A high-profile Dallas lawyer has been sentenced to five years in prison for a scheme to launder money he believed was linked to drug trafficking, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announced Wednesday.
Rayshun Jackson, the 52-year-old former defense attorney who ran The Jackson Law Firm, was arrested in April 2021 after being caught in an undercover DEA sting laundering nearly $400,000.
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to launder money in September 2021 and was sentenced last Tuesday by Chief U.S. District Barbara M.G. Lynn.
Prosecutors said Jackson agreed to the money laundering during a meeting with an informant undercover federal agent.
According to plea papers, Jackson admitted to laundering $380,000 for an individual he believed to be a drug trafficker that turned out to be an undercover DEA agent.
He was introduced to the undercover agent on September 3, 2020, by “Person A,” who was the leader of a large-scale opioid distribution ring known for dealing illegal narcotics.
After Person A vouched for the undercover agent’s credibility, Jackson and the undercover agent discussed how he could “clean” the agent’s “dope money.”
Jackson told the agent he could launder around $500,000 a month by funneling it through non-traceable cash businesses, like coin laundries, car washes, and shell corporations.
“Ray is the bomb… He’s a thug, he’s just got a law degree,” Person A told the undercover agent after the meeting, according to court documents.
Three weeks later, the undercover agent delivered a black backpack stuffed with $100,000 cash to Jackson at his office. Jackson agreed to launder the money for a 4% fee and a 1% bonus in cash upfront.
After depositing the remaining $95,000 into his various firm bank accounts in multiple amounts on different days, he eventually transferred the entire sum into the DEA’s undercover bank account.
The following month, the undercover agent delivered an additional $300,000 cash to Jackson at his office. Again, Jackson agreed to a 4% fee and a 1% bonus in exchange for laundering the money.
After depositing the remaining $285,000 into his various firm bank accounts in multiple amounts on different days, he eventually transferred the same amount into the DEA’s undercover bank account.
In plea papers, Jackson admitted he knew the agreement with the agent was unlawful and joined in it willingly.
“The sentencing of Rayshun Jackson marks the end of a successful investigation by DEA Dallas. Criminal drug organizations need a combination of individuals who are willing to distribute drugs as well as those who hide and attempt to legitimize profits,” said DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge, Eduardo A. Chavez.
“Mr. Jackson agreed to launder what he believed to be drug proceeds with DEA undercover, Chavez continued. “The sentencing of Mr. Jackson is just. With overdose deaths and poisonings reaching record highs, everyone will be held accountable for their criminal actions.”
As a result of Jackson’s federal conviction, the State Supreme Court invalidated his law license, and he is prohibited from practicing law in the State of Texas.
