Miami’s position as a global crossroads makes it a focal point for federal prosecution of international crimes. The city’s extensive international business connections, major port and airport facilities, and proximity to Latin America and the Caribbean create unique vulnerabilities to criminal charges involving international elements. 

When federal authorities pursue charges related to international drug trafficking, money laundering, foreign corruption, sanctions violations, or other transnational crimes, they bring sophisticated investigative resources and aggressive prosecution strategies that can result in decades of imprisonment.

At George Law, our Miami federal defense attorneys have extensive experience defending clients against international crime charges. If you’re facing charges involving international criminal activity, contact our firm today to schedule a confidential consultation at our Miami office.

Understanding International Crime Prosecution in Miami

International crimes prosecuted in Miami federal court encompass offenses that cross national borders or involve foreign elements. These cases frequently involve cooperation between U.S. federal agencies including the Department of Justice, DEA, FBI, ICE, and the Department of Homeland Security, along with foreign law enforcement agencies through mutual legal assistance treaties and international task forces.

Federal courts in Miami handle a disproportionately large number of international crime cases due to the district’s geographic location and role in international commerce. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida has specialized prosecutors dedicated to international cases. Defending against international crime charges requires attorneys who understand both the substantive criminal laws and the procedural complexities that arise when crimes allegedly span borders.

Types of International Crime Cases

International Drug Trafficking

International drug trafficking is one of the most frequently prosecuted international crimes in Miami. The DEA and other federal agencies target organizations that manufacture, transport, and distribute controlled substances across international borders, including:

  • Cocaine trafficking from Colombia and South American countries
  • Heroin and fentanyl importation from Mexico and Asia
  • Methamphetamine distribution networks spanning multiple countries
  • Marijuana trafficking operations despite legalization in some jurisdictions

Federal prosecutors pursue these cases under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act when drugs are intercepted in international waters, conspiracy statutes that allow charging based on agreements to violate drug laws, and substantive trafficking charges under 21 U.S.C. § 841 and § 960. The extraterritorial reach of federal drug laws means prosecutors can charge foreign nationals for conduct occurring entirely outside U.S. territory if drugs were intended for import into the United States.

International drug trafficking cases frequently result from maritime interdictions where the U.S. Coast Guard stops vessels in international waters. Our defense team has successfully challenged these prosecutions by demonstrating jurisdictional defects, constitutional violations during vessel boardings and searches, and insufficient evidence connecting defendants to drugs found aboard vessels.

International Money Laundering

Money laundering charges arise when federal prosecutors allege that individuals or organizations conducted financial transactions designed to conceal proceeds of criminal activity. Miami’s role as an international financial center makes it a primary venue for prosecuting complex money laundering schemes involving foreign banks, shell companies, currency exchange businesses, and international wire transfers.

Federal money laundering statutes under 18 U.S.C. § 1956 and § 1957 criminalize conducting financial transactions with proceeds of specified unlawful activities. International money laundering cases often involve:

  • Structuring transactions to avoid reporting requirements
  • Using foreign bank accounts to hide criminal proceeds
  • Transferring funds through multiple countries to obscure their origin
  • Establishing shell companies in offshore jurisdictions to conceal ownership
  • Using trade-based money laundering schemes that disguise funds as legitimate business transactions

Defending international money laundering cases requires detailed understanding of banking systems, financial regulations, and the complex paper trails prosecutors use to establish their cases. Our attorneys work with financial experts to challenge the government’s theories and demonstrate legitimate business purposes for conduct prosecutors characterize as criminal.

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Violations

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prohibits U.S. persons and companies from bribing foreign government officials to obtain or retain business. Miami’s extensive international business community makes it a frequent venue for FCPA prosecutions involving allegations of bribes paid to officials in Latin America, the Caribbean, and other regions.

FCPA cases can involve direct bribes to foreign officials, payments through intermediaries to conceal bribery schemes, improper gifts or entertainment provided to influence official decisions, and hiring relatives of foreign officials to secure business advantages. Individuals convicted of FCPA violations face up to five years in prison per violation and significant fines.

Defending FCPA cases requires detailed investigation into business practices, cultural norms in foreign jurisdictions, and the actual nature of relationships with foreign officials. What prosecutors characterize as bribes may represent legitimate business expenses, customary gratuities in foreign cultures, or payments made without knowledge of improper purposes.

Sanctions and Export Control Violations

Federal laws prohibit conducting business with sanctioned countries, entities, and individuals, as well as exporting certain goods and technology without proper authorization. Miami’s international trade activity creates exposure to charges under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), Trading with the Enemy Act, Export Administration Regulations, and International Traffic in Arms Regulations.

These cases often involve allegations of exporting controlled technology or goods to prohibited destinations, conducting financial transactions with sanctioned entities, using intermediaries to evade sanctions, and failing to obtain required export licenses. Sanctions violations carry severe penalties including substantial fines and imprisonment up to twenty years.

The complexity of sanctions and export control regulations creates situations where businesses and individuals unknowingly violate technical requirements. Defending these cases requires demonstrating lack of knowledge that conduct violated sanctions, showing that transactions fell within authorized exceptions, or establishing that regulatory violations were inadvertent rather than willful.

International Fraud Schemes

Federal prosecutors in Miami aggressively pursue international fraud cases involving wire fraud, mail fraud, securities fraud, and other schemes that cross international borders. Common international fraud schemes include:

  • Business email compromise schemes where criminals impersonate company executives to trick employees into wiring funds
  • Investment fraud targeting international victims through false representations
  • Advance fee fraud schemes promising substantial returns for upfront payments
  • Cryptocurrency fraud involving victims and perpetrators in multiple countries

The broad reach of wire fraud laws combined with the ease of international electronic communications means prosecutors can charge schemes involving victims or perpetrators anywhere in the world if any wire communication touches U.S. territory.

Extradition and International Arrests

International crime cases sometimes involve extradition when defendants are arrested in foreign countries and the United States seeks their transfer for prosecution. Extradition proceedings occur in the foreign country’s courts under applicable treaties.

The United States has extradition treaties with many countries that allow transfer of defendants charged with serious crimes. Extradition proceedings involve determinations of whether the alleged conduct constitutes a crime in both countries (dual criminality), whether the evidence establishes probable cause, and whether any bars to extradition apply.

Our firm has experience coordinating with foreign counsel to defend extradition cases and ensuring that defendants’ rights are protected throughout the process.

Why Choose George Law for International Crime Defense?

International crime cases require attorneys with specific knowledge of the laws governing cross-border conduct, experience with evidence obtained abroad, and understanding of how federal courts handle complex cases involving foreign elements. At George Law, our federal defense team has successfully defended clients against international crime charges throughout Miami and the Southern District of Florida.

We have the resources to investigate allegations spanning multiple countries, the knowledge to identify constitutional and evidentiary challenges unique to international cases, and the trial experience to present compelling defenses when cases proceed to trial.

Contact Our Miami Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers Now

If you’re under investigation or have been charged with international crimes in Miami federal court, time is critical. Early involvement of experienced defense counsel can preserve important rights, identify defenses, and position your case favorably for resolution. Contact George Law at (305) 977-4529 or visit our Miami office at 4040 NE 2nd Ave Suite #1D, Miami, FL 33137 to schedule a confidential consultation. We’re ready to defend your rights and fight for your freedom.