FEDERAL CRIMES IN GEORGIA
Federal crimes are those actions that violate federal law or impact federal personnel; these crimes are investigated by federal law enforcement agencies and are brought to trial by federal prosecutors. Although there are many similarities between state and federal criminal proceedings, the distinctions present in defending a federal case require a special skill set in order to provide the best defense possible. There are numerous offenses that are punishable as federal crimes.
You may be charged with a federal crime if you commit an offense that involves federal government property or is in violation of a provision of the United States criminal code. Federal prosecutors rely on violations of the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution to pull matters into their sphere of influence. Finally, committing a crime against a federal official likely will result in a federal prosecution. You may be faced with a situation where elements of your offense are prosecuted under state and federal law, but the prosecution itself occurs in a federal district court.
Here are just a few of the federal crimes with which a person can be charged:
- Accounting fraud;
- Antitrust;
- Bank fraud;
- Computer crimes;
- Corporate crimes;
- Environmental crimes;
- Health care fraud;
- Import/export crimes;
- Internet fraud;
- Mail and wire fraud;
- Money laundering;
- Mortgage fraud (for federally-insured mortgages);
- Tax crimes;
- Securities fraud;
- Social security fraud;
- Drug manufacturing;
- Controlled substance violations;
- Violent crimes;
- Bank robbery;
- Gun offenses;
- Espionage;
- Immigration law violations; and
- Terrorism.
Contact a Federal Crimes Attorney in Atlanta
The first thing that you should do after being charged with a federal crime is to contact a criminal defense attorney with extensive knowledge of the federal court system. With hands-on experience in federal courts as a former federal prosecutor, as well as years of practice as a criminal defense attorney, Tanya Miller may be the solution to your problem if you have been charged with a federal crime in Atlanta, Georgia or the surrounding area.
Federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies rigorously pursue litigation. In 1987, the U.S. Congress eliminated the possibility of parole for anyone sentenced for a federal crime after November 1, 1987. Therefore, you will serve the amount of time to which you are sentenced. Moreover, the Federal Sentencing Guidelines are complex and offer little leeway for those convicted of a federal crime.
A case is brought as a federal crime by an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) at the discretion of the AUSA and his or her office. Typically, AUSAs only pursue those matters that are high-profile, extremely complex, or result from an extensive investigation. Due to the discretion and selectivity, those cases that are pursued are subjected to the full resources of the federal government. You are not facing an overworked prosecutor with dozen of cases on his desk, but a focused AUSA who wants a successful outcome to continue to advance his or her career. This is not the type of fight that an attorney who is not confident in the federal forum should undertake.
Call today to get started with your defense.