Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

Keeping an Eye on the Federal Civil Money Laundering Statute

By Gary Stein
October 26, 2011

After the adoption in 1986 of the Money Laundering Control Act (MLCA), 18 U.S.C. ” 1956-1957, money laundering quickly became, to borrow Judge Learned Hand's phrase, another darling of the modern federal prosecutor's nursery. Every year, federal prosecutors file many hundreds of criminal money laundering cases. The charge can appear in a dizzyingly wide array of contexts, as the MLCA's definition of the necessary underlying “specified unlawful activity,” or SUA, extends to literally hundreds of different crimes.

Given the intense focus on money laundering over the past 25 years, it is perhaps surprising that one enforcement tool handed to the Department of Justice (DOJ) by the original MLCA has lain virtually dormant. Under 18 U.S.C. ' 1956(b), the United States is empowered to seek civil penalties for violations of the federal money laundering laws. Those penalties can be quite considerable. Yet, outside a few well-publicized settlements in the 1990s with financial institutions for allegedly laundering Mexican drug trafficking money, the DOJ historically has made little use of the MLCA's civil penalty provisions.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
New York's Latest Cybersecurity Commitment Image

On Aug. 9, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced New York's inaugural comprehensive cybersecurity strategy. In sum, the plan aims to update government networks, bolster county-level digital defenses, and regulate critical infrastructure.

Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Support Services Back to the Office Image

A trend analysis of the benefits and challenges of bringing back administrative, word processing and billing services to law offices.

The Bankruptcy Hotline Image

Recent cases of importance to your practice.

Bit Parts Image

Summary Judgment Denied Defendant in Declaratory Action by Producer of To Kill a Mockingbird Broadway Play Seeking Amateur Theatrical Rights

How AI Has Affected PR Image

When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.