Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, there is no state criminal prohibition for actions that
constitute money laundering. Under this bill, it is a crime to engage in, supervise,
or facilitate a transaction with illegally obtained property or items of value; to make
property or items of value available to another with the intent to perpetuate illegal
activity; or to engage in a transaction that is designed to conceal or disguise the
nature, location, source, ownership, or control of the resources or to avoid a financial
transaction reporting requirement under federal law. The penalty level depends on
the monetary value involved in the money laundering scheme and ranges from a
Class A misdemeanor for transactions of $2,500 or under to a Class F felony for
transactions over $100,000. Under the bill, a financial institution that has complied
with all federal money laundering reporting requirements is not criminally liable.
Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,
the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a
report.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB368,1
1Section 1. 943.895 of the statutes is created to read:
SB368,2,2 2943.895 Money laundering. (1) Definitions. In this section:
SB368,2,53 (a) “Proceeds” means property or anything of value acquired or derived directly
4or indirectly from, produced through, realized through, or caused by an act or
5omission.
SB368,2,66 (b) “Transaction” has the meaning given in s. 946.79 (1) (f).
SB368,2,8 7(2) Prohibited conduct. (a) Whoever does any of the following may be
8penalized as provided in sub. (3):
SB368,2,119 1. Knowingly receives or acquires proceeds that the person knows are derived
10from unlawful activity or conducts a transaction involving proceeds that the person
11knows are derived from unlawful activity.
SB368,2,1412 2. Knowingly directs, plans, organizes, initiates, finances, manages,
13supervises, or facilitates the transportation or transfer of proceeds that the person
14knows are derived from unlawful activity.
SB368,2,1715 3. Knowingly gives, sells, transfers, trades, invests, conceals, transports, or
16otherwise makes available proceeds that the person knows are intended to be used
17for the purpose of committing or furthering the commission of unlawful activity.
SB368,2,2018 4. Knowingly conducts a transaction that involves proceeds that the person
19knows are derived from unlawful activity that is designed in whole or in part to do
20one of the following:
SB368,2,2221 a. Conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of the
22proceeds obtained through unlawful activity.
SB368,2,2323 b. Avoid a transaction reporting requirement under federal law.
SB368,3,3
1(b) For the purposes of par. (a), knowledge that the proceeds are derived from
2unlawful activity does not require knowledge of the specific nature of the unlawful
3activity involved.
SB368,3,64 (c) In any case involving more than one violation of par. (a), all such violations
5may be prosecuted as a single crime if the violations were pursuant to a single intent
6and design.
SB368,3,7 7(3) Penalties. A person who violates sub. (2) (a) is guilty of the following:
SB368,3,98 (a) If the total value of the proceeds involved in the transaction does not exceed
9$2,500, a Class A misdemeanor.
SB368,3,1110 (b) If the total value of the proceeds involved in the transaction exceeds $2,500
11but does not exceed $5,000, a Class I felony.
SB368,3,1312 (c) If the total value of the proceeds involved in the transaction exceeds $5,000
13but does not exceed $10,000, a Class H felony.
SB368,3,1514 (d) If the total value of the proceeds involved in the transaction exceeds $10,000
15but does not exceed $100,000, a Class G felony.
SB368,3,1716 (e) If the total value of the proceeds involved in the transaction exceeds
17$100,000, a Class F felony.
SB368,3,20 18(4) Financial institutions. A financial institution that has complied with all
19applicable money laundering reporting requirements under federal law is not
20criminally liable under this section.
SB368,2 21Section 2. 946.79 (1) (f) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB368,3,2422 946.79 (1) (f) (intro.) “Transaction" means the acquisition or disposition, or
23transfer
of property or anything of value by any means, including any of the
24following:
SB368,3 25Section 3. 946.79 (1) (f) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:
SB368,4,4
1946.79 (1) (f) 1. The purchase, sale, trade, transfer, transmission, exchange,
2loan, pledge, investment, delivery, deposit, or withdrawal of a monetary instrument,
3credit card, gift card, gift certificate, financial transaction card, or similar monetary
4device
.
SB368,4 5Section 4. 946.79 (1) (f) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
SB368,4,66 946.79 (1) (f) 4. The transfer of property or anything of value between accounts.
SB368,5 7Section 5. 946.79 (1) (f) 5. of the statutes is created to read:
SB368,4,98 946.79 (1) (f) 5. The movement of funds by wire transfer or any other electronic
9means.
SB368,4,1010 (End)
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