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Money Laundering Defense

By inDefense Law

Money Laundering Defense

Money laundering has become the focus of stringent new laws in this country. The President of the United States was required to create a confidential strategy for dealing with money laundering crimes, according to federal law.  The state of Florida also has laws regarding money laundering. Florida’s Southern District federal court handled the most money laundering cases of any court in the United States during 2001.

If you or a loved one has been arrested or is under investigation for money laundering, contact Broward County money laundering attorneys as soon as possible. They have the experience you need to thoroughly investigate your case and provide options to protect your legal rights.

Money Laundering Defense

Money laundering is an attempt to disguise money coming from an illegal source. This money is transferred through a number of legal sources to hide where it came from. Most money laundering cases involve individuals, but a rare few involve organizations or groups. The sole purpose of money laundering is to blur or erase the true source of the funds, which makes it difficult for authorities to track down. However, legal money transfers can also be subject to investigation, depending on the type. If you are facing charges, Broward County money laundering lawyers have the knowledge to prepare a legal defense and negotiate with prosecutors on your behalf.

Cases involving charges of money laundering can be extremely complex because several different law enforcement agencies may be involved. These may include:

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
  • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
  • U.S. Customs
  • Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
  • Other state and local law enforcement agencies

The consequences of a money laundering conviction

Money Laundering Defense

The penalties for a federal money laundering conviction can include:

  • Prison term of up to 20 years
  • Fines of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved.
  • Confiscation of the value of the assets or funds involved by further criminal or civil actions

A conviction for money laundering can have a severe impact on your life and future. Besides the possibility of a prison sentence and fines, the resulting criminal record may have an impact on your life for years to come. It can be more difficult to find a job, obtain a loan or find housing when you have a criminal record. If you or a loved one is facing charges of money laundering, contact a knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Money laundering attorneys in Broward County, including the cities of Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Pompano may be able to help you avoid charges or negotiate a lesser charge. They will prepare the best possible defense based on the facts of your case and protect your rights.

Drug Trafficking Defense

By inDefense Law Tag

Drug Trafficking

This State has strict laws concerning drug charge convictions. For offenses committed after October 1995, Florida requires convicted offenders to serve a minimum of 85% of their sentence. Many offenders serve more. Including county jail and prison time, those convicted of drug offenses serve an average of 27.6 months (87.4 percent) of their sentences.

If you or a loved one has been arrested for drug trafficking, conspiracy, running a grow house, drug importation or drug mule charges in Broward County, drug crimes attorneys can provide the effective legal representation you need, which can improve your chances for a better outcome.

Broward County Drug Charge Dismissals and Acquittals

With expert representation, drug charges might be reduced or dismissed before trial or the accused might be acquitted during trial. Between June 2008 and June 2009, 9,410 counts for drug charges were filed in Broward County. Of these:

  • Approximately 40 percent of drug-related charges tried before a jury were dismissed or acquitted
  • There were 1,672 counts of drug-related charges dismissed before trial
  • Plea agreements were accepted on 6,675 counts
  • All cases proceeding to non-jury trials were acquitted or dismissed of drug charges

The high numbers of cases dismissed or acquitted before and after a jury trial illustrate how a skilled criminal defense attorney can improve the chances for a positive outcome. If you or a loved one has been arrested and charged with any drug crime in Broward County, including the cities of Coral Springs, Hollywood, Pompano and Fort Lauderdale, criminal defense attorneys can work to protect your rights and may be able to negotiate for reduced charges or a lesser sentence.

Federal Drug Charges

Drug Trafficking Defense in Fort Lauderdale Federal drug arrests by the DEA in Florida accounted for nine percent (2,857) of all drug arrests in the United States during 2003-2004. This number is second only to California, where 2,947 arrests were made during the same period. Arrests and prosecutions for drug charges are serious business in Florida. The statistics for 2008-2009 make this clear:

Drug Trafficking

  • There were 5,844 inmates incarcerated in Florida’s prisons for drug trafficking
  • A total of 10,217 were incarcerated for drug purchase/sale/manufacturing
  • Other drug charges accounted for 3,962 incarcerations.

A knowledgeable criminal attorney can help protect your rights and may improve the results for your own case. In Broward County, skilled drug charge attorneys will review the facts of your case and work diligently to prepare the best defense possible. Timing is important, so obtaining experienced lawyers as quickly as possible will go a long way toward a positive outcome.

The attorneys of Attorney Office, represent drug crime arrest clients in Broward County, including Pompano, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and other cities.

Tax Evasion defense

By inDefense Law Tag

Tax Evasion defense

The Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service investigates cases of potential tax evasion. Tax evasion is a crime in which a person or business purposefully avoids owing or paying taxes, usually by filing a fraudulent tax return. Federal tax evasion is a felony and carries extremely severe penalties in the event of a conviction. These can include:

Fines of up to $100,000 for individuals ($500,000 for corporations)
Imprisonment of up to five years
Payment of prosecution costs

Sentences in these types of cases have increased by an average of five months since 2008.

With such severe penalties, it is critical to obtain the services of tax evasion lawyers to protect your rights. In Broward County, including the cities of Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood and Pompano, tax evasion attorneys are specially trained to deal with the IRS and to protect your legal rights. A tax evasion specialist may help protect you from the very serious consequences that can result from a conviction of tax evasion.

Tax evasion versus failure to file

The Internal Revenue Service reports that about three percent of taxpayers do not file tax returns of any kind. Whether a person owes taxes or not, he or she must file a return. If money is owed in a year where a return is not filed, the IRS can include a fine of up to $25,000 and up to one year in jail for each return in question. Although jail sentences are handed down in some cases, it is rare. Usually, fines and penalties accrue until the taxpayer pays the entire balance.

Protect your rights during investigation

When dealing with a tax evasion matter, it is important to obtain legal representation as soon as possible. Tax evasion lawyers may be able to help you negotiate a lesser charge or avoid prosecution altogether. The ultimate result will depend on the facts of your specific case.

Tax Evasion defense

During the 2010 fiscal year, IRS General Fraud Investigations:

  • Launched 1,818 investigations
  • Recommended prosecution in 1,090 cases
  • Obtained information and indictments for 1,011 cases
  • Obtained convictions for 867 defendants who received an average sentence of 33 months

Tax Evasion defense

Due to the complex nature of a tax evasion investigation, the knowledge and experience offered by Broward County tax evasion lawyers can make a difference in the outcome of your case. The IRS will likely make many demands for detailed information, and expert Broward County tax evasion attorneys can provide a buffer between you and the IRS, protect your rights and help determine the best course of action in your case.