THE PROCESS
When it comes to defending a Federal Criminal case it is important to realize that cases are dealt with differently than in the State Court Criminal Justice system. How federal criminal cases are investigated, filed, prosecuted and sentenced is something that should only be dealt with by a seasoned federal criminal attorney. The authories associated with the federal system are sophisticated, well funded and extremely thorough in how they investigate and prosecute federal criminal defendants. Below, we discuss the various stages of federal criminal cases.
INVESTIGATION OF FEDERAL CRIMINAL CASES
There are a number of law enforcement agencies that investigate federal criminal cases (the Federal Bureuo of Investigations--FBI, The Drug Enforcement Agency--DEA, The Department of Homeland Security and a number of others. Sometimes state law enforcement agencies assist in these investigations as well.
The federal government and their law enforcement agents typically take their time in investigating potential criminal conduct. They are much more thorough and meticulous than state agencies in their investigations. They will take months and even years to investigate a case and make sure that they have sufficient evidence against a person before proceding to arrest / indict them.
They will use much more sophisticated means to investigate than State authorities usually use. For example, it is not uncommon to see wire tap evidence utilized in a federal criminal prosecution. The feds also use various forms of surveillance. as well. It has been our experience that the most common and effect form of investigative methods is the use of informants against wouldbe defendants. Because of the way the federal criminal sentencing scheme is set up...the use of informants has been the most effective tool the federal govenment has to capture other defendants in their broad reaching net.
PROSECUTION OF FEDERAL CRIMINAL CASES
Federal criminal cases are prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs). They strictly prosecute federal criminal crimes and often times work hand in hand with federal law enforcment agencies in the investigative stage of a federal case. They are attorneys that have been specially trained in the prosecution of federal crimes.
SENTENCING IN FEDEAL CRIMINAL CASES