Federal Crimes

Some crimes are significant enough that they will fall under the jurisdiction of the federal court. The larger portion of charges in the country are handled at the state level, but when a crime violates federal legislation, it will be handled higher up the ladder. Federal crimes are different from crimes charged at the state level. You need an attorney who is familiar with practicing law in a federal court.

Who handles a federal crime?

These types of crimes are prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office and can involve such institutions as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other similar entities. These types of crimes are often punished very severely. I recommend that you contact me immediately if you are charged with a federal crime in Philadelphia.

Federal Charges and Punishments

Examples of crimes charged at the federal level include arson, kidnapping, certain drug crimes, RICO violations, mail fraud, wire fraud, mortgage fraud, certain types of identity theft, child pornography and solicitation of minors.

Federal charges will typically be more detrimental that if a crime was tried at the state level. The penalties and consequences you will be subject to if you are convicted of a federal crime will be extremely harsh. You will most likely be forced to spend an extended period of time in a federal prison and you could also be subject to restitution fines if your crime involved theft or fraud. It is very important that you contact a criminal defense attorney who has experience handling federal crimes.

I have over a decade of experience handling criminal charges and I have additional experience garnered from my 12 years as a deputy sheriff. My experience as a sheriff allows me to take a different perspective when defending my clients and this "edge" could mean all the difference in your case.