Powerful And Personalized Criminal Defense Since 2008

Federal crimes, a very delicate subject

They are crimes that the federal government deems illegal. Often these crimes have particular interest to the U.S. government and involve crossing state lines. When a federal prosecutor comes after you, they want you to suffer the most severe punishments possible.

Fighting against the federal government is no easy task. You must work with a federal crime lawyer with the knowledge and experience to handle the federal criminal process. Call the The Law Office of David D. White, PLLC: Austin Criminal Lawyer no get legal advice now.

Cases We Handle

The federal court system has different procedures and rules they follow. A conviction will also have steeper penalties, such as more prolonged incarceration and higher fines. The crimes may involve various federal agencies. Some of the cases our federal crime lawyer handles include:

• Wire fraud
• Mail fraud
• Drug conspiracy
• Money laundering
• Drug trafficking
• Fraud
• Immigration offenses

Our federal crime attorney is familiar with these and other crimes. If unsure whether we can help, schedule an initial consultation to discuss your options. Our federal crime lawyer will assess whether our experience and resources can assist your case.

Possible Issues in Federal Criminal Cases

When there is a federal investigation against you, issues can arise that can steer the case in either direction. Getting legal assistance sooner rather than later can make an enormous difference in your case. You should do everything you can to protect yourself. When handling a federal criminal case, some of the issues we often see include the following:

Evidence that is Illegally Obtained

Federal agents, prosecutors, and criminal investigators think they have free reign. They often take advantage of people who do not have legal representation. The U.S. Constitution limits what these parties can do and protects your rights. Evidence obtained while violating your constitutional rights is inadmissible. The caveat is that federal investigators will not remove illegally obtained evidence. It is up to you to prove the evidence is inadmissible. You should work with a federal crime lawyer to accomplish this.

Conspiracy Allegations

Sometimes you can be charged with a federal crime when you did not commit a crime. You can face substantial fines and imprisonment. Federal prosecutors put a lot of weight on conspiracy statutes to close cases. All the prosecutor needs to say is you agreed to participate in this crime, and someone took action toward committing the crime. That is enough to lock you away forever.

Attempt Allegations

Similar to the prior section, you can face charges for attempting to commit a crime. Evidence of a complete crime does not have to be present for these charges to stick. The penalties for attempts are similar to committing the crime. You must be cautious when you are facing these charges. The Law Office of David D. White, PLLC: Austin Criminal Lawyer can help you.

Additional Charges

You can have the initial crime and then face charges for other statutes relevant to the crime. Defendants often face multiple charges for related and unrelated offenses. It is best to prepare with the help of a federal crime attorney.

Co-Conspirator Testimony

The federal government is sneaky. They want to pin the crime on someone. When a case involves multiple parties, they will often try to pin them against each other. They can use an alleged co-conspirator to testify against you. Other times they will use a confidential informant. This person could be planted in your life to learn about your alleged crime and testify against you.

Sentencing Guidelines

When facing a federal charge, there are potential sentences outlined. You can understand the potential penalties in the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. These are not binding, but they can provide a basis for you. Often judges and prosecutors will stick to these guidelines, but not always. You can also get a lower penalty in some instances.

Approaching Federal Criminal Cases

Federal criminal cases are different from state criminal cases. The first difference is in the length of the investigation. Federal investigations last months or years. That means that federal agencies collect a myriad of evidence before pressing charges. It also means that we must sift through all this evidence when you hire a federal crime lawyer. Aside from the investigation phase, there are two other phases: filing criminal charges and adjudication.

We need time to review what the government has and craft a defense. It is best to have The Law Office of David D. White, PLLC: Austin Criminal Lawyer helping you through every step of the process. We will build a solid defense and keep you abreast of what is happening faster than if you were handling your case independently.

The Investigation Phase

This is the first phase and often the longest. It involves federal agencies gathering information about you. They are inconspicuously gathering evidence that shows you committed a federal crime. They might investigate you and anyone you have business dealings with. They will present it to a federal prosecutor when they have enough evidence.

Federal agencies like the FBI, DEA, ICE, Homeland Security, and more will handle these investigations. They will gather witness statements and conduct surveillance on your home or business. They will obtain a search warrant for your home or business when they have enough evidence. These agencies will do everything they can to find something to pin this crime on you.  

