Federal charges represent one of the toughest legal challenges you could face in the U.S. Individuals charged with federal crimes end up facing incredibly skilled prosecutors who are used to getting convictions.
A conviction in federal court can lead to harsh penalties, including tremendous fines and decades of incarceration in federal prison. Make sure you’re ready for your day in court by contacting Simmrin Law Group’s West Covina federal crimes lawyers.
Choose a West Covina Federal Crimes Lawyer Who Can Advocate for You
To avoid a criminal conviction at the federal level, choosing an attorney who can fight for your right to freedom is crucial. After getting arrested, many people feel like their life is over. The lawyers at our firm can help you feel confident you can move forward after a criminal charge. We know that everyone makes mistakes, so let’s move forward. Fight your criminal charge so you can move on with your life.
Our criminal defense attorneys can represent you through all legal proceedings regarding your criminal charge, including:
- Questioning with police
- Court appearances
- Plea agreement negotiations
- A trial in front of a jury
Our attorneys have experience litigating federal crimes and getting our clients’ charges reduced or dismissed.
For a free legal consultation with a lawyer serving West Covina, call (310) 896-2723
Defending a Federal Crime
There isn’t a huge difference between state and federal crimes. The law considers some crimes under state, local, and federal jurisdiction. Federal crimes typically have harsher punishments than state or local crimes. Examples of federal offenses include:
- Terrorism
- Cybercrime
- Civil rights violations
- Violent crimes
- Art, jewelry, or valuable item theft
- Threats against the government
How Our Attorneys Can Defend You Against a Federal Charge in Los Angeles County
Due to the nature of the severity of federal charges, it is helpful to have an attorney who has handled similar cases by your side. If you committed one of these federal crimes or another type, we could help. Our attorneys can prepare a solid defense to protect your freedom. Our defense strategy could include:
- Investigate your charges by obtaining a copy of the police report. We can ensure the police followed the correct laws and procedures.
- Ensuring law enforcement officials appropriately collected evidence and that the police fabricated no evidence.
- Reviewing the evidence collected by law enforcement officers to determine if there are any holes in the prosecution’s case.
- Identify those who witnessed the alleged crime and get their account of events.
- Determine if you have an alibi and corroborate where you were to prove your innocence.
We can ensure law enforcement conducts their investigation in a fair way with adequate evidence. If not, we can fight against it and advocate for your freedom.
We Can Negotiate a Fair Plea Bargain
We can negotiate a fair plea bargain with the prosecuting attorneys if your charges don’t get dismissed. A plea bargain is an arrangement between both parties where the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge to get a more lenient sentence. The agreement includes dropping the other charges against the defendant.
After we reach a plea agreement, we can advise you on whether you should accept the deal or deny it and move forward with a trial.
Do Not Speak to Law Enforcement Until You Have an Attorney
While you can represent yourself during a federal crimes case, we strongly advise against it. Instead, we suggest you wait until you have a lawyer by your side to speak to law enforcement. Even if you haven’t been listed as a suspect yet, it is essential to have an attorney with you if the police question you.
An attorney can protect your rights and make sure you don’t say anything that can incriminate you. In addition, we can guide you through the entire legal process of the federal crime case.
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What You’re Up Against in Federal Court
Many people underestimate the challenges of winning a case in federal court. After all, the federal court system handles many of the same charges that a state court would. The difference is in the severity of the charges and the punishments handed down after a conviction.
You could be subject to hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and decades of time in prison if you are charged with breaking a federal law. You can also face federal charges if:
- A crime crossed state lines
- The U.S. is a party to the case
- The claim is over $75,000
Note that some charges, like bank robbery, are always handled by the federal court system. In some situations, you can even be charged twice for the same act, once in state and once in federal court. This is often the case when individuals are charged with federal property crimes.
Federal courts also deal with immigration law. This means that, while California has laws to protect immigrants, the federal court system can still step in, leading to issues related to deportation from the country.
Any federal charge can throw your life off course. But, you can improve your chances of winning your case by working with a criminal defense lawyer here in West Covina. Make sure you’re ready for your day in court by treating a federal charge seriously and getting professional help as soon as you can.
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Federal Charges: Fraud
There are several types of fraud that only federal courts handle. These include:
- Bank Fraud
- Mail Fraud
- Wire Fraud
- Bankruptcy Fraud
The federal court system also handles cases of identity theft. You can be charged with identity theft if you commit fraud after stealing the personal information of another individual. A conviction for federal fraud can result in 30 years in federal prison and fines of up to $1 million.
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Federal Charges: Organized Crime
Those who created the federal law originally designed federal law to handle organized crime. These charges can include:
Conspiracy
Charges of conspiracy apply any time two or more people plan a criminal act together. You can be charged with conspiracy even if you didn’t commit the crime. The following are common examples of conspiracy charges:
- Conspiracy to Restrain Trade
- Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering
- Conspiracy Against Citizens’ Rights
Counterfeiting
Counterfeiting occurs when an individual creates a false document. Many people think of counterfeiting money, but criminals can also falsify other documents.
Money Laundering
The process of money laundering allows individuals to take illegally obtained money and make it look legitimate. This illegally earned money could have come from terrorism, drug offenses, fraud, or many other places. Any form of money laundering is illegal.
Dealing with these charges can be impossible on your own. You can get the help you need from a federal crimes lawyer who has the resources to stand up to federal prosecutors effectively.
Federal Charges: Elevated Crimes
In some cases, charges handled at the state level are moved to federal court because they are particularly severe or because the alleged crime crossed state lines. The federal court system will generally deal with these charges more severely than a state court would:
Child Pornography
Individuals who make, distribute, or spread sexually explicit images, including minors can face charges for child pornography. A child pornography conviction in federal court can lead to 30 years in prison and high fines.
Antitrust Violations
The federal government has made it illegal for businesses to engage in customer allocation, bid-rigging, or price-fixing. Any individual accused of these actions can face antitrust violation charges. You could be fined $1 million for each offense if convicted of an antitrust violation.
Gun Offenses
Individuals can be charged with a gun offense at the federal level for:
- Moving guns over state lines
- Giving minors firearms
- Owning a gun with its serial number removed
- Using guns in school zones
You can also face serious charges if you are forbidden from legally owning a gun and are found in possession of a firearm.
Build Your Case with Our Federal Crimes Lawyer in West Covina
Dealing with federal charges can feel impossible on your own. However, a federal crimes lawyer in West Covina can take charge of your case and build your defense. Simmrin Law Group is here to provide you with the help you need. You can get started on your case today with a FREE consultation.
Get the help you need by calling our firm today or filling out our contact form.
Call or text (310) 896-2723 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form