By Attorney Jason Luczak

Money laundering is a serious criminal offense. While it is generally classified as a white collar crime that involves financial activities, it is often related to other types of offenses, such as drug trafficking. Because of this, those who are suspected of money laundering are likely to be investigated by law enforcement, and anyone who is involved in illegal transactions or activities may face criminal charges. It is important to understand the specifics of the offense of money laundering and the circumstances that can lead to a conviction. Those who have been accused of money laundering or related offenses can work with a criminal defense attorney to determine how to respond to these charges.

Understanding Money Laundering

Money laundering typically involves taking actions to conceal the source of money generated through criminal activity. Specifically, Wis. Stat. § 943.895 states that a person may be charged with money laundering if they receive money or anything else of value that they knew was acquired illegally, facilitate financial transactions that are meant to conceal the source of money, or otherwise receive, transfer, or conceal money that will be used to further criminal activity.

By: Attorney Jason Luczak

There are different types of offenses that are considered to be white collar crimes, and these offenses usually involve illegal activity of a financial nature. Embezzlement is a common charge in white collar criminal cases, and those who have been accused of this offense will need to understand the nature of the charges and the potential consequences of a conviction. Anyone who has been accused of a crime will want to secure legal representation from a criminal defense attorney who has experience handling these types of cases and who can help build a solid, effective defense strategy. 

Understanding Embezzlement

Embezzlement is a form of theft or fraud committed by someone who was entrusted with the management or control of someone else’s money or property. Typically, embezzlement will involve an employee stealing money or otherwise misappropriating property from their employer. Multiple types of actions may fall under this category, including:

By: Attorney Nicole Masnica and Paralegal Rachel Sweet

When law enforcement officials perform investigations into criminal activity, they will often “follow the money.” If a person is found in possession of significant amounts of cash, makes large deposits into a bank account, or otherwise receives large sums of money without a good explanation, this may be seen as an indication that they have engaged in crimes such as drug trafficking. At the same time, it is illegal to take measures to conceal the source of money that was obtained illegally, and there are a variety of actions that may lead to money laundering charges. These charges may be pursued at either the state or the federal level, and those who are charged with this type of offense will need to understand the specific laws that address money laundering.

Money Laundering Offenses in Wisconsin

Wis. Stat. § 943.895 details offenses related to money laundering and the potential penalties for a conviction. These charges may apply if a person:

By Attorney Tom Brown

When a business faces accusations of healthcare fraud, this can have a massive impact on its bottom line, since in addition to facing fines and other consequences related to criminal charges, its reputation in the community is also likely to suffer. This type of fraud can affect consumers, providers, and insurers, and it can cause the costs of everyone’s healthcare benefits to rise. Because of these negative effects, these crimes are taken very seriously by law enforcement officials, and those who have been accused of healthcare fraud should be sure to understand the charges and the potential consequences. 

In March 2019, a college admissions cheating scandal made headlines nationwide. According to prosecutors, wealthy parents of children seeking admission to some of the country’s top schools used the services of a man who would either bribe college employees or would help students cheat on standardized tests.

The college admissions scam is thought to be the biggest one ever prosecuted in this country. The FBI alleges that some of the accused parents spent between $200,000 and $6.5 million to get their children into select universities. Schools such as Yale, the University of Southern California, Georgetown, and Stanford are alleged to have unknowingly accepted students as part of this illegal scheme.  

The scam’s architect, William Rick Singer, has already pled guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit racketeering, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and obstruction of justice.