Manafort Money Laundering Charge in Russia Probe May Face Challenges
Carlton Fields white collar attorney Michael D. Padula was quoted in the Reuters article, “Manafort Money Laundering Charge in Russia Probe May Face Challenges.” Special Counsel Robert Mueller III indicted Paul D. Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign manager, with money laundering and tax fraud, as part of Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
According to the indictment, Manafort violated the rarely enforced U.S. Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) for failing to register as a foreign agent of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich between 2006 and 2015, and he laundered tens of millions of dollars by funneling the money through dozens of companies, partnerships and bank accounts.
According to Padula, prosecutors have hurdles to overcome in making a successful case in court. For example, parts of the money laundering statute also require funds to “promote” an ongoing criminal enterprise. That may be hard to show in the Manafort case, where the proceeds went to purchase real estate, expensive suits and Range Rovers for the conspirator’s personal use.
Despite that, the defense has its own challenges.“[Kevin Downing] still has a tough road ahead of him,” Padula said.