§ 5-623. Proceeds of drug crime

   (a) Definitions. --

   (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

   (2) "Drug crime" means:

      (i) a crime under this title; or

      (ii) a crime committed in another jurisdiction that would be a crime under this title if committed in this State.

   (3) "Financial transaction" means:

      (i) a payment;

      (ii) a purchase;

      (iii) a sale;

      (iv) a loan;

      (v) a pledge;

      (vi) a transfer;

      (vii) a delivery;

      (viii) a deposit;

      (ix) a withdrawal; or

      (x) an extension of credit or exchange of a monetary instrument or equivalent property, including precious metals, stones or jewelry, airline tickets, stamps, or credit in a financial institution as defined in § 1-101 of the Financial Institutions Article.

   (4) "Monetary instrument" means:

      (i) coin or currency of the United States or any other country;

      (ii) a bank check;

      (iii) a travelers' check;

      (iv) a money order;

      (v) an investment security; or

      (vi) a negotiable instrument.

   (5) "Proceeds" means money or any other property with a value exceeding $ 10,000.

(b) Prohibited. -- Except for a financial transaction necessary to preserve a person's right to representation as guaranteed by the 6th Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article 21 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights, a person may not, with the intent to promote a drug crime or with the intent to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, or control of proceeds of a drug crime:

   (1) receive or acquire proceeds knowing that the proceeds are derived from a drug crime;

   (2) engage in a financial transaction involving proceeds knowing that the proceeds are derived from a drug crime;

   (3) give, sell, transfer, trade, invest, conceal, transport, or maintain an interest in proceeds knowing that the proceeds are derived from a drug crime;

   (4) direct, promote, plan, organize, initiate, finance, manage, supervise, or facilitate the transportation or transfer of proceeds knowing that the proceeds are derived from a drug crime; or

   (5) conduct a financial transaction involving proceeds knowing that the proceeds are derived from a drug crime.

(c) Penalty. -- A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is subject to:

   (1) for a first violation:

      (i) imprisonment not exceeding 5 years;

      (ii) a fine not exceeding the greater of $ 250,000 or twice the value of the proceeds involved in the financial transaction; or

      (iii) both; or

   (2) for each subsequent violation:

      (i) imprisonment not exceeding 10 years;

      (ii) a fine not exceeding the greater of $ 500,000 or 5 times the value of the proceeds involved in the financial transaction; or

      (iii) both.

(d) Separate violation. -- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of this section each financial transaction is a separate violation.

HISTORY: An. Code 1957, art. 27, § 297B; 2002, ch. 26, § 2; 2003, ch. 21, § 1.