NCJ Number
106244
Date Published
1985
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Congress should enact H.R. 2785 and H.R. 2786 to make money laundering a specific offense and should increase efforts to deal with money laundering.
Abstract
Drugs, gambling, and vice in general have recently been estimated to generate approximately $150 billion each year in the United States. The problem of money laundering is growing in size and complexity. Money laundering is the source of support for drug syndicates and organized crime. It involves domestic and foreign banks as well as business entities. Professionals like lawyers, accountants, and bankers are increasingly involved in money laundering. Five bills have been introduced into Congress to deal with this offense. Of these, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Treasury Department strongly support H.R. 2785 and H.R. 2786, which are identical. They are the first laws to deal specifically with money laundering and to define it directly as an offense. They include all knowing participants in a transaction involving 'dirty' money. Punishment includes forfeiture, imprisonment for up to 20 years, and a large fine. The proposed law also makes facilitation of money laundering a criminal offense. In addition, it contains sections that will make investigations easier and will define the responsibilities of financial institutions in providing information. The other proposed laws are too restrictive and omit important topics. Therefore, the DOJ supports only the comprehensive legislation that it submitted. Footnotes.