Money Laundering Defense Attorney in Kinston, NC

State & Federal Money Laundering Defense from a Collaborative Team

Money laundering charges are among the most aggressively prosecuted financial crimes at both the state and federal level, and they rarely arrive alone. When clients in Kinston come to us facing these allegations, they're typically confronting a web of related charges, a lengthy prior investigation, and the real prospect of asset forfeiture before any verdict is reached. At Pittman Agner, our team includes attorneys with backgrounds as former prosecutors and investigators who understand how the government builds these cases and where those cases can be challenged.

We represent clients in Lenoir County and across the region, with criminal defense coverage in Wayne, Wilson, Greene, Lenoir, Duplin, Jones, and Sampson counties. Whether charges are filed in Lenoir County Superior Court or in federal court, we're prepared to defend you at every stage.

If you or someone you know is facing money laundering allegations in Kinston or the surrounding area, don't wait. Contact Pittman Agner at (919) 893-0090 for a consultation with our legal team.

How Money Laundering Is Charged in North Carolina

At the state level, money laundering conduct has historically been prosecuted as racketeering under NCGS Chapter 75D, North Carolina's RICO Act. In 2024, the legislature also enacted G.S. 14-118.8, a standalone money laundering statute effective December 1, 2024, giving prosecutors an additional tool for state-level cases. Under NCGS 75D-3(c), money laundering conduct qualifies as racketeering activity, which means defendants may face not only criminal penalties but RICO forfeiture proceedings in which the state can seek property connected to the activity.

Federal charges are more common in money laundering cases, and federal law creates two distinct offense categories with different elements and penalties.

Federal Money Laundering Statutes

18 U.S.C. 1956: Laundering of Monetary Instruments

Under Section 1956, prosecutors must prove the defendant knew funds came from illegal activity and acted with intent to conceal or promote that activity. The statute covers four specific types of conduct: promotional transactions (furthering illegal activity), concealment (hiding the source or ownership of proceeds), structuring (avoiding financial reporting requirements, sometimes called smurfing), and transactions designed to evade taxes. Convictions under 1956 carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison per count and fines of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater.

18 U.S.C. 1957: Engaging in Monetary Transactions in Criminally Derived Property

Section 1957 sets a lower bar for prosecutors. The government doesn't need to prove concealment intent. It only needs to show that a monetary transaction exceeded $10,000 and involved criminally derived proceeds. Penalties can reach up to 10 years per count. Prosecutors frequently charge both 1956 and 1957 on the same transaction, which can substantially increase a defendant's sentencing exposure.

Investigations, Predicate Offenses & Asset Forfeiture

A defendant can be charged with laundering even when the underlying predicate offense hasn't resulted in a conviction or is charged separately. The government typically builds these cases over months or years through agencies such as the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, FinCEN, or the DEA before charges are ever filed. Federal asset forfeiture can reach any property involved in, traceable to, or derived from laundering activity, including bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, and business assets. A conviction can also significantly increase sentencing calculations under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines for any related charges.

Common predicate offenses that generate money laundering charges include drug trafficking, fraud, tax offenses, and public corruption. Investigators often look at the three phases of alleged laundering activity: placement (introducing funds into the financial system), layering (moving funds through complex transactions to obscure their origin), and integration (using the funds as if they were legitimate income).

Our Defense Approach for Money Laundering Cases in Kinston

Because federal agencies often investigate financial crimes for months or years before filing charges, clients who come to us early in the process may have more options available to them. We can engage with investigators and prosecutors during the pre-charge phase in ways that may affect what charges are ultimately filed and how the government frames its case.

Our team structure gives us a practical advantage in complex financial crime cases. Managing Partner Dustin B. Pittman, who received the Top 10 Under 40 Award from the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys, leads a team where attorneys can divide responsibilities without any case sitting idle on a single desk. Senior Litigation Attorney Eric Doggett practices in both federal and state courts and is active in the North Carolina Advocates for Justice, which supports our capability to handle federal money laundering proceedings. With former prosecutors on our team, we approach each case knowing how the government assembles its evidence and what it's looking to prove.

How We Build a Money Laundering Defense

Our defense work in money laundering cases includes:

• Independent investigation: We conduct our own review of the financial evidence and examine the government's planned exhibits critically rather than accepting the prosecution's framing.
• Challenging knowledge and intent: Lack of awareness that funds were illegally derived, or absence of intent to conceal under 1956, can be central to the defense.
• Suppression motions: We file pre-trial motions to suppress financial records or other evidence obtained unlawfully or in ways that could unfairly prejudice our client.
• Contesting forfeiture valuations: The government's assessment of what property is subject to forfeiture isn't always accurate, and we challenge those claims.
• Sentencing advocacy: If a conviction results, we argue for the most lenient outcome the facts support, including arguments for downward variances from the federal sentencing guidelines.
• Post-conviction relief: When grounds exist, we pursue motions for appropriate relief (MAR) and appeals to the NC Court of Appeals or Supreme Court.

Throughout every stage, clients have direct access to our attorneys, paralegals, and support staff. We provide continuous case updates and explain every development in plain language.

Lenoir County Courts & Prosecutorial District 9

Serious felony matters in Kinston are heard in Lenoir County Superior Court, which is part of the 9A Superior Court District covering Greene and Lenoir counties. Lenoir County falls within Prosecutorial District 9, which covers Greene, Lenoir, and Wayne counties. The District Attorney's office for that district prosecutes all criminal cases filed in District and Superior Courts across those counties. We're familiar with this court system and the region's prosecutorial environment, and we're positioned to serve clients throughout Lenoir County and the surrounding area.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Determines Whether Money Laundering Is Charged as a State or Federal Crime?

In North Carolina, the decision typically depends on who investigates and which agency files charges. Federal agencies like the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, or DEA investigate and refer cases to federal prosecutors, who charge under 18 U.S.C. 1956 or 1957. At the state level, money laundering conduct can be prosecuted under the standalone statute G.S. 14-118.8 or as racketeering under NCGS Chapter 75D. Federal charges tend to be more common in larger financial crime cases, and federal penalties are generally more severe. If you're aware of an ongoing inquiry, contacting us before an indictment can give us the most room to work.

What Happens to My Assets During a Money Laundering Investigation?

Federal law allows the government to seek forfeiture of any property involved in, traceable to, or derived from laundering activity, and this can happen before a conviction. Bank accounts can be frozen, real estate can be encumbered, and business assets can be seized while the case is pending. At the state level, NCGS Chapter 75D similarly subjects property connected to racketeering conduct to forfeiture proceedings. Forfeiture is a separate legal process from the criminal case itself, and contesting the government's forfeiture claims is a distinct part of the defense. The timing and outcome of any forfeiture proceeding depends on the specific facts and the court involved.

Contact Pittman Agner About Your Case

Money laundering allegations move quickly, and the earlier you have legal representation, the more options you may have. Our team serves clients facing these charges in Kinston, throughout Lenoir County, and across the surrounding region. We offer consultations and provide direct access to the attorneys handling your case from the first call forward.

Call Pittman Agner at (919) 893-0090 or reach us through our online contact form to speak with our criminal defense team about your situation.