Pasadena Money Laundering Defense Attorney Protecting Your Rights And Reputation

A money laundering case can lead to federal charges. The government may take your property. You could spend years in prison. Mark M. Kassabian is a money laundering defense attorney. He takes only a small number of cases, so each client gets close attention.

Attorney Kassabian has worked in state and federal courts for over 30 years. He looks at how the government tracked the money. He also checks whether it can prove you knew where the money came from. The Law Office of Mark M. Kassabian, P.C., helps clients from the first questions through trial.

What Constitutes Money Laundering In California?

California Penal Code 186.10 makes it a crime to move money you know came from a crime. The law applies when the total is more than $5,000 in seven days or $25,000 in 30 days. Federal law also covers this. Title 18, Section 1956 of the U.S. Code covers hiding money from crime. Section 1957 covers deals over $10,000 that use money from crime.

Charges often start with fraud, drug or tax cases. They can also start when a bank reports many cash deposits or strange wire transfers.

Common Money Laundering Charges

Prosecutors build these cases from bank records and digital trails. A defense lawyer for money laundering charges tests each theory, including:

• Structuring (smurfing): You split cash into deposits under $10,000 so the bank won’t report it. This is a crime, even if the money is clean.
• Trade-based money laundering: Prosecutors say fake shipping bills moved money across borders.
• Real estate transactions: All-cash purchases and nominee buyers can draw federal scrutiny.
• Cryptocurrency and digital assets: Investigators trace blockchain activity and exchange accounts to alleged crimes.
• Cash-intensive businesses: Prosecutors may claim an owner hid illegal funds in legitimate revenue.
• Shell companies and offshore accounts: The government argues layered entities and foreign accounts hide who controls the money.

Each theory also depends on linking the money to a specific crime behind it, a focus of attorney Kassabian’s white collar defense.

Get Answers About Your Money Laundering Investigation

Agents often collect records and talk to witnesses before an arrest. A free consultation with attorney Kassabian covers the claims against you and your options. Call him at 626-416-4390 or request a consultation online. He represents clients in Pasadena and across Southern California and takes federal cases nationwide.