Money Laundering

Money Laundering Defense in New York

Name: Tor Ekeland Law
Address: 30 Wall Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY, 10005
Telephone: (888) 721-7680

Trial-Ready Defense for Financial Transactions, Digital Assets & Electronic Evidence

Money laundering allegations often turn on more than the movement of funds. Prosecutors may focus on the source of the money, what a person knew, the purpose of a transaction, and whether the conduct allegedly concealed the nature, ownership, location, or control of proceeds.

Digital asset cases add another layer of evidence. Prosecutors may use wallet activity, cryptocurrency exchange records, blockchain transactions, device data, and communications to support money laundering allegations or related charges such as wire fraud, computer fraud, conspiracy, sanctions violations, or unlicensed money transmission. We defend matters involving FinCEN, Treasury, SEC, and Bank Secrecy Act issues.

Call (888) 721-7680 to request a confidential consultation about a New York or federal money laundering investigation or charge.

How New York & Federal Money Laundering Charges Differ

State and federal money laundering charges arise under different statutes and contain distinct elements. The controlling framework can depend on the alleged transactions, underlying offense, location of the conduct, and basis for state or federal jurisdiction.

New York Penal Law Article 470

New York Penal Law Article 470 establishes multiple degrees of money laundering. The applicable charge can depend on the value involved, the alleged source of the proceeds, the defendant’s knowledge, and the nature of the transaction. Article 470 also addresses the aggregation of transaction values and potential fines.

Federal Law Under 18 U.S.C. § 1956

Federal prosecutors may use 18 U.S.C. § 1956 when they allege that a financial transaction involved proceeds from specified unlawful activity, meaning an offense that federal law identifies as a qualifying source of criminal proceeds. The statute includes theories based on promoting unlawful activity or concealing the nature, source, ownership, location, or control of proceeds.

Federal cases may also involve conspiracy, interstate or international transactions, related technology charges, and asset forfeiture. The government’s specific theory and evidence determine what it must prove.

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Trial-Ready Federal Money Laundering Defense

We represent individuals, executives, founders, and professionals facing complex federal allegations. Our white-collar practice spans investigations, pretrial litigation, jury trials, and appeals in courts across the country.

We prepare every case for trial from the day of retention. That means testing the government’s factual narrative, examining the admissibility and meaning of its evidence, and identifying legal issues that may shape motions, trial strategy, or appellate review.

How We Build a Money Laundering Defense

Effective defense requires an understanding of both the alleged financial activity and the criminal theory attached to it. We begin at the case’s current stage, whether the client has received a subpoena, target letter, interview request, regulatory inquiry, or indictment, or faces parallel proceedings.

Our review may address:

Government communications: Subpoenas, target letters, interview requests, warrants, and regulatory demands.
Financial evidence: Bank records, exchange data, transaction histories, and financial analysis.
Electronic evidence: Devices, messages, account records, blockchain tracing, and the methods used to collect or interpret them.
Required elements: The alleged unlawful activity, the client’s connection to a transaction, the required mental state, and the claimed promotional or concealment purpose.
Property restrictions: Seizure and asset forfeiture issues that may affect funds or other property before trial.

We investigate the factual record, challenge the government’s legal theory, and develop a strategy focused on the client’s liberty, professional future, and reputation. Depending on the case, our work may continue through pretrial litigation, jury trial, post-trial proceedings, and appeal.

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Technical Evidence Must Be Connected to Criminal Intent

Transaction volume and technological complexity aren’t proof of money laundering by themselves. The prosecution must connect its technical and financial evidence to the applicable statutory elements, including any required knowledge and purpose.

Evaluating that connection may require fluency in software, digital wallets, cryptocurrency exchanges, blockchain activity, privacy tools, and computer systems, as well as the litigation experience to challenge how those facts are characterized in court.

Computer Law & Digital Asset Fluency

At Tor Ekeland Law, we built our practice around defending hackers charged under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act in federal court. We have since expanded our work to include wire fraud, money laundering, FinCEN, Treasury, SEC, and Bank Secrecy Act matters.

We also represent founders, exchanges, and individual investors in blockchain and digital currency matters involving litigation, entity structuring, and compliance counsel. This background informs how we examine blockchain records, cryptocurrency transactions, electronic communications, and technical claims offered as evidence of intent.

Financial-Crime Trial & Appellate Experience

We represented co-defendant Anthony Conti at trial in the Southern District of New York and on appeal from a LIBOR interest-rate-manipulation conviction. The Second Circuit reversed the conviction on Fifth Amendment grounds.

We have also briefed and argued appeals in the Second, Third, Fifth, Ninth, and D.C. Circuits. That experience is relevant when a financial-crime case presents constitutional questions, disputed evidentiary rulings, post-trial issues, or legal errors preserved for review.

Recognition Beyond the Courtroom Featured in the News

From high-profile federal cases to precedent-setting litigation, our work consistently draws attention from major media outlets and industry observers.

In the Media

Get Strategic Counsel Before Responding

If investigators have contacted you, your organization has received a subpoena, or assets have been frozen, preserve relevant financial and electronic records. Don’t alter digital evidence or answer substantive questions before obtaining legal advice tailored to the investigation.

We offer confidential virtual consultations by appointment and accept a limited number of complex matters. During a consultation, prospective clients can discuss the investigation, current deadlines, related charges, and whether our approach fits the demands of the case.

Agencies, Venue & Related Allegations

A federal investigation may involve the Department of Justice, FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, FinCEN, or another regulator, depending on the suspected conduct. Investigators may examine completed or attempted transactions, alleged conspiracies, proceeds from a separate offense, or transfers crossing state or national borders.

New York money laundering charges may proceed in state court. Federal matters in the New York City region may be filed in the Southern District of New York or Eastern District of New York when the alleged conduct and venue support that forum. Digital asset cases may also include wire fraud, sanctions, unlicensed money transmission, or computer-related counts.

Request a Confidential Consultation

Early analysis can clarify the applicable charging framework, immediate response obligations, and evidence requiring preservation or independent review. We bring a selective, trial-ready approach to high-stakes federal, computer-law, and digital-asset cases for clients nationwide and internationally.

Call (888) 721-7680 to request a confidential consultation with Tor Ekeland Law.

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