drugs and narcotics;
• cybercrimes;
• human trafficking;
• a RICO conspiracy; and
• the exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult.

Under § 896.101(2)(a), Fla. Stat., the Florida Legislature required that a conviction requires proof that the property involved in the transaction represented proceeds from some form of activity constituting a felony under federal or state law, regardless of whether such activity is specified as racketeering activities.

Under Florida Statute § 896.101(2)(g), the phrase “specified unlawful activity” does specifically include any “racketeering activity” as defined in § 895.0211.

Under Florida law, the most commonly prosecuted crimes involving allegations of laundering money include:

• 896.1A – 896.101(3) AND (5)(A) –
  • MONEY LAUNDERING (exceeding $300 but less than $20,000)
• 896.1A1 – 896.101(3) AND (5)(B) –
  • MONEY LAUNDERING ($20,000 or more but less than $100,000)
• 896.1A2 – 896.101(3) AND (5)(C). –
  • MONEY LAUNDERING (totaling or exceeding $100,000)
• 896.1B – 896.104 (1)(2)(A) AND (4)(A)(1) –
  • STRUCTURING TRANSACTIONS TO EVADE REPORTING OR REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
• 896.1B1 – 896.104 (1)(2)(A) AND (4)(A)(2) –
  • STRUCTURING TRANSACTIONS TO EVADE REPORTING OR REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
• 896.1B2 – 896.104 (1)(2)(A) AND (4)(A)(3) –
  • STRUCTURING TRANSACTIONS TO EVADE REPORTING OR REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Punishments for Money Laundering under Florida Law

The statutory penalties for money laundering crimes under Florida law depend on several factors including the value of the financial transaction and the number of times the offense was committed.

Florida’s Money Laundering Act, found in Section 896.101, provides for the following classifications:

• If the financial transactions total $100,000 or more during any one year period, then the money laundering offense is classified as a first degree under § 896.101(5)(c), Fla. Stat., which is punishable by up to thirty (30) years in Florida State Prison;

• If the financial transactions total $20,000 or more but less than $100,000 in any one year period, then the money laundering offense is classified as a second-degree felony § 896.101(5)(b), which is punishable by up to fifteen (15) years in Florida State Prison; or

• If the financial transactions total more than $300 but less than $20,000 in any one year period, then the money laundering offenses is classified as a third-degree felony under § 896.101(5)(a), which is punishable by up to five (5) years in Florida State Prison.

Under § 896.101(2)(d), Fla. Stat., the term “financial transaction” means a transaction involving the movement of funds by wire or other means or involving one or more monetary instruments. The term “transaction” means a purchase, sale, loan, pledge, gift, transfer, delivery, or other disposition.

Under § 896.101(2)(c), Fla. Stat., money laundering can include certain actions involving a financial institution, including making a deposit, withdrawal, exchange of currency, loan, borrowing money, transfer between accounts, obtaining credit, buying or selling any stock, bond, certificate of deposit, or other monetary instrument, use of a safety deposit box, or any other transfer, payment or delivery by or through a financial institution, by any means.

Under § 896.101(2)(e), Fla. Stat., the term “monetary instruments” means coin or currency of the United States or of any other country. It also includes money orders, travelers’ checks, bank checks, personal checks, investment securities in bearer form, and negotiable instruments in bearer form.

Read more about the seizure of money orders for forfeiture.

Special Provisions for Fines in Money Laundering Cases

In money laundering cases in Florida, special provisions apply for determining the fines that can be imposed.

After a plea for laundering money in Florida, under the Florida Money Laundering Act in § 896.101(6), Fla. Stat., the defendant can be ordered to pay a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the value of the financial transactions, whichever is greater.

For a second or subsequent violation of the Florida Money Laundering Act, the fine may be up to $500,000 or four times the value of the financial transactions.

In addition to the penalties that can be imposed by the court after a conviction for laundering money, Florida law also provides for civil penalties.

Under the Florida Money Laundering Act at § 896.101(7), Fla. Stat., a civil penalty of $25,000 or the value of the financial transactions involved, whichever is greater.

After a conviction for money laundering in federal court, 18 U.S.C. § 982(a), allows forfeiture of property “involved in” the criminal conduct, and property that is “traceable” to that property.

Money Laundering Cases Involving Bitcoins

Many cybercrimes involve the use of bitcoins in an attempt to bypass the traditional banking system. At the state and federal level, the laws have not caught up with the use of this new cyber-currency.

Under Florida Statute Section 896.101(2)(f), the term “virtual currency” has been added to the definition of “monetary instruments.”

The term “virtual currency” has been defined under Florida Statute Section 896.101(2)(j) as a “medium of exchange in electronic or digital format that is not a coin or currency of the United States or any other country.”

Admissibility of Confession in Money Laundering Prosecutions

Section 560.125(8) repeals the corpus delicti rule in money laundering-type prosecutions. In money laundering cases, the defendant’s confession or admission is admissible without proof of the corpus delicti if the court finds the confession or admission is trustworthy.

The rule for the admissibility of a confession in a money laundering case is true regardless of whether the statement was memorialized or not.

Section 560.125(8) does not explicitly require as a foundation requirement for the admission of the defendant’s confession or admission that the prosecutor is unable to show the existence of each element of the crime.

Instead, Section 560.125(8) provides that the state must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that there is sufficient corroborating evidence that tends to establish the statement’s trustworthiness.

Hearsay evidence can be considered at any hearing and the court can consider the defendant’s statements and “all relevant corroborating evidence” in determining its trustworthiness.

The statutory provision does not provide any specific factors for the court to consider in making the determination of whether the defendant’s admissions or confessions are trustworthy.

In cases other than sexual abuse or money laundering prosecutions, the corpus delicti rule is unchanged when a statement of an accused is offered by the prosecution.

Additional Resource

Florida Money Laundering Act under 896.101 – Visit the Florida Legislature’s website to find the statutory language in the Money Laundering Statute in Florida Statute Section 896.101. Find the language that prohibits failing to report transactions involving more than $10,000 in currency received in trade or business.

Florida’s Anti-Money Laundering Statutes – Visit the website of the Florida Bar Journal from July/August, 1999, Volume LXXIII, No. 7, to find an article entitled “Florida’s Anti-Money Laundering Statutes.” The article discusses Florida’s Anti-Money Laundering Initiative, Money Transmitter Code, Control of Money Laundering in Financial Institutions Act, the Florida RICO Act, and the Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act.

Finding Lawyers in Florida for Laundering Money Offenses

The anti-money laundering provisions of F.S. Ch. 896 are very similar to the elements of its federal statutes prohibiting money laundering.

The attorneys at Sammis Law Firm in Tampa, FL, also represent clients charged with receiving more than $10,000, in U.S. currency or foreign equivalent but not reporting the transaction in a federal currency transaction report, IRS Form 8300, or a similar report under state law within a certain time period in violation of Florida Statute § 896.102.

As provided in the Florida Money Laundering Act found in Section 896.101, the crime of money laundering penalizes individuals or organizations using financial transactions to hide the proceeds of unlawful activities conducted in the state of Florida.

We also represent clients accused of structuring financial transactions to avoid the reporting or registration requirements.

Federal and state regulators seek to root out cash transactions involving money laundering schemes.

If you have been accused of laundering money or another type of economic crime in the greater Tampa Bay area, then contact an attorney at the Sammis Law Firm.

We understand the state and federal money laundering statutes and currency reporting offenses and related asset forfeiture provisions.

Call (813) 250-0500.

This article was last updated on Tuesday, January 26, 2023.