Money Laundering Defense Lawyers
Charged with or investigated for money laundering (A.R.S. § 13-2317)? First-degree money laundering is a Class 2 felony, and these charges almost always come with asset seizure and forfeiture. The State must prove you knew the money came from a crime, the weakest link in most cases. Do not explain your transactions to investigators before you speak with a defense lawyer.
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What Is Money Laundering in Arizona?
Quick answer: Money laundering under A.R.S. § 13-2317 is conducting financial transactions with money or property you know, or have reason to know, is the proceeds of an offense, in order to conceal its source or promote further crime. It is charged in three degrees: first-degree (the most serious conduct, like directing or financing a scheme) is a Class 2 felony, second-degree a Class 3, and third-degree a Class 6. The case turns on knowledge, the State must prove you knew the funds were criminally derived, and it is almost always stacked on top of an underlying fraud, drug, or theft charge and paired with asset forfeiture.
Both Sides
Former Prosecutors · Law Enforcement · Public Defenders
When you call Tamou Law Group, you reach a firm that handles criminal defense exclusively, with serious experience defending money laundering and other white-collar cases across Arizona. Our team includes former prosecutors and law enforcement officers, so we know exactly how the State builds these cases, and where they fall apart.
At many large firms, the name on the building is a marketing figurehead, you rarely get them on the phone and your case goes to a junior associate. When you hire Tamou Law Group, your case is handled by a full team of attorneys, not associates, including Michael Tamou.
On This Page
- What Is Money Laundering in Arizona?
- Is money laundering a felony in Arizona?
- How much prison time can you get for money laundering in Arizona?
- What does the State have to prove for money laundering?
- Can they seize my money and property before I’m convicted?
- Can a money laundering charge be beaten?
- What are the collateral consequences of a money laundering conviction?
- How the Degree Sets the Money Laundering Charge
- Penalties & Sentencing
- Defenses That Work
- Our Defense Team
- FAQs
If you’ve been charged with money laundering in Arizona, you probably have urgent questions about what you’re facing and what comes next. Here are straight answers to the questions people ask most, with a plain-English breakdown of the law under A.R.S. § 13-2317, the penalties, and the defenses that matter most.
Is money laundering a felony in Arizona?
Yes — money laundering under A.R.S. § 13-2317 is always a felony. First-degree is a Class 2 felony, second-degree a Class 3, and third-degree a Class 6, graded by the conduct and your role rather than by a dollar amount.
How much prison time can you get for money laundering in Arizona?
It depends on the degree: third-degree (Class 6) runs about 4 months to 2 years, second-degree (Class 3) about 2 to 8.75 years, and first-degree (Class 2) about 3 to 12.5 years for a first offense. Because laundering is stacked on an underlying fraud, theft, or drug charge and often racketeering (A.R.S. § 13-2312), the combined exposure can be severe.
What does the State have to prove for money laundering?
The State must prove you transacted with property that was the proceeds of an offense, and that you knew or had reason to know it was criminally derived. Knowledge is the central, most-contested element — handling funds innocently, at someone else’s direction, or from a legitimate source defeats the charge.
Can they seize my money and property before I’m convicted?
Yes. Money laundering charges almost always come with asset seizure and civil forfeiture, and the State can freeze accounts, vehicles, and real property tied to the alleged proceeds before any conviction. Forfeiture runs on its own strict deadlines, so you must act quickly — we litigate the criminal case and the forfeiture together to recover your assets.
Can a money laundering charge be beaten?
Yes. These cases turn on the knowledge element and on tracing specific funds to a crime, both of which are frequently weak. Defeating the underlying predicate offense often collapses the laundering count entirely, because without proceeds of a crime there is nothing to launder.
What are the collateral consequences of a money laundering conviction?
Beyond prison and the loss of seized assets, a money laundering felony brings a permanent record, loss of professional and financial licenses, frozen or closed bank relationships, loss of civil and firearm rights, and serious immigration consequences for non-citizens. Because laundering implies an underlying crime, the reputational damage is especially severe.
How the Degree Sets the Money Laundering Charge
Unlike theft, money laundering is graded by the conduct and role, not the dollar amount. The degree determines your felony class and exposure.
| Degree | Conduct | Felony Class | First-Offense Range* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Third-Degree | Providing a means / reckless conduct | Class 6 | 4 mo – 2 years |
| Second-Degree | Transacting with / concealing proceeds | Class 3 | 2 – 8.75 years |
| First-Degree | Directing, planning, or financing a scheme | Class 2 | 3 – 12.5 years |
| With Racketeering | Pattern under A.R.S. § 13-2312 | Class 2/3 | Enhanced + Forfeiture |
| Federal (18 U.S.C. 1956) | Interstate / large-scale | Felony | Up to 20 years |
*State ranges are for a first offense and vary with priors and aggravators. Money laundering charges carry asset seizure and forfeiture regardless of degree.
