New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 470.20 — Money laundering in the first degree
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 470: Money Laundering, New York Penal Law.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 470.20
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
470.20 Money laundering in the first degree.
A person is guilty of money laundering in the first degree when:
1. Knowing that the property involved in one or more financial
transactions represents:
(a) the proceeds of the criminal sale of a controlled substance, he or
she conducts one or more such financial transactions which in fact
involve the proceeds of the criminal sale of a controlled substance:
(i) With intent to:
(A) promote the carrying on of specified criminal conduct; or
(B) engage in conduct constituting a felony as set forth in section
eighteen hundred three, eighteen hundred four, eighteen hundred five, or
eighteen hundred six of the tax law; or
(ii) Knowing that the transaction or transactions in whole or in part
are designed to:
(A) conceal or disguise the nature, the location, the source, the
ownership or the control of the proceeds of specified criminal conduct;
or
(B) avoid any transaction reporting requirement imposed by law; and
(iii) The total value of the property involved in such financial
transaction or transactions exceeds five hundred thousand dollars; or
(b) the proceeds of a class A, B or C felony, or of a crime in any
other jurisdiction that is or would be a class A, B or C felony under
the laws of this state, he or she conducts one or more such financial
transactions which in fact involve the proceeds of any such felony:
(i) With intent to:
(A) promote the carrying on of specified criminal conduct; or
(B) engage in conduct constituting a felony as set forth in section
eighteen hundred three, eighteen hundred four, eighteen hundred five,
eighteen hundred six of the tax law; or
(ii) Knowing that the transaction or transactions in whole or in part
are designed to:
(A) conceal or disguise the nature, the location, the source, the
ownership or the control of the proceeds of specified criminal conduct;
or
(B) avoid any transaction reporting requirement imposed by law; and
(iii) The total value of the property involved in such financial
transaction or transactions exceeds one million dollars.
2. He or she conducts one or more financial transactions involving
property represented to be:
(a) the proceeds of the criminal sale of a controlled substance, or
represented to be property used to conduct or facilitate the criminal
sale of a controlled substance:
(i) With intent to:
(A) promote the carrying on of specified criminal conduct; or
(B) conceal or disguise the nature, the location, the source, the
ownership or the control of property believed to be the proceeds of
specified criminal conduct; or
(C) avoid any transaction reporting requirement imposed by law; and
(ii) The total represented value of the property involved in such
financial transaction or transactions exceeds five hundred thousand
dollars; or
(b) the proceeds of a class A, B or C felony or of a crime in any
other jurisdiction that is or would be a class A, B or C felony under
the laws of this state, or represented to be property used to conduct or
facilitate such crimes:
(i) With intent to:
(A) promote the carrying on of specified criminal conduct; or
(B) conceal or disguise the nature, the location, the source, the
ownership or the control of property believed to be the proceeds of
specified criminal conduct; or
(C) avoid any transaction reporting requirement imposed by law; and
(ii) The total represented value of the property involved in such
financial transaction or transactions exceeds one million dollars.
Money laundering in the first degree is a class B felony.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.