Most criminal charges are for violations of state laws, but some offenses violate federal law. Certain offenses qualify as both; bank robbery is a primary example. Bank robbery is categorized this way because a customer’s deposits are insured by the federal government. Other federal crimes involve offenses that take place in more than one state or that are a concern at the national level. Crossing state lines to sell illegal drugs is an example of a federal crime, as is federal income tax evasion. Because federal courts operate differently than state courts do, Federal Criminal Attorneys are essential for legal defense in these matters. Many federal defense attorneys also provide representation regarding state criminal charges and are completely familiar with both systems.
Numerous other offenses are categorized as federal ones. Kidnapping is a noteworthy example, as is mail fraud. Tampering with the U.S. mail is illegal under federal law, and that even includes damaging residential mailboxes in acts of vandalism. People often think of white-collar crimes directly involving money or personal profit as federal offenses, and they would be right. A conviction of embezzlement, bribery or counterfeiting will typically result in a sentence of incarceration in a federal prison. Somewhat similar to bribery, blackmail is a form of extortion that is considered under national laws. Anyone dealing with these types of charges may contact a firm such as Addair Thurston Chtd. or view the website for information.
Mandatory minimum penalties tend to be harsher for federal crimes than for state offenses. A person convicted of selling drugs in more than one state, for example, will generally be subject to a more severe minimum penalty than if the same amount of contraband had only been sold in his or her home state. Another primary difference is that investigations are not conducted by local, county or state law enforcement officials. Instead, the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the Drug Enforcement Administration gets involved. Law enforcement officials in the jurisdiction are sometimes called upon to assist, however. Federal Criminal Attorneys understand all these variations on the legal system and are ready to provide skilled and aggressive defense. You can also follow them on Twitter for more information.
