Why Hire a Federal Criminal Defense Attorney?
Federal criminal allegations should always be taken seriously. If you are at risk of a penalty or punishment due to being accused of a federal crime, you may optimize the chance to protect your rights by discussing your situation with a federal criminal defense attorney as early as possible in the legal process.
Federal criminal defense lawyers understand that you may be stressed and confused. Navigating unfamiliar legal waters when you’re under threat of financial penalty, or worse yet–loss of personal freedom–is overwhelming and even frightening. Hiring a criminal defense lawyer can save you a lot of worries, headaches, and sleepless nights.
What Are Federal Crimes?
Federal crimes are offenses that are illegal according to U.S. federal laws. Federal law enforcement investigates these crimes and United States attorneys prosecute them in federal courts presided over by federal judges. Some offenses that normally fall under state or local jurisdictions are classified as federal crimes if they occur on U.S. federal property or on an Indian reservation. Around 200 crimes are considered federal crimes in the United States. Some common ones include:
- Abusive Sexual Contact
- Advocating Overthrow of Government
- Aggravated Assault/Battery
- Aggravated Identity Theft
- Airplane Hijacking
- Anti-racketeering
- Antitrust
- Armed Robbery
- Arson
- Assassination
- Assault with a Deadly Weapon
- Assaulting or Killing Federal Officer
- Attempt to commit Murder/Manslaughter
- Bank Burglary/Larceny/Robbery
- Bankruptcy Fraud/Embezzlement
- Blackmail
- Bribery Crimes
- Check Fraud
- Child Abuse/Exploitation/Pornography
- Commodities Price Fixing
- Computer/Cyber Crime
- Concealing Escaped Prisoner/Person from Arrest
- Concealment of Assets
- Conspiracy
- Contempt of Court
- Copyright Matters
- Counterfeiting
- Counterintelligence Crimes
- Crimes on Government Reservations/Indian Reservations
- Criminal Contempt of Court
- Demands Against the U.S.
- Disclosure of Confidential Information
- Domestic Security/Terrorism/Violence
- Drive-By Shooting
- Drug Abuse Violations
- Drug Smuggling/Trafficking
- DUI/DWI on Federal Property
- Election Law Crimes
- Embezzlement
- Extortion
- Failure to Pay Legal Child Support Obligations
- Falsely Claiming Citizenship
- False Information and Hoaxes
- False Statement to Obtain Unemployment Compensation
- Federal Civil Rights Violations
- First Degree Murder
- Forgery
- Fraud Against the Government
- Genocide
- Harming Animals Used in Law Enforcement
- Hate Crime Acts
- Homicide
- Hostage Taking
- Identity Theft
- Illegal Possession of Firearms
- Immigration Offenses
- Injuring Officer
- Insider Trading Crimes
- Insurance Fraud
- International Terrorism
- Larceny
- Mailing Threatening Communications
- Major Fraud Against the U.S.
- Manslaughter
- Medical/Health Care Fraud
- Misuse of Passport
- Misuse of Visas, Permits, or Other Documents
- Molestation
- Money Laundering
- Motor Vehicle Theft
- Organized crime
- Perjury
- Picketing or Parading
- Pirating
- Possession of Child Pornography
- Private Correspondence with Foreign Government
- Probation Violation
- Product Tampering
- Prostitution
- Public Corruption Crimes
- Racketeering
- Rape
- Sabotage
- Sale of Stolen Vehicles
- Searches Without Warrant
- Sexual Abuse
- Sexual Abuse of a Minor
- Sex Trafficking
- Shoplifting
- Smuggling
- Stolen Property: Buying, Receiving, or Possessing
- Terrorism
- Torture
- Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods or Services
- Trespassing
- Treason
- Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Vandalism
- Video Voyeurism
- Violations of Civil Rights
- White Collar Crime
- Wire Fraud
What Are the Common Punishments for Federal Crimes?
Punishments for federal crimes can vary. The type of crime, the severity of it, and whether the defendant has a criminal history all come into play. A federal judge takes into account these considerations and all the evidence brought forward during the trial. Financial penalties and prison terms tend to be higher for federal crimes.
Your best bet to minimize penalty and punishment is to hire a federal criminal defense attorney. Contact a federal criminal defense attorney today to set up a consultation and get your legal defense underway.