Aggressive Protection When You Face Federal Charges
Federal offenses are among the most serious criminal charges you can face in this country. You will need an attorney who is licensed to practice in federal court and is familiar with how the system works. Better yet, you want a criminal defense lawyer who has jury trial experience and can match the prosecutor in competence, drive and commitment.
In other words, you need an effective defense strategy that can confront felony charges and gives you the best possible chance of avoiding a criminal conviction. The stakes are high whenever someone is charged in federal court, but beating a federal case is possible. An experienced federal defense attorney can find weaknesses in the prosecution case, fight to preserve your civil rights and take your case to court rather than force you to accept an unfairly burdensome plea deal. In many cases, the right Indiana defense lawyer can get the charges dismissed or prevail at trial.
At The Region Lawyers, you can bring your case to our proven federal offense lawyer. He has extensive experience handling jury trials and has defended clients against such serious charges as those involving the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, drugs and murder in court at the federal level. From our office in Merrillville, we serve clients throughout the region, Indiana and northern Illinois.
What Are The Penalties You Could Face?
In the federal court system, penalties are generally much harsher than at the state level. The prosecutors are aggressive and have full funding and resources from the federal government. Some of the sentences include:
- Drug charges: One year to life in prison
- Sex offenses: Five to 35 years in prison
- Human trafficking: Up to 30 years in prison
- Gun offenses: Five years to 30 years in prison
- Violent crimes: Five years to life in prison
- White collar crimes: Five to 20 years in prison
- Tax evasion: Up to $500,000 in fines and up to five years in prison
- Violation of immigration laws: Three years to five years in prison
Many of these offenses have enhancement factors that can increase your punishment. For example, a federal crime carried out while using a deadly weapon will lead to more serious consequences. Additionally, federal judges are often restricted by federal sentencing guidelines, prosecutors have fewer options when negotiating a plea deal and offenders must usually serve a minimum of 85% of their sentences.
What To Expect From A Federal Charge
The investigation process for federal offenses is intensive. The FBI, Drug Enforcement Association (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Secret Service and other authorities spend months or even years investigating them. They do not make an arrest or file a charge unless they have substantial evidence. Once they do, these cases are usually high profile. Your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors will likely hear about it in the news. Although you will face pressure to give an interview to the authorities, offer evidence in exchange for a better sentence or negotiate a plea bargain, don’t do these things – until you have a defense lawyer present.
Do Not Waste Any Time – Get Help Immediately
The time to bring in our seasoned federal defense attorneys is as soon as possible. If you believe you are under investigation, it is not too soon to retain The Region Lawyers. To schedule your initial consultation, please call us at 219-961-3814 or send us an email.