Money Laundering: Texas Penal Code §34.02

The Texas Money Laundering law makes it illegal to keep, spend, transfer, or invest money that you know came from criminal activity.

The Texas crime of Money Laundering covers a wide range of financial activities, but people often get in trouble for money laundering when they attempt to “wash” money that came from the criminal activity of others. “Washing” the money is supposed to conceal its source in such a way that an illegal enterprise would appear to be legitimate.

A Money Laundering sometimes arises out of extensive surveillance and investigation of a suspect’s financial transactions. However, state’s attorneys sometimes file Money Laundering cases after traffic stops when the police unexpectedly discover large amounts of cash.

Frequently filed in tandem with Money Laundering charges are civil asset forfeiture cases. These are civil lawsuits that the government’s lawyers will file to take your money if they believe it has a connection to a criminal activity.

The Texas legislature codified this criminal offense in Texas Penal Code Section 34.02. The law was not amended in 2023. However, the law was most recently amended in 2015 when the legislature adjusted the penalty provisions by increasing the dollar value thresholds for each penalty level classification.

The Penal Code classifies the Texas Money Laundering law under Title 7 “Offenses Against Property,” Chapter 34 “Money Laundering.” This chapter contains only this one offense, but the legislature included a statutory provision in the chapter that protects banks from civil liability if they get caught up in Money Laundering cases. Learn more about the Texas offense of Money Laundering below.

What is the current Texas law about Money Laundering?

The current Texas law defines the offense of Money Laundering in Penal Code Section §34.02 as follows:^[1]

(a) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly:

(1) acquires or maintains an interest in, conceals, possesses, transfers, or transports the proceeds of criminal activity;

(2) conducts, supervises, or facilitates a transaction involving the proceeds of criminal activity;

(3) invests, expends, or receives, or offers to invest, expend, or receive, the proceeds of criminal activity or funds that the person believes are the proceeds of criminal activity; or

(4) finances or invests or intends to finance or invest funds that the person believes are intended to further the commission of criminal activity.

(a-1) Knowledge of the specific nature of the criminal activity giving rise to the proceeds is not required to establish a culpable mental state under this section.

Money is considered to be acquired through criminal activity if it was obtained through a felony offense or an offense punishable by jail time for more than a year.^[2]

An essential element of the statute is that you committed any of the listed activities knowingly. However, under Texas law, you do not need to know the specifics of the criminal activity, just that the money came from some sort of illegal activity – the state’s lawyers must prove your knowledge of criminal activity, but they don’t have to prove you knew the specific criminal activity.^[3]

UPDATE: The 86th Texas Legislature added “digital currencies” to the list of covered currencies under the state’s Money Laundering offense.^[4]

What are the defenses to Money Laundering?

Sections 34.02(c)-(d) of the Texas Penal Code provide statutory defenses to a charge of Money Laundering.^[5] One defense to Money Laundering is that you were acting with the intent to help lawfully recover the funds, for example by working with the police. Another defense is available when you launder money as a way to preserve your Sixth Amendment right to have an attorney.

Subsection (d) is available to lawyers who were paid legal fees from money obtained through criminal activity if the lawyer did not know that the money came from illegal activity.

Knowledge is also an important element of the Money Laundering offense (so it can be generally used as a defense to Money Laundering). So if you didn’t know there was any criminal activity involved, then you did not knowingly launder money and should be found Not Guilty. However, under Texas Penal Code Section 34.02(b), you are presumed to know that the money comes from criminal activity if they are told so by a peace officer, whether or not you knew at the time that that person was a peace officer.^[6]

What if the money was deposited into a bank?

When money derived from criminal activity is deposited into a bank or other financial institution,^[7] the money is the property of that bank or any other branch of the bank or financial institution.^[8]

What is the statute of limitation for Money Laundering in Texas?

Money Laundering has a seven year limitations period under Texas law.^[9]

What is the penalty for a Texas Money Laundering offense?

