A Federal Crime or federal offense is an illegal action prosecuted under U.S. federal criminal law. There are different types of federal crimes and they are investigated and sentenced by the federal court by the appropriate district in each state. In this article, you will find all the answers about federal offenses and what consequences they bring about. Federal crimes are treated with strictness, since it could potentially affect national security.
Some federal offenses are contained in "Title 18 of the Code of the United States" while others are listed under other titles. Several agencies such as FBI, DEA and the Secret Services, have been authorized to investigate federal crimes.
Federal crimes are treated by federal court and are characterized as follows:
As federal crimes are treated in the Supreme Court for violating constitutional law, the penalty is much stronger than a state crime and the possibility to go on parole is quite low. These penalties are dictated by federal judges.
They generally impose at least 10 years of federal probation that could reach life imprisonment and the death penalty, it all depends on the type of crime committed and the impact that has had on the defendant prior offenses.
Therefore, it is recommended to seek the assistance of competent lawyers working on federal crimes because these penalties can always improve with a good lawyer.
Federal identity theft is an example of federal crime, which involves the use of another person's identity for the purpose of falsifying the name and enjoys the other person's benefits, obtains credit or gets access to resources. The law against identity theft is referred to as Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998. This law recognizes as a personal identification, besides the person’s name, the social security, credit card numbers and telephone calling cards. Identity theft is punishable by the Department of Justice with a maximum sentence of up to 15 year's imprisonment or a fine, or expropriation of any property used for crimes.
Identity theft also involves other federal crimes such as stealing mail, credit card and financial accounts. If more than one of these crimes mixed the sentence can lead to more than 30 years in prison. Recently, there was a case of identity theft in Miami where the thieve stole more than $ 13,000.00 between the victims checking account and bank loans.
Another example federal violation is the illegal possession of weapons. Here in Florida, machine guns, small guns and rifles are considered illegal and the people who carry them can be processed in either the federal court or state court. There may be lesser sentences for illegal possession of weapons.
Federal crimes law forbids the possession, manufacture, and sale or distribution of controlled substances such as methamphetamine, ecstasy, marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. These substances are classified at different levels under federal and state regulations. Distribution and trafficking mean that a person is accused of selling, delivering or providing controlled substances.
Manufacturing, under federal and state drug laws, includes growing, possessing, and or producing these substances. It is also charged by the government. Possession is the most common drug charge. For simple possession charges are less serious than possession with intent to distribute.
In the State of Florida, the sentence for individuals with minor drug crimes and no criminal records at the time of being arrested can be probation. Diversion is also a charge for first time offenders with simple possession of illegal drugs. After the diversionary period, the offender can keep a clean criminal record and the case is dismissed.
The American government laws have always prioritized federal law over state law. They are created by the U.S. Congress to secure the citizens of this country. Some criminal actions are federal crimes and must be prosecuted by the Federal District Court. When a conflict arises between federal and state law, federal and state prosecutors must determine if the offender should be prosecuted in Federal District Court or State Court. State crimes are processed from police charges for each particular state. Federal crimes are prosecuted as serious crimes called felonies while minor are particularly addressed by the state where the crime takes place. The federal charges are commonly investigated thoroughly by the department before processing the individual.
Many people in Miami have faced charges regarding federal crimes such as identity theft, money laundering, fraud or bribery, child pornography, Medicare or Mortgage fraud, or drug crimes such as trafficking or manufacturing.
If you are being accused of any federal crime, you can be confident that our criminal attorneys will protect you even at the topmost level of criminal court.
The criminal defense attorney aware of the rights of customers are willing to make the necessary to recognize the importance of law enforcement.
Contact a qualified federal criminal defense attorney, federal crimes are considered felonies and can lead to severe sentences. Individuals do not need to go through this difficult period without adequate support; no matter the type of crime committed they have the right to have a criminal defense lawyer in Miami.