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How you could unwittingly be a money mule for criminals

On Behalf of | Dec 7, 2021 | White-collar Crime

You have always thought of yourself as a law-abiding person of good character. But the past two years have been tough ones, and you found yourself looking outside the box for creative ways to supplement your income during these troubled times.

When a Facebook friend or Craigslist ad offered you money just to receive deposits to your checking account and convert those funds to Bitcoin or even just transfer them to a different account, you jump on the opportunity to receive the much-needed “transfer fee” for your efforts. But you don’t realize that your new job could land you in prison on federal charges

You have just become a money mule

If you are like most people, you have no idea what a money mule is or does. A form of money laundering, it means that you take “dirty” money, i.e., money stolen or otherwise received via criminal activity, and “wash” it clean by transferring it through your legitimate bank account. 

Sometimes, the scammers will ask you to use other types of accounts like PayPal, Cash App or Venmo. Regardless of the vehicle used to transfer these illegal funds, the end result is the same — you are in jeopardy of being charged with a felony for your activity.

But you didn’t know that what you were doing was wrong

There is an old saying that still applies to all criminal activity: Ignorance of the law is no excuse when it comes to criminal activity. You could easily get caught up in a criminal web of activity and face charges of money laundering. While you could possibly argue your naivete and spotless record were mitigating factors in your illegal actions, you still would endure the embarrassment of arrest, booking, mug shots, arraignment and trial. And you could definitely still get convicted.

Don’t take chances with your future 

If you face serious charges, you need a robust legal defense to protect your liberty and future.