Money laundering charges
A money laundering charge means the prosecution says you moved, spent or deposited money you knew came from a crime. It is usually charged alongside another case, such as fraud or drugs, and usually in federal court. What you knew about where the money came from is often the whole question.
What the charge means
Money laundering is about transactions. The prosecution points to deposits, transfers, purchases or cash handling, and says the money behind them came from unlawful activity that you knew about. People are often charged for helping someone else: lending an account, receiving transfers, or buying property in their name.
Federal court
Money laundering under 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1) involves a financial transaction with property the person knows is the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity [1]. Conspiracy to commit money laundering has its own subsection, § 1956(h), and carries the same penalties as the offense that was its object [2]. The Supreme Court has held that a § 1956(h) conviction does not require proof of an overt act [3], unlike the general federal conspiracy statute, which requires at least one act to carry out the agreement [4].
States have their own money laundering laws too. If the case is in state court, your lawyer reads the exact statute charged.
What to do now
- Do not explain the transactions to agents or the bank without a lawyer.
- Do not move, withdraw or transfer money in affected accounts.
- Keep statements, receipts and messages, and give them only to your lawyer.
- Do not contact the other people involved about the case.
For the steps ahead, use What happens next or the federal court page.
Common questions
My bank account was frozen. What do I do?
Call a lawyer before you contact the bank or anyone involved in the transactions. Do not move money between accounts to work around it.
I only did what a relative asked. Should I explain that to the agents?
Not without a lawyer. Your explanation matters, but how and when it is given should be decided with your lawyer.
Sources
- 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1) ("Laundering of monetary instruments"). Current as of November 11, 2026. Official text
- 18 U.S.C. § 1956(h). Current as of November 12, 2026. Official text
- Whitfield v. United States, 543 U.S. 209 (2005). Current as of November 12, 2026. Official text
- 18 U.S.C. § 371. Current as of November 11, 2026. Official text
Arrested, or think you might be? Call before you answer any questions.
Call and tell us who was arrested or contacted and where the case is. A lawyer will tell you what happens next and what to do tonight. Please do not type what happened into a form or an email. We will talk about it on the phone.