What Should I Do If I Am Charged With a Federal Crime?

The initial decisions you make when faced with federal criminal charges will affect how successful your defense will be. When arrested pursuant to a criminal complaint, for example, what you say and how you react matter and can be used against you. Whether an investigation has just been initiated against you or you have already been charged, your first step should be to consult with and hire an experienced defense attorney.

At The Law Offices of Bamieh & De Smeth, PLC, we understand that the stakes are exceptionally high in criminal cases involving federal crimes. Our exceptional team of Santa Barbara federal crime defense lawyers strives to prove our client’s innocence and fight for the best possible outcome.

What to Do When You're Faced With a Federal Criminal Charge

As soon as you learn that you're being charged with a federal crime, the first step you should take is to retain a criminal defense attorney with experience handling cases similar to yours.

Your criminal defense attorney can protect you by:

• Putting together an effective defense strategy.
• Negotiating a lesser charge in a plea bargain
• Reducing your sentence.
• Or even getting your charges dismissed altogether.

It is important to remember that you have the right to remain silent. You should only talk to the police after consulting with an attorney. After narrowing down a list of attorneys with extensive experience handling cases like yours, schedule consultations with them. With the attorney you hire, you want to make sure you feel completely comfortable. You want to avoid making a final decision until you can have a face-to-face discussion with each one.

Learn About The Charges You're Facing and Write Down Anything Relevant to Your Case

When you're facing criminal charges, you'll want to learn everything you can about the criminal charges you are facing. Speak with your lawyer about the charges and write down anything relevant to your case. It's vital for your attorney to get a clear picture of the events as you recall them, so you should also write down anything that you remember that might be relevant to your case.

Familiarize Yourself With The Law

Being charged with a federal criminal charge means you are accused of violating one or more federal statutes. Because there are thousands of federal statutes, knowing the charges you're facing along with your rights and options under the law is essential. You should also familiarize yourself with the difference between state and federal charges. The state and federal governments enact their own laws and prosecute crimes according to those laws.

This means there are certain situations where you can be charged with violating both state and federal laws. Your attorney serves as a valuable legal resource throughout your criminal case to help you understand these differences and the differences between the federal and state court processes. Your lawyer's detailed explanation of what to expect during each stage of the court process will help you remain calm and focused on what's most important when facing federal criminal charges.

Prepare For Trial or a Plea Bargain

A federal criminal case can be resolved in three ways: either the charges are dismissed, a plea bargain is negotiated, or the case proceeds to trial. In some unfortunate cases, innocent people enter into a plea agreement rather than risk a conviction, harsher sentence, or permanent criminal record.

Your attorney can advise you on whether this is in your best interest after conducting a thorough investigation and reviewing the evidence against you. If your attorney feels rejecting a plea deal would be in your best interest, this may mean going to trial. Our attorneys have the right knowledge and skills to adequately prepare you for and effectively represent you during your trial.

What Are Some Examples of Federal Crimes?

When someone is accused of a federal crime, the consequences are typically more severe than those at the state level. If you've been charged with a federal crime, it is crucial to understand the crime you're being charged with and your rights throughout the legal process.

Common examples of federal crimes include:

• Money laundering
• Bank robbery
• Tax evasion
• Identity theft
• Weapons charges
• Child sex crimes
• Counterfeiting
• Forgery
• Hacking
• Sexual assault or abuse
• Terrorism
• Organized crime
• Kidnapping or human trafficking
• Fraud (insurance fraud, health care fraud, mail fraud, or bank fraud).
• Drug crimes (drug trafficking, importation, manufacturing).

It is possible for a person to be charged with the same crime on a federal and state level. If someone robs a bank, for example, they can be charged with robbery in that state. Moreover, they would face a federal charge for stealing from a federally insured business. You could face years in prison, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees and fines for any of these crimes. Speak to a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible for the best chance at getting your life back on track and walking away clean.

Why You Need a Santa Barbara Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you are charged with a federal crime, hiring a skilled attorney from Bamieh & De Smeth who can provide comprehensive legal advice can help you avoid life-altering consequences.

In federal criminal cases, too many risks are involved. You don't want to put your future at stake by going through this stressful experience alone. Contact us using our online form or by calling 805-643-5555.