Money Laundering is often a crime to convert money or property gained from illegal activities into money that appears to have been legally earned. Financial transactions involving tainted money are typically conducted with legitimate businesses. These operations structure business transactions in a manner which provides for some percentage of money returned to the criminal. This financial windfall, in turn, becomes what appears to be legitimate income for the criminal.

Today's money laundering statutes apply equally to the individual or organization seeking to launder money and to the individual or organization offering a method to convert money gained from illegal activities into money that appears to have been legally earned.