Federal Crimes Blog

Federal law enforcement agencies consider crimes related to child pornography seriously. If they believe you are a suspect of dealing with illegal, obscene material, you should expect a thorough criminal investigation and possible prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 2252 or a related statute. Suppose you are...

Any crimes that are committed at airports will fall under federal jurisdiction. If somebody decides to commit a life-threatening violent act at an international airport, they are facing severe penalties under federal law. For example, suppose you are convicted of performing violence at an airport using any "device...

If you falsely represent yourself in certain situations, you could be charged with a federal criminal offense. For example, 18 U.S. Code 913 makes it a crime for someone to falsely represent themselves as an agent, officer, or employee of the United States who searches someone or a building or who arrests or detains...

Smuggling any goods into the United States without following proper procedures for declaring the goods is a crime under 18 U.S. Code 545. For example, you could be charged and found guilty under this law if you knowingly and willfully smuggled or introduced any merchandise that should have been invoiced...

Under federal laws, assisting somebody in escaping from lawful custody is a crime. Simply put, if you help someone try to escape, you can face serious federal criminal charges. While most escape-related cases are prosecuted in state courts, there are certain circumstances where the case would be handled in...

Title 18 U.S. Code 2511 defines the federal offense of unauthorized interception and disclosure of wire, oral, or electronic communications. In other words, this federal statute prohibits anyone from intentionally intercepting, trying to intercept, or getting other people to intercept wire, oral, or...

After the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, the United States Congress passed the Patriot Act, which modified 18 U.S. Code 2331 by defining domestic terrorism. Terrorism is a serious international issue, and the United States government considers local acts of terrorism an attack on...

The Constitution protects peaceful protests in the United States, but violence and property destruction are illegal. Title 18 U.S. Code 2383 rebellion and insurrection charges at the federal level could be charged when perpetrators destroy government property or assault public officers. Simply put, it’s considered...

Playing the lottery, such as Powerball, is widespread. Still, there are restrictions on specific actions, such as broadcasting lottery information, importing lottery tickets, mailing lottery tickets, and participation by financial institutions. Lotteries are common in most states, but local state laws highly regulate them...

For those recently arrested, or you are a relative or the actual person, you have a bond hearing coming up. You want to get an attorney right away. Strategy-wise, you want to ensure you and the attorney coordinate getting information to the probation department and the pre-trial service people...

Let’s review the four ways to avoid a mandatory minimum sentence in a federal drug case. Under federal laws, illegal drugs and controlled substances are defined under 21 U.S.C. 841. Notably, there are three levels of federal felony drug offenses. All drugs could fit into one or more levels, depending on the...

Suppose a crime is committed aboard an aircraft in flight within United States territory. In that case, it will typically fall under the jurisdiction of the federal district courts. The vast majority of crimes on an airplane are not related to terrorism. Sometimes, passengers argue, fight, and shout profanity-laced...

Federal law makes harboring or concealing another person from arrest a crime. This crime could lead to substantial fines and custody in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for up to five years. Simply put, suppose you help prevent somebody from being arrested. In that case, you could face federal criminal charges for...

In some situations, federal charges of conveying false information can be filed by a prosecutor, which carries harsh penalties if convicted. This federal statute covers a bomb hoax. 18 U.S. Code 35 imposes civil and criminal felony penalties for conveying false information regarding attempts or alleged attempts to...

A “coerced” confession usually means it was an involuntary confession resulting from overzealous federal law enforcement agents rather than someone’s free will that comes from overbearing police conduct rather than a suspect’s free will. In other words, the confession resulted from persuasion, duress, pressure...

The crime of “treason” essentially means to betray your country, but it’s much more complex than that, as there are numerous closely related legal definitions, activities, and federal offenses. Let’s start with the description of treason in Article 3, Section 3 of the United States Constitution, which says, “Treason...

A suspicious activity report (SAR) is vital for combatting financial crimes. Under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), financial institutions must assist United States government agencies in detecting and preventing money laundering and keep records of cash purchases of negotiable instruments. Further, they must...

The legal authority of a federal court to hold an individual or a corporate entity in contempt of court is a vital tool designed to maintain order in the courtroom and ensure the administration of justice. Further, the threat of contempt of court helps a federal judge regulate aggressive or uncooperative defense...

Many people don’t realize there are still some places in the United States where alcohol sales are prohibited by law, commonly known as a "dry county."  The statutes prohibiting liquor trafficking are found in 18 U.S. Code Chapter 59. Suppose you transport alcohol without a license across state lines into a restricted....

The crime of piracy is essentially an international crime because it occurs throughout many different nations. The United States government has created specific laws to deal with the severe offense of piracy and privateering. These federal statutes are defined within 18 U.S.C. Chapter 81. Piracy is uncommon...

More and more prosecutors are coming to life on these federal drug cases, especially now that the pandemic has lifted. Federal law enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security, and the Drug Enforcement Agency, are targeting those individuals moving drugs...

RICO is a federal statute known as the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations. It’s part of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970. Racketeering is a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 1961, not just a single event. Instead, it usually appears in the environment of organized crime–gangs, gambling rings...

You've come to the right place if you’re charged with a federal criminal case and need help.  I think one of the first things you want to start thinking about is whether or not you can defend your case from the outside. In other words, whether the case is at the prefiling stage or whether a case has already...

If you are facing a drug charge in a federal criminal court, It’s essential to understand the best defense strategies for fighting the case. Believe it or not, most cases filed in federal court at the criminal level are drug cases. They certainly file other charges, but for whatever reason, they’ve decided they will...

People often ask how attorneys decide how much to charge in a federal criminal case. I can only speak from my experience, having defended people in federal criminal cases for the past 30 years. Of course, I’ve also heard what other lawyers charge, so I have an idea of what my competition charges...