What the State Must Prove for Money Laundering
To convict you of Money Laundering under A.R.S. § 13-2317, the prosecutor must prove every one of these elements beyond a reasonable doubt. If even one fails, the charge fails.
- 1Property that is the proceeds of an offense. The money or property at issue actually came from an underlying crime.
- 2A transaction or transfer. You acquired, transferred, transacted with, or concealed that property.
- 3Knowledge or reason to know. You knew, or had reason to know, the property was criminally derived, the central, most contested element.
- 4Purpose to conceal or promote. The transaction was intended to conceal the source of the funds or to promote further criminal activity (for the higher degrees).
Examples of Conduct Charged as Money Laundering
- Routing fraud or drug proceeds through a shell company or fake invoices
- Buying real estate, vehicles, or luxury goods to disguise illicit cash
- Structuring deposits to stay under bank reporting thresholds
- Moving criminal proceeds through a friend’s or relative’s account
- Mixing illegal proceeds with a legitimate cash business’s receipts
What Sentence Could You Actually Face?
Money laundering penalties depend on the degree, from a Class 6 to a Class 2 felony, plus the loss of seized assets through forfeiture. Stacked with the underlying offense and racketeering, the combined exposure can be severe.
Class 6
Third-Degree
Class 3
Second-Degree
Class 2
First-Degree
⚠ Forfeiture Is Half the Battle
Money laundering charges come with asset seizure and civil forfeiture, the State can freeze your accounts, vehicles, and property before trial. Forfeiture runs on its own strict deadlines, and missing them can cost you your assets by default. We fight the criminal charge and the forfeiture together, to protect both your freedom and your property.
How We Fight Arizona Money Laundering Cases
Every case has weak points. These are the defenses we look at first.
Attacking Knowledge & the Predicate
No Knowledge. The State must prove you knew, or had reason to know, the money was criminally derived. Handling funds innocently, or at another’s direction, defeats the charge.
Defeat the Underlying Offense. If the predicate fraud, theft, or drug case fails, there are no ‘proceeds of crime,’ and the laundering count collapses with it.
Legitimate Source. Where the money came from a real business, loan, or asset, it is not proceeds of an offense at all.
No Concealment Purpose. For the higher degrees, the State must prove a purpose to conceal or promote crime, ordinary transactions do not qualify.
Attacking the Evidence & Forfeiture
Tracing Failures. The State must trace the specific funds to a crime. Our forensic accountant exposes commingling errors and broken chains.
Unlawful Seizure. Accounts and property seized without proper process, or beyond the alleged proceeds, can be challenged and recovered.
Contesting Forfeiture. We file timely claims to recover seized assets and force the State to prove the connection to crime.
Statute of Limitations. Older transactions may fall outside the limitations period and cannot be charged.
The Experts We Bring to the Table
The State builds financial-crime cases with investigators, forensic auditors, and data analysts. We answer with the same caliber of specialists.
Forensic Accountants
Following the Money
Independently trace transactions, audit the State’s spreadsheets, and expose double-counting, missing context, and innocent explanations.
Certified Fraud Examiners
Intent & Scheme Analysis
Evaluate whether the conduct actually fits the charge or is an ordinary business dispute, and where the intent evidence falls short.
Computer Forensics Experts
Devices & Accounts
Examine the digital evidence, emails, logins, and IP data, and challenge whether it really proves who acted.
Financial & Data Analysts
Records & Patterns
Reconstruct the financial record from bank and accounting data and test the assumptions behind the State’s loss calculations.
Tax & Regulatory Experts
Compliance & Reporting
Explain industry practice, reporting rules, and tax treatment that the State has mischaracterized as a crime.
Valuation & Restitution Experts
Loss & Restitution
Establish the true loss amount, often far lower than alleged, which drives both the felony class and any restitution.
Recent Money Laundering Defense Results
Every case is unique and results depend on the facts, but these examples reflect how our firm handles money laundering cases across Arizona.
Money Laundering Allegation
Charge Dismissed
The State could not prove our client knew the funds were criminally derived. After we challenged the knowledge element, the money-laundering count was dismissed.
Seized Accounts Recovered
Assets Returned
We filed a timely claim and showed a legitimate source for the funds; the State released the seized accounts.
Predicate Fraud Defeated
Charges Dismissed
By dismantling the underlying fraud case, we eliminated the ‘proceeds’ and the laundering count fell with it.
Cash-Business Investigation
No Charges Filed
We documented legitimate receipts for a cash-intensive business; the structuring and laundering investigation closed with no charges.
