Federal Crimes

What are Federal Laws?

Federal laws are passed by Congress and apply throughout the United States, including Washington D.C. Often times, criminal acts are considered offenses in both State and Federal law; prosecutors must then decide whether the perpetrator should be tried in State or Federal Court. Some crimes are written in Title 18 of the United States Code, which is the Federal criminal code; others will be listed under other titles, for example: possession of banned firearms which is listed under the National Firearms Act, and tax evasion are both criminalized in Title 26 of the United States Code.

What Does it Mean to be Charged with a Federal Crime?

When charged with a federal crime, you will be dealing with local or State law enforcement, along with any Federal agencies (FBI, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, DEA, U.S. Secret Service, or Criminal Investigation division of the IRS) involved in the investigation. The FBI is the agency that investigates and prosecutes the majority of Federal offenses.

With extensive resources, sweeping authority, and highly trained personnel, these Federal agencies allow the prosecution to build a strong case against the defendant. Generally, Federal crimes investigations are given more resources. The Federal prosecutor is specifically trained to allocate those resources in the proper directions to build a case against the suspect. A skilled Federal criminal defense attorney is needed to handle a Federal charge, as these cases tend to be more complex than State charges. At Kenneth Padowitz, P.A., we know the rules of criminal procedure involved in a Federal case, along with any rules of evidence or trial procedure that may differ from State court.

What Are Some Examples of Federal Crimes?

Similar to State crimes, Federal crimes may be charged as misdemeanors or felonies. Some examples of Federal crimes include various white collar crimes. White collar crimes, sometimes referred to as financial crimes, tend to involve an individual scamming or tricking people out of money or property. Various types of cases of fraud (embezzlement, bribery, insider trading, etc.) are often tried and convicted by the Federal government. Federal drug crimes, such as drug trafficking, manufacturing, transporting across state or U.S. borders, or distribution, are all violations of the Controlled Substances Act, and often times fall under the Federal government’s jurisdiction. Any interstate transportation of illicit substances or items, including firearms, may carry the risk of a federal weapons charge.

Who Should You Contact When Charged With A Federal Crime?

Kenneth Padowitz is a Fort Lauderdale Federal criminal defense attorney with nearly 30 years of experience In trial. If you have been charged with a Federal crime, or believe you may be charged in the future, contact Kenneth Padowitz, P.A. today.We will provide you with the aggressive representation that you need when dealing with a Federal charge. Contact us so we can discuss this important matter.