Money Laundering Charge Defence Lawyer Ontario Ottawa Brampton Newmarket Milton Oshawa Hamilton Kitchener Kingston Toronto
What is a Money Laundering Offence?
Money laundering is defined as knowingly taking the proceeds of criminality, and transforming that "dirty" money into "clean" money by processing it through a legitimate means of money holding and earning, like a business investment, licensed casino, or lawyer's trust account.
Why Fight a Money Laundering Charge?
Money laundering is a serious offence which can lead to many years in jail if proven beyond a reasonable doubt. It may also trigger proceeds of crime charges, and the seizure of assets including businesses claimed to be the product of criminality.
How Do You Fight a Money Laundering Charge?
The burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt for money laundering charges rests squarely on the prosecution. The defence need not prove or disprove anything. So the mere fact that you handled property which turned out to have criminal origins makes you guilty of nothing, unless it can be shown that you :
knew about the origins of the funds, and
dealt with the property in the aim of ridding it of its proceeds of crime origins (meaning you didn't spend it on yourself, but gave it to someone else).