Under Texas law, the punishment for Money Laundering is a felony but the severity of the punishment depends on the amount of money laundered. If the amount of money involved is between $2,500 and $30,000, it is a state jail felony. If the value of laundered funds is between $30,000 and $150,000, it’s a third degree felony. If the value is $150,000 to $300,000 it’s a second degree felony, and $300,000 or more is a first degree felony. Learn about the differences between grades of felonies

If the money from the criminal activity in question is related to one “scheme or course of conduct,” the money laundered can be added together and the total amount used to determine the punishment under the Money Laundering statute.^[10] Thus, the aggregate amount of money laundered can be used to sentence someone to more jail time, even if the money came from multiple sources.

You can be charged with Money Laundering in addition to another charge at the same time.^[11] Common combinations include Securities Fraud, tax evasion and Engaging in Organized Crime.

Whether federal law applies to a case will also affect punishment. Federal law comes into play when more than $10,000 is laundered out of the United States. The maximum punishment under the federal Money Laundering statutes is 20 years in prison and either a $500,000 fine or a fine worth double the amount of money that was laundered, whichever is greater.^[12]

Can you get probation for Money Laundering in Texas?

The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure allows both judges and juries to grant probation for Money Laundering, and judges are also allowed to accept deferred adjudication plea deals.^[13]

Note, however, that no matter the offense, neither judges nor juries may recommend community supervision for any suspended sentence of over 10 years.^[14] Also, judges may not grant community supervision after a conviction if (1) the defendant used or exhibited a deadly weapon during the commission of the felony or immediate flight thereafter and (2) the defendant used or exhibited the deadly weapon himself or was a party to the offense and knew that a deadly weapon would be used or exhibited.^[15]

What level of crime is Money Laundering in Texas?

The Penal Code classification of the punishment for Money Laundering ranges from a state jail felony to a first degree felony, depending on the value of the funds.

Learn more about the penalty range for this offense in the section above.

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Legal References:

^1. Texas Penal Code §34.02. This law is current as of the 88th Legislature Regular Session.^2. Texas Penal Code §34.01(1) –

(1) “Criminal activity” means any offense, including any preparatory offense, that is:

(A) classified as a felony under the laws of this state or the United States; or

(B) punishable by confinement for more than one year under the laws of another state.

^3. Texas Penal Code §34.02(a-1) –

Knowledge of the specific nature of the criminal activity giving rise to the proceeds is not required to establish a culpable mental state under this section.

^4. Texas Penal Code §34.01(2)(D), as amended by SB 207, 86th Texas Legislature, effective September 1, 2019^5. Texas Penal Code §34.02(c)-(d) –

(c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the person acted with intent to facilitate the lawful seizure, forfeiture, or disposition of funds or other legitimate law enforcement purpose pursuant to the laws of this state or the United States.

(d) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that the transaction was necessary to preserve a person’s right to representation as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution and by Article 1, Section 10, of the Texas Constitution or that the funds were received as bona fide legal fees by a licensed attorney and at the time of their receipt, the attorney did not have actual knowledge that the funds were derived from criminal activity.

^6. Texas Penal Code §34.02(b) –

For purposes of this section, a person is presumed to believe that funds are the proceeds of or are intended to further the commission of criminal activity if a peace officer or a person acting at the direction of a peace officer represents to the person that the funds are proceeds of or are intended to further the commission of criminal activity, as applicable, regardless of whether the peace officer or person acting at the peace officer’s direction discloses the person’s status as a peace officer or that the person is acting at the direction of a peace officer.

^7. Texas Penal Code §34.01(1) –

“Financial institution” means a bank, trust company, insurance company, credit union, building and loan association, savings and loan association, investment trust, investment company, or any other organization held out to the public as a place for deposit of funds or medium of savings or collective investment.

^8. Texas Penal Code §34.02(g)^9. Code of Criminal Procedure 12.01(e)(E)^10. Texas Penal Code §34.01(f) –

For purposes of this section, if proceeds of criminal activity are related to one scheme or continuing course of conduct, whether from the same or several sources, the conduct may be considered as one offense and the value of the proceeds aggregated in determining the classification of the offense.

^11. Texas Penal Code §34.02(h)^12 Learn more at the Justice Department’s website^13. See Chapter 42, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Art. 42A.054, Art. 42A.056, Art. 42A.102 .^14. Art. 42A.053(c), Texas Code of Criminal Procedure^15. Art. 42A.054(b), Texas Code of Criminal Procedure