Reference Guide

Financial Crimes

Federal financial crime prosecutions cover money laundering, wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, securities violations, and tax offenses. The common thread is the tracing of money; the common statutes are 18 U.S.C. § 1343 and 18 U.S.C. § 1341.

Federal courthouse — Southern District of California

The Fraud Statutes

Wire and mail fraud

18 U.S.C. § 1343 reaches schemes to defraud executed by wire, radio, or television communication; 18 U.S.C. § 1341 reaches the same schemes executed through the mail.

Both statutes carry a maximum of 20 years' imprisonment per count.

Money Movement Offenses

Laundering and structuring

Money laundering prosecutions target transactions designed to conceal the source of funds; structuring prosecutions target deposits arranged to avoid reporting requirements.

Financial records — bank statements, wire records, and ledgers — are the central evidence in these cases.

The Corydon Law Research Desk

Each reference page links the statute or rule it describes, quoted from the primary source. Browse the depth library for the full set.

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Related Pages

Published by the Corydon Law Research Desk — John D. Kirby, publisher — former federal prosecutor. This page is reference information about federal law and procedure, not legal advice.