Money Laundering Lawyer in San Antonio

State & Federal Defense from Attorney Guillermo Lara Jr.

Money laundering charges sit among the most complex matters in criminal law, drawing on federal statutes, financial surveillance infrastructure, and multi-agency investigation techniques. At The Law Office of Guillermo Lara Jr., we defend clients facing these charges in San Antonio, throughout Bexar County, and in federal court in the Western District of Texas. Attorney Guillermo Lara Jr. personally handles every case we accept. You won’t be handed off to a paralegal or junior associate.

Investigations often begin long before an arrest. Federal tools such as the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs), and the Bank Secrecy Act allow investigators to build a financial record against a target months or even years in advance. If you’ve become aware you’re under scrutiny, the time to act is now before formal charges are filed. We offer free consultations with 24/7 availability and a flat fee structure, so there are no billing surprises from day one.

Contact a money laundering lawyer in San Antonio to protect your rights. Call (210) 787-2842 or reach out online to schedule a free consultation. 24/7 availability.

Understanding Money Laundering Laws in Texas

Texas Penal Code Section 34.02 defines money laundering as knowingly acquiring, maintaining interest in, concealing, possessing, transferring, or transporting the proceeds of criminal activity; conducting, supervising, or facilitating a transaction involving such proceeds; or investing, expending, or receiving those proceeds. “Criminal activity” covers any felony under Texas or federal law, or any offense punishable by more than one year of confinement under another state’s laws. Critically, the statute doesn’t require that you knew the specific crime that generated the funds. It only requires that you knew the funds came from illegal means.

A presumption of knowledge applies when a peace officer, or someone acting at their direction, represents to the defendant that the funds are proceeds of a crime. That provision makes undercover investigations particularly dangerous for defendants who act on what law enforcement tells them. We analyze the specific statute under which a client is charged and look for weaknesses in how the prosecution intends to meet its burden. When a client is under investigation but not yet charged, we can engage at that stage as well, which can affect how the case develops.

Key Elements the Prosecution Must Prove

To secure a conviction for money laundering, the prosecution must prove several elements beyond a reasonable doubt.

These elements revolve around the concepts of “knowledge,” “criminal activity,” and the “proceeds” of that activity.

• Knowledge: The state must prove you knowingly engaged in the transaction. The law doesn’t require knowledge of the specific criminal activity that generated the funds, but it does provide for a presumption of knowledge when a peace officer, or someone acting at their direction, represents that the funds are proceeds of a crime.
• Criminal Activity: The state must prove the funds were proceeds of criminal activity, defined broadly as any offense classified as a felony under Texas or federal law, or punishable by more than one year of confinement under another state’s laws.
• Prohibited Act: The state must prove you performed one of the following acts:
  • Acquired, maintained an interest in, concealed, possessed, transferred, or transported the proceeds of criminal activity.
  • Conducted, supervised, or facilitated a transaction involving the proceeds of criminal activity.
  • Invested, expended, or received the proceeds of criminal activity or funds you believed were the proceeds of criminal activity.

The prosecution’s case typically relies on complex financial records, bank statements, and testimony from law enforcement, financial professionals, and confidential informants. We challenge the government’s evidence at every stage, scrutinizing how it was collected and questioning the credibility of their witnesses.

Classifications & Degrees of Money Laundering Charges in Texas

Money laundering is a felony in Texas, and the classification is determined by the value of the funds involved. When proceeds are tied to a single scheme or continuing course of conduct, their value may be aggregated to determine the felony tier. This can push a case higher than any single transaction would suggest on its own.

• State Jail Felony: Funds of $2,500 or more but less than $30,000. Penalties include 180 days to two years in a state jail facility and a fine of up to $10,000.
• Third-Degree Felony: Funds of $30,000 or more but less than $150,000. Penalties include 2 to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
• Second-Degree Felony: Funds of $150,000 or more but less than $300,000. Penalties include 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
• First-Degree Felony: Funds of $300,000 or more. Penalties include 5 to 99 years or life in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Federal convictions under 18 U.S.C. 1956 carry additional exposure on top of any state penalties, including fines of up to $500,000 or double the amount laundered, whichever is greater. We work to prevent charge enhancement at every stage and pursue resolutions that may minimize the long-term impact on your life.

Penalties of a Money Laundering Conviction in Texas

A money laundering conviction is a life-altering event. The direct legal penalties are severe, and the collateral consequences of a white-collar crime conviction can be even more damaging, creating barriers that are difficult to overcome long after a sentence is served.

Direct Legal Penalties

The direct legal penalties for a money laundering conviction in Texas often include:

• Incarceration: Prison time ranging from a few years for a state jail felony to a life sentence for a first-degree felony.
• Fines: Up to $10,000, depending on the felony classification.
• Forfeiture: Texas law allows forfeiture of property, including vehicles, homes, and other assets, connected to the offense. We challenge asset forfeiture proceedings wherever there is a viable basis to do so.
• Probation and Supervised Release: A conviction typically carries a period of supervised probation with strict conditions. Violating those terms can result in reincarceration.

Collateral Consequences

A felony conviction follows you. Many employers and professional licensing boards maintain zero-tolerance policies for financial crime convictions, and landlords frequently deny applications from individuals with a felony record. A conviction also results in a permanent ban on owning or possessing a firearm under federal law. For non-citizens, the consequences can include deportation and other severe immigration penalties. Beyond the legal system, the stigma attached to these charges can damage personal and professional relationships in ways that are harder to quantify but no less real.

Defense Strategies in Money Laundering Cases

Money laundering prosecutions are built on financial records, surveillance data, informant testimony, and evidence gathered through federal tools like FinCEN reporting and Bank Secrecy Act mechanisms. Each of those sources creates its own vulnerabilities. We examine how every piece of evidence was obtained, analyze whether search and seizure procedures complied with the Fourth Amendment, and assess whether the financial record chain actually places our client at the center of the alleged conduct.

Attorney Lara has handled more federal criminal defense jury trials in the last three years than any other federal criminal defense lawyer in San Antonio, per the firm’s own records. That courtroom experience shapes how we evaluate a case from the first consultation. Defense strategies vary by the facts, but the most common include:

• Lack of Knowledge: If you didn’t knowingly engage in money laundering or were unaware the funds came from illegal activity, that goes to the heart of what the prosecution must prove. Knowledge and intent are requirements, not presumptions.
• Illegal Search and Seizure: Evidence obtained in violation of Fourth Amendment rights may be inadmissible. We scrutinize the lawfulness of government surveillance, subpoenas, and searches at every stage.
• Insufficient Evidence: The prosecution must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt. Gaps in the financial record chain or weaknesses in witness credibility can undermine the case entirely.
• Legitimate Business Purpose: Financial structures that look suspicious to investigators may have entirely lawful explanations, such as asset protection, tax planning, or routine business operations.
• Entrapment: If law enforcement induced or coerced the conduct, entrapment may be a viable defense.
• Mistaken Identity: In cases built on financial records and informant testimony, establishing that you weren’t the actor behind the transactions can defeat the charge.

We contact the District Attorney proactively and begin identifying witnesses as soon as we’re retained. Engaging our firm at the investigation stage, before formal charges are filed, can give us more opportunity to influence how the case develops.