Federal crimes

What is a federal crime?

A federal crime is an act that is unlawful under federal legislation or that occurs on federal property. Federal crimes also involve unlawful acts that cross state lines (such as interstate or international drug trafficking, for example).

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has jurisdiction to investigate federal offenses. Other federal government agencies may become involved for particular issues, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for drug crimes or the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) for insider trading or securities fraud. Federal sentencing guidelines are typically severe in regard to the penalties which can be assessed for a federal conviction. Federal prosecutors will, in most cases, do whatever they can to pursue maximum penalties. Additionally, the resources which federal agencies have at their disposal are extensive. Federal investigators and prosecutors may also be more experienced than those at a state level.

Federal crimes are tried in federal court, where rules, procedures and guidelines are different than in state court. Because of these differences and the harsh consequences of a federal crime conviction, it is particularly important to work with a lawyer who is familiar with challenging criminal charges, dealing with federal investigators and prosecutors and who has the resources to properly handle your case.

Examples of Federal Crimes

Counterfeiting
 Creating a false replica of an object of value and attempting to pass it off as real may constitute the federal offense of counterfeiting. Counterfeiting money used to be punishable by death. Though the penalties today are less severe, they may still include imprisonment and heavy fines. 

Bank Fraud
 Defrauding or attempting to defraud a federally insured bank is a serious crime that may result in decades of imprisonment and a fine of up to one million dollars.

Government Fraud
 Devising and carrying out, or even attempting to carry out, a scheme to defraud any type of government organization or agency may be considered government fraud, an extremely serious federal crime.

Mail Fraud
 If a person is accused of using the postal system to carry out or attempt to carry out a scheme to defraud, he or she may face federal charges. Depending on the target/s and the amount of money involved, extreme penalties may be enforced upon a conviction. 

Wire Fraud
 Using the internet, radio, television or other interstate "wires" in an attempt to commit fraud may constitute the criminal act of wire fraud. If a bank or other financial institution is the intended target, a defendant may face imprisonment and fines of up to one million dollars.

Hate Crimes
 Hate crimes, crimes committed against another person because of their religious beliefs, nationality, race, political beliefs, disability or sexual orientation, are typically investigated by federal agencies and handled in federal court. 
Internet Crimes
Many internet crime are considered federal offenses because they involve crossed state lines or national borders. This may include such offenses as child pornography, identity theft and fraud.

Kidnapping
 Though not always charged as a federal crime, the FBI or other federal agencies may become involved if an alleged kidnapper crosses state lines with his or her victim or commits kidnapping offenses in multiple states. 
Money Laundering
Often associated with organized crime, money laundering involves the process of making money that was obtained through criminal activity appear to have come from a legitimate source. 
Tax Evasion
Considered a form of fraud, tax evasion involves fraudulently completing tax returns or misrepresenting financial information in order to avoid paying tax. The IRS (Internal Revenue Service) typically investigates tax fraud cases.

Terrorism Charges
 Terrorism is defined as using violence or intimidation to induce fear or submission, or to cause harm, typically for political gain. Terrorism charges are taken very seriously by federal agencies, and a defendant may find that his or her rights seem severely limited in the face of an investigation or formal charges of this kind. 

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