Home » Criminal Law Attorney in Tacoma, WA
Multiple agencies are involved in the investigation of a federal offense. Not only will local Washington law enforcement be involved, but federal agencies will also investigate the violation. The agencies that may get involved include the Drug Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and Secret Service.
Federal crimes are complex charges that need to be handled by a professional and aggressive attorney with experience defending clients’ rights and freedoms at the federal level. Crimes include any act made illegal in the United States under federal legislation. Most federal crimes are listed under Title 18 of the United States Code; however, criminal weapons charges and charges legislated under the National Firearms Act are listed under Title 26. Crimes committed on federal property or involving federal property also can be charged as federal offenses.
Numerous charges, including white-collar-crimes can be considered federal offenses, such as:
Conspiracy
Fraud
Terrorist acts
Tax evasion
Counterfeiting
Forgery
Damaging federal property
Bank robbery
Federal crimes typically carry hefty fines or lengthy prison sentences. This is because federal prosecutors generally leave petty offenses to state prosecutors and only handle serious felonies.
Federal sentencing is much more rigid than in most states. The federal sentencing guidelines often impose a mandatory minimum and remove the judge’s discretion to give a lower sentence. In addition, federal prisoners must serve a fixed prison term and don’t have the opportunity for early parole that many state prisoners have.
The United States Department of Justice has an incredibly high conviction rate. Federal prosecutors win a conviction in well over 90 percent of their cases. The longer your case continues, the less likely you will be able to win an acquittal or a dismissal.
However, it is still possible to have a federal case dismissed. The most common ways are to prove that your legal rights were violated or that you are innocent. Even though you have no burden to prove anything, it is to your benefit to fight for your rights and prove your innocence when possible. This will help you to get the case behind you as quickly as possible and give you greater odds of success.
Regardless of the degree charged the goal remains the same. We will help you avoid conviction for the criminal charge, but perhaps more importantly, keep you out of jail.
