What is a Federal Crime?
Perhaps you’ve been accused of committing a federal crime, or maybe you’re just curious about what constitutes crime on a federal level rather than a state level. Regardless of the cause of your curiosity, we’re going to look at federal crime’s definition, and how you can benefit from consulting a federal criminal defense attorney should you find yourself facing allegations or charges of having committed a federal crime.
First, let’s examine what makes a federal crime. The first and most obvious definition is a crime against the federal government or one that takes place on its property. While even a minor crime can earn this definition if it takes place on federal property, the likelihood is far greater that an offense of severe significance has occurred. Crimes considered to be federal offences include but are not limited to tax fraud, damaging or destroying public mailboxes, bank robbery, and even acts of terrorism like aircraft hijacking and presidential assassination. While it’s not likely that most of us are going around committing the more violent and destructive crimes that fall under federal jurisdiction, white collar crime like tax fraud or counterfeiting is slightly more common. To understand the severity of punishment you can receive for committing a federal offence, remember that the FBI is the main agency responsible for investigating and prosecuting federal offences. These matters are not to be taken lightly. Triggering the attention of an agency of this size will certainly require the guidance of a federal criminal defense attorney.
If you have been charged with a federal offence and are seeking to defend yourself against prosecution, you’ve likely already hired or begun searching for the right attorney for your needs. Federal crimes are often paired with mandatory minimum sentences sometimes as small as zero to six years, and sometimes as great as fifteen years to life. Instead of banking on a plea bargain of some sort for diminished time, your best interest is to prove your own innocence and receive a “not guilty” verdict. A federal criminal defense attorney should have plenty of experience with cases similar to yours, if not of even greater scope, and will know how to tailor your defense to the optimal results.
The best advice that can be given from a broad standpoint is that developing a relationship with an attorney early on is ideal. The longer you wait to consult a professional, the less time you’ll have to develop a strong and stable case in your own defense. Federal crimes should be taken seriously, and a serious defense will be your true strength against the experienced prosecutors of the FBI.
