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McNabb Associates, P.C. |
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E-Mail 866.214.4666 Web Video Call The federal government consistently follows the same process when investigating an individual it believes has committed a federal crime whether the investigation is out of Jacksonville, Los Angeles, or Baltimore. The firm has a national practice and members of the firm personally travel to all federal courts in the U.S. We do not refer our cases to other attorneys. In many cases you will receive some form of communication from a federal law enforcement agency like the FBI. It may come in the form of a "target" letter (which means you are about to be indicted), or a telephone call (they tell you that they only want to ask you a few questions). Oftentimes, though, it comes in the form of a doorbell ring. You answer the door and find two agents dressed in navy suits and white button down shirts asking if they can come into your living room to visit with you. Other times the personal visit is at your office. This is a very critical stage of the proceedings. Agents are trained to get people to talk to them, who do not want to talk to them. Your questions such as, "Do I need a federal criminal lawyer?", "Should I get a federal criminal lawyer?", "I think I may need a federal criminal lawyer," are not definite enough to stop the agents' questioning. The firm suggests that you politely respond to any such requests with, "I'm sorry, but I will need to retain a federal criminal attorney before I can speak with you." Be polite, but firm. The U.S. Supreme Court has said that it is okay for federal agents to trick, lie, and deceive as part of the investigatory process. Do not answer any of their questions. Do not try to explain why their theory of the facts is wrong. You can not control the questions that they ask, but more importantly, you can not control their interpretation of your answers. The U.S. Congress has held that if an agent comes to you and says, "We are investigating mail fraud activity that occurred yesterday, at such and such a location, did you do it?" and you say, "No," and you are later charged and convicted of mail fraud, the agents can come back and charge you with lying to a federal agent. This is a separate criminal offense that carries up to 5 years without parole, which would be added, or stacked, onto whatever time you received from the mail fraud conviction. Again, be polite, but firm, and do not speak with the agents unless you have a competent federal criminal lawyer present. The federal government follows the same process when charging an individual with a federal crime whether the charges are out of Jacksonville, Los Angeles, or Baltimore. An Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) and a federal agent will go to a secret group of people, 23 in number, and will present to the secret group of people a one-sided government view of why they think that an individual has violated a federal criminal statute. The individual is not allowed to be present, nor is his attorney. In fact, the individual probably does not even know that it is happening when it is happening. The U.S. Supreme Court has said that if the government has any evidence that tends to show that the individual is innocent, it does not have to be presented to the secret group of people. If after the one-sided government presentation, the secret group of people, also known as a Federal Grand Jury, believes that the individual probably committed a crime (probable cause) then the foreman of the Federal Grand Jury will sign a piece of paper that says that the Federal Grand Jury believes that the individual probably committed a crime. That piece of paper is called an Indictment. The individual has now been indicted by the U.S. Government and the individual did not know that happened when it occurred, because it was done secretly. The AUSA and the federal agent will then leave the Federal Grand Jury Room, and walk down the hall to see a Federal Magistrate Judge. The AUSA in over 99% of the cases will ask the Federal Magistrate Judge for an arrest warrant. The first that the individual will know that he has been indicted is when 12 to 18 federal agents, guns drawn, are at the indicted individual's house or office to arrest him. At the state level, the city and state in which you live is governed by a different set of criminal laws than the other states and territories. Federal law is consistent throughout the nation. Whether a member of the firm walks into a federal courtroom in Jacksonville, Los Angeles, or Baltimore, the federal statutes, rules of procedure and rules of evidence are the same. For instance, the state law regarding mail fraud in Los Angeles, California is perhaps different from that found in Baltimore, Maryland, but the federal law is the same. How do you know if you are being investigated or have been charged with a state crime or a federal crime? There are three main characteristics that may help indicate whether you are facing the state or federal system:
Investigating Agencies If you have been arrested or questioned by the police at the city, county, parish or state level, this usually indicates that you are suspected of a state crime. Federal law enforcement agencies frequently encountered by defendants are:
Types of Federal Crimes Crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the federal government most often concern large amounts of money defrauded or drugs sold, and involve crossing state lines. Crimes routinely prosecuted in federal courts are:
Federal Criminal Courts Defendants appearing in federal courts are immediately aware of the formality and unforgiving nature of the setting. United States Federal Judges are appointed for life by the President of the United States with Senate confirmation. They follow strict guidelines established by Congress on procedure and punishment. If convicted of a federal crime, a defendant will serve practically all of his or her entire sentence. Parole (early release) is not recognized in the federal system. A 15% reduction in sentence may be available for "Good Time." If one has an alcohol or drug addiction, a further reduction in sentence may also be possible. See here for additional information regarding Mail Fraud, Public Corruption, RICO Crimes, and Securities Fraud. |
