Money laundering is not a crime. The actual crime happened before, like cleaning a knife full of blood is not a crime itself. But since law and the ones who enforces it often can't prove a crime or what they appeal as a crime, then they create new laws, word or phrases that will fit their shenani...

Even if the money came from a crime you committed, laundering that money is not the unethical part. Should a bank robber also be charged with the crime of conceleaing his face on top of the original crime of robbing the bank? It's pretty ridiculous if you ask me