Federal prosecutors devote increasing resources to investigating cross-border money laundering involving international criminal networks and hostile nations. While these cases often begin with a focus on organized crime, they frequently expand to include banks, payment processors, compliance officers, and clients, many of whom may not realize they are in legal jeopardy until it is too late.
At Trombley & Hanes, our Tampa federal criminal defense attorneys represent clients throughout Florida in high-stakes money laundering investigations. These cases often involve complex financial transactions, aggressive government scrutiny, and the potential for significant criminal and civil penalties. Understanding how financial institutions and individuals become entangled in these investigations is key to protecting your rights and future.
How Cross-Border Money Laundering Investigations Begin
Money laundering is the disguising of the origin of funds derived from illegal activity. In cross-border cases, this often involves moving funds through offshore accounts, shell companies, cryptocurrency wallets, or legitimate financial institutions to launder or conceal the source of the money. Federal investigators closely monitor transactions from or passing through jurisdictions associated with transnational criminal organizations or foreign governments hostile to U.S. interests.
These investigations may be triggered by suspicious activity reports (SARs), tips from international partners, whistleblower complaints, or red flags identified through enhanced due diligence and risk assessment. Once an investigation begins, it often involves coordination among multiple agencies, including the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, DEA, FinCEN, and the Department of Justice.
When Financial Institutions Are Caught in the Crosshairs
Banks and financial service providers have strict obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act, the PATRIOT Act, and other anti-money laundering (AML) regulations. These laws require institutions to identify customers, monitor accounts for unusual activity, and report suspicious transactions.
When institutions fail to detect or report illicit transactions, or continue to process them despite warning signs, prosecutors may allege willful blindness or systemic compliance failures. Even a seemingly routine transaction can become the subject of scrutiny if it links back to a foreign drug cartel, sanctions violator, or blacklisted government.
Financial institutions are sometimes accused of facilitating money laundering simply because they accept or transfer funds that later prove tied to criminal operations. This is especially common in trade-based money laundering investigations, high-value wire transfers, or layered cryptocurrency transactions.
Why Clients and Professionals Are Also at Risk
Clients of these institutions are not immune from liability. Business owners, consultants, investors, and international brokers may face charges if prosecutors believe they knew, or should have known, that the funds they received or moved were connected to illegal activity. These cases often rely on complex records, email communications, or financial trails that suggest intent or negligence.
Professionals such as accountants, attorneys, and compliance officers can also be scrutinized if they are accused of enabling or failing to prevent suspect transactions. In many cases, federal agents pursue conspiracy or aiding and abetting charges against individuals who may not have directly participated in laundering but were part of the financial ecosystem surrounding the activity.
Defending Against Federal Money Laundering Allegations
Cross-border money laundering cases are often complex and rarely straightforward. They require an understanding of federal statutes, international financial regulations, and law enforcement’s investigative tools. At Trombley & Hanes, our team leverages decades of experience in federal criminal defense, including former prosecutors who understand how these cases are constructed and how to challenge them effectively.
We represent clients at all stages, from pre-indictment investigations to trial. Whether you are an institution under regulatory pressure or an individual facing criminal exposure, we will provide the strategic defense needed to protect your rights and reputation.
If you or your company is under investigation for suspected cross-border money laundering, contact Trombley & Hanes at 813-229-7918 or online to schedule a confidential consultation.
