This is a big issue that I've had to deal with over the last 26 years as a federal criminal defense attorney. Many people or their families have been arrested or are in custody, and they're trying to find a lawyer.
Sometimes, they are even the actual people who have been charged or arrested. Give me a call, and we can figure out what we'll do, step-by-step, to best deal with your federal drug charge.
Sometimes, you can only reach an attorney later, so you have to make decisions based on the information you have. What I've tried to do here is give you a step-by-step guide and cover many of the key issues that come up in these federal drug charge cases.
Don't Make Statements to Law Enforcement
The first thing to keep in mind is that while everything is still alive and going on, you really don't want to give any statements to law enforcement, whether it be the FBI, Secret Service, Drug Enforcement Agency — or any of the branches of the federal government.
One of their key primary ways to gather evidence against a person and to make sure a case sticks against that person is to take statements from them. Get them on videotape. Get them on audio tape to be able to prove that that person is purportedly guilty of a particular crime.
You want to avoid being in a position where you're helping the government. So, that's the number one to look out for — that is to keep your mouth shut and don't say anything that could incriminate you. Remember, any statement you make can be used against you in court, and it's often difficult to retract or explain away a damaging statement.
Retain a Federal Criminal Lawyer Immediately
What you really need to do is to hire an attorney right away to act as a buffer between you and law enforcement so you don't say or do anything that ends up coming back to haunt you and being the primary evidence in the federal drug charges that are pending against you.
The next thing that I think you should do is consult with an attorney because you don't want to start making moves, doing certain things as you try to help yourself in a federal criminal drug prosecution that again may later come back to haunt you.
In other words, your actions can come back to haunt you. Maybe you move money. Maybe you go to move drugs or guns so the police can't find them. Meanwhile, the police are watching you; they're surveilling you. These actions, even if done with innocent intentions, can be misinterpreted and used against you in court.
Maybe you get on the phone, and they have your phones or the people you're talking to wiretapped. Now you've put yourself in a position where you're talking, and you're giving them more incriminating evidence, and you don't even realize it.
Before making any moves, it's essential to consult with an attorney. Their guidance can help you navigate the legal process more effectively and make informed decisions.
I can discuss whether you're a target or just a potential witness in the case that they're investigating with them and help make things easier for you.
There's something said about avoiding being arrested and taken into custody and being embarrassed in front of your family or at work. Your attorney can just get on the phone and prevent all that from happening.
If you're going to have to appear, for example, in federal court, you're going to have to deal with the federal authorities. Your attorney can be the one who calls the prosecutor and sets things up so it goes smoothly and easily for you instead of very difficult. So, that's another thing you need to do — get your hands on a federal criminal defense attorney.
Reviewing The Evidence in Your Federal Criminal Case
Once you've retained an attorney, they will review the evidence in your federal criminal case. This involves examining the prosecution's