If you have been charged with a crime at the federal level, the penalties you could be facing are far more severe than if you were charged with a crime at the state level. It is critical that you protect your liberties when your freedom is on the line.
Fortunately, when you retain a powerful Chino Hills federal crimes lawyer at the Simmrin Law Group to fight for your future, you can rest easier knowing a team of legal advocates is working diligently to clear your name of the charges against you. Contact us for a confidential case review today and find out more about how you may be able to defend yourself against the federal charges you are facing.
Federal Crimes Are More Severe than State Crimes
Your federal crimes lawyer in Chino Hills, CA, will need to go over these specific types of federal charges you are facing in order to understand the extent of the charges against you. However, federal charges are almost always prosecuted more severely than those prosecuted at the state level.
Federal charges can apply in instances where:
- A criminal act has occurred across multiple states
- A criminal act occurs across multiple physical state lines
- Criminal activity that occurs on military bases, national parks, federal agencies, or Native American reservations
- Customs and immigration violations
Cases prosecuted at the state level are often investigated by federal officers, including the U.S. Marshals Services, the FBI, and the DEA. If convicted, federal judges are required to sentence you based on federal sentencing guidelines, which often carry severe criminal penalties, including extensive time in federal prison.
For a free legal consultation with a federal crimes lawyer serving Chino Hills, call (310) 896-2723
Examples of Federal Crimes You Could Face in Chino Hills
Your federal crimes attorney in Chino Hills, CA, can work with you to determine how to best approach your defense strategy. Your defense will be tailored to the type of federal charges you are facing. Examples of potential criminal charges at the federal level could include:
- Tax evasion
- Drug conspiracy
- Bankruptcy fraud
- Wire fraud
- Securities fraud
- Federal marijuana offenses
- Mail fraud
- Bank robbery
- Medical kickbacks games
- Money laundering
- Child pornography
- Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) crimes
- Human trafficking
- Immigration fraud
- Bribery
- Public corruption
- Federal drug crimes
- Murder
- Arson
- Hate crimes
- Internet crimes
- Conspiracy
- Counterfeiting
- Firearms offenses
- Antitrust violations
- Federal property crimes
Chino Hills Federal Crimes Lawyer Near Me (310) 896-2723
What to Expect if You Are Found Guilty of Federal Crimes
Your federal crimes lawyers will be working diligently to build a defense strategy that helps you avoid the devastating implications of a conviction.
However, there are several factors that could impact the severity of the penalties you will face if you are found guilty. Some of these factors will include:
- The type of offense you have been charged with
- Whether anyone was injured
- Whether a child was involved
- Whether there was money involved, and if so, how much
- Your age at the time of the offense
- Whether you have a criminal history
- Whether there was a deadly weapon involved
- Whether you aided federal investigators
If you are convicted at the federal level, it could be devastating. Federal law requires convicts to spend a minimum of 85% of their sentence behind bars before they can be released. This means if you are only sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, you will be required to remain in federal prison for a minimum of 8 1/2 years before you have the potential to be released on parole.
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Ways to Challenge the Federal Crimes You Have Been Charged With
Beating the criminal charges you are facing is critical if you hope to get back to your life. Your Chino Hills federal crimes attorneys will review the evidence obtained and the circumstances of your case to determine which defense options are most suitable.
In some instances, working out a plea agreement with the prosecutor may be in your best interests. In others, preparing a defense strategy may be more appropriate.
Work Out a Plea Agreement
Working out a plea agreement may be possible in instances where you were able to aid federal investigators in the course of their investigation. If you have never been convicted of a criminal offense in the past, there was not a deadly weapon involved, or other aggravating factors present, the prosecutor may be more willing to work out a plea agreement with you.
You may even be able to enter a pretrial diversion program and get the federal charges against you reduced to the state level or dismissed altogether.
Consider Your Options
There are several potential defenses that could be utilized depending on the type of federal charges you are facing.
Pretrial Defenses
Before your case goes to trial, you may be able to put forth a pretrial defense. Examples of potential pretrial defenses include:
- Providing the investigators with an alibi
- Entrapment
- Insanity
- Outrageous government conduct
- Public authority
- Selective prosecution
- Vindictive prosecution
Affirmative Defenses
Although the federal government will need to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to obtain a conviction, there are some instances in which it may be in your best interests to make an affirmative defense.
If you can prove your affirmative defense, the federal government will not be able to meet the elements of the offense, which could help you avoid a conviction. Examples of potential affirmative defenses include:
- Abandonment
- Battered spouse’s syndrome
- Defense of others
- Defense of property
- Duress
- Entrapment
- Necessity
- Self-defense
- Statutory defenses
- Voluntary intoxication
- Withdrawal
Specific Intent Defenses
In federal court, if you can show that there is reasonable doubt that you acted with the intent to commit a criminal offense, you may be able to avoid being convicted of the charges against you.
Examples of specific intent defenses could include:
- Advice of counsel
- Automatism
- Applying Mens Rea to the elements of the offense
- Good faith
- Negating Mens Rea
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Get in Touch with a Federal Crimes Lawyer in Chino Hills Today
The impact a federal criminal conviction will have on your life may be devastating. Not only will you be facing the criminal penalties, but the collateral consequences as well. Protect your future.
Reach out to an experienced Chino Hills federal crimes lawyer at the Simmrin Law Group to discuss potential defenses today. You can get started on your case when you fill out our secured contact form or call us to schedule your confidential consultation.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form