The U.S. Attorney’s Office Filing

When the federal agencies have finished investigating you and your alleged crimes, they will move into the next phase. They will now take everything they have gathered to the United States Attorney’s Office. An Assistant United States Attorney will review the evidence and decide how to proceed. They can decide there is insufficient evidence and trigger another investigation, or pursue criminal charges.

It can be an uphill battle if you wait until this phase to get a federal crime attorney involved. When you have a lawyer on your side from the beginning, they can block these actions. It will drastically change how the case is handled. The prosecutor will contact your lawyer before deciding how to move forward. They can even begin negotiations regarding bail, settlements, and more.

Court Hearings

Another essential phase of the federal crime process is the court hearing. You will likely be brought before the magistrate after the case is filed and before a judge is assigned. This will be your first court hearing where bail is decided. They will determine if you pose a flight risk which can lead to a bail denial. Another situation that can lead to a bail denial is posing a threat to public safety. If you cannot get bail, you will go into custody for the duration of your case.

Resolving your issue can take months or years, so this hearing is critical to your freedom.

If you are prosecuted and bail is set, you can go home with some restrictions. You will have numerous other hearings leading up to your trial. In between these court hearings, a federal crime lawyer will negotiate with the AUSA assigned to your case. The goal is to reach a favorable solution without the uncertainty of trial.

If negotiations are unsuccessful, then trial is inevitable. You will get to state your case and defend yourself before a jury. At trial, your legal team will cross-examine witnesses, present their witnesses and evidence. Our goal is to prove your innocence. If you are convicted, it is not the end of the road. You will have the opportunity to argue for leniency. We can request a lighter sentence.

Signs That Can Indicate You Are Under Investigation

You could be under investigation by the FBI, DEA, or the Office of Inspector General. Primarily there are three ways to learn about a federal investigation including:

• Attempted verbal interview by federal agents: this could be of you or someone you have had business dealings with previously or currently.
• Written receipt of a federal grand jury subpoena: from an Assistant U.S. Attorney
• A search or arrest warrant

If any of these three scenarios apply to you, it is time to seek help from a criminal defense lawyer. The sooner you become aware of an investigation, the quicker you can move to defend yourself. The longer federal agencies are investigating you. The worse off you may be. It can also be more challenging to argue their findings. Speak to our federal crime lawyer immediately.

What You Should Do if You Are Under Federal Investigation

Being under federal investigation can be a stressful situation. You must protect your constitutional rights. Your life’s on the line, and you cannot leave it up to chance or blind faith in the federal government to sort this out. There are some steps you can take to protect yourself, including:

• Not talking to federal investigators: first and foremost, you should not speak to any federal agents from any department. A federal investigation is left in the hands of highly-trained agents. It is different from in-state crimes. Some of these investigations can take months or years before the prosecution takes action. Sometimes federal agents will approach you to attempt to get information from you. Refuse to say anything and refer them to your federal crime attorney,
• Hire a federal crime lawyer: when you suspect you are under federal investigation, the best thing you can do to protect yourself is speak to a federal crimes attorney. You may not be facing criminal charges yet, which is the best time to begin protecting yourself. Some clients can avoid federal charges when they seek legal help during the investigation phase. Other times, you can reduce the severity of your crimes and penalties.
• Ensure federal prosecutors follow the law: they are ruthless in their actions. They want to close the case and throw the book at you, even if you are innocent. They may even bend the law in their favor to close the deal. One of our goals is to ensure the government follows the law and treats you fairly, which they often don’t.

Other steps may apply to your case, and you must get the legal guidance of a federal crime attorney near you. The Law Office of David D. White, PLLC, navigates these intricate processes and defends our client’s constitutional rights.

Seek Help from a Federal Crimes Attorney to Protect Your Future

A federal crime conviction will stay with you for life. It will also impact your family and loved ones. Do not try to represent yourself. Let the federal crime lawyer from The Law Office of David D. White, PLLC: Austin Criminal Lawyer help you get a favorable outcome. Call us today at 512-881-7227 to schedule an initial consultation.

 

“When you hire me, you get me. Not my admin, not my associates. I’ll meet, talk, text, and work with you directly to get you the best possible outcome in your case.”

David D. White

Criminal Defense Lawyer