Third-Party Account Case
Reduced to Misdemeanor
Our client moved funds without knowledge of their source; we reduced a felony laundering charge to a misdemeanor resolution.
Racketeering & Laundering
Charges Reduced
We attacked the ‘pattern’ and knowledge elements, cutting a Class 2 racketeering-laundering exposure to a single lesser count.
What Clients Say About Tamou Law
Real Google reviews from clients we have defended across Phoenix and Maricopa County. Every review is from a criminal defense client, never padded with non-legal work.
Clients reach us searching for the best money laundering lawyer in Phoenix, an asset forfeiture defense attorney, or help with an A.R.S. 13-2317 charge or seizure. Tamou Law Group defends money laundering and other white-collar cases across Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Glendale, Peoria, and all of Maricopa County. This page is part of our Arizona white collar crimes practice. Call 623-321-4699 for a free, confidential consultation, 24/7.
Arizona Money Laundering FAQs
Quick answers to the questions we hear most about money laundering charges, penalties, and defenses in Arizona.
Is money laundering a felony in Arizona?
Yes. Money laundering under A.R.S. 13-2317 is always a felony. First-degree is a Class 2 felony, second-degree a Class 3, and third-degree a Class 6, graded by the conduct involved.
What does the State have to prove for money laundering?
That you transacted with property that was the proceeds of an offense, and that you knew or had reason to know it was criminally derived. Knowledge is the central and most-contested element.
What does ‘reason to know’ mean?
It allows prosecutors to charge people who did not have actual knowledge but, the State argues, should have known the money was dirty. This is why the knowledge defense is so important, and why innocent handling of funds can still be charged.
Can they take my money before I’m convicted?
Yes. Money laundering charges come with asset seizure and civil forfeiture. The State can freeze accounts, vehicles, and property before any conviction. There are strict deadlines to contest a forfeiture, act quickly.
Is money laundering always charged with another crime?
Almost always. It rides on top of an underlying or ‘predicate’ offense, fraud, theft, or drugs, and is often joined with racketeering (A.R.S. 13-2312). Defeating the predicate often defeats the laundering count.
Can money laundering be charged federally?
Yes. Larger or interstate cases can be charged federally under 18 U.S.C. 1956, and cash deposits may be charged as structuring under the Bank Secrecy Act. We assess both state and federal exposure from the start.
What is structuring?
Structuring is breaking up cash transactions to stay under bank reporting thresholds (typically $10,000). It can be charged even if the underlying money is legitimate, which makes intent and knowledge central to the defense.
How do I get my seized property back?
By filing a timely claim in the forfeiture proceeding and forcing the State to prove the property is connected to crime. We litigate the forfeiture alongside the criminal case to recover your assets.
Can a money laundering case be won?
Yes. These cases turn on knowledge and on tracing the funds to a crime, both of which are frequently weak. Challenging the knowledge element, the tracing, or the underlying offense can defeat the charge.
How long do money laundering investigations take?
Often a year or more. They involve bank records, forensic tracing, and sometimes federal coordination. The long pre-charge window is exactly why early defense involvement matters so much.
Will I get a real attorney or a junior associate?
At many large firms the name on the door is a marketing figurehead and your case goes to a rotating associate. At Tamou Law Group your defense is handled by a full team of experienced attorneys, not associates, including founding attorney Michael Tamou. Call 623-321-4699, 24/7.
Key Takeaways
- First-degree money laundering (A.R.S. § 13-2317) is a Class 2 felony; second-degree is a Class 3 and third-degree a Class 6.
- The central element is knowledge, the State must prove you knew, or had reason to know, the money was the proceeds of crime.
- Money laundering is rarely charged alone, it is stacked on an underlying fraud, theft, or drug offense, and often racketeering (A.R.S. § 13-2312).
- These cases come with asset seizure and civil forfeiture, your accounts, vehicles, and property can be frozen before any conviction.
- “Reason to know” lets prosecutors charge people who handled money without actual knowledge, making the intent defense critical.
- Defending the underlying charge and challenging the knowledge element often defeats the laundering count entirely.
- Your case is handled by a full team of attorneys, not associates, including Michael Tamou, available 24/7 at 623-321-4699.
Two Arizona Offices, One Team
We serve all of Maricopa County and the surrounding area, with free, confidential consultations 24/7 by phone and in-person meetings at either office by appointment.
Case Results Disclaimer: The results described on this page are based on specific facts and circumstances and do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Every case is different. Past results do not guarantee future results. No attorney-client relationship is formed by viewing this page or submitting a contact form until a written fee agreement has been signed. Tamou Law Group, PLLC is licensed to practice law in the State of Arizona. This website is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.