# Criminal Law (GCR)

## Title 5. Controlled Dangerous Substances, Prescriptions, and Other Substances

### Subtitle 6. Crimes Involving Controlled Dangerous Substances and Paraphernalia

#### Section 5-623

(a)

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

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Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)