The mere payment of the purchase price of drugs, by whatever means, does not constitute money laundering, and here the government showed nothing more. United States v. Harris, 666 F.3d 905 (5th Cir. 2012).
The Fifth Circuit reversed for insufficient evidence the defendant’s convictions for money laundering and attempted money laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(1)(B)(i)) and conspiracy to commit money laundering (§ 1956(h)). The court held that the government failed to prove that the transactions involved the proceeds of illegal activity. A transaction to pay for illegal drugs, alone, is not money laundering because the funds are not proceeds of an unlawful activity when the transaction occurs, but become so only after the transaction is completed.
AttorneySouth Texas College of Law Houston, Georgia State Bar, Texas State Bar
After practicing law in Oklahoma, Jonathan returned to his native Galveston to establish Zendeh Del & Associates, PLLC, where he and his wife are law partners.
Year after year, Jonathan is named in Super Lawyers® Magazine and featured in Texas Monthly Magazine. Jonathan has achieved an AV Preeminent® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and has a 100% Client Review Rating. Jonathan has been named on The National Trial Lawyers’ “Top 100 Trial Lawyers” list. Jonathan has also received an Avvo Rating of 10.0 Superb for his experience, industry recognition, and professional conduct as a lawyer.
Jonathan practices in the areas of DWI/DUI defense, criminal defense, and personal injury law.
Areas of Expertise:
DWI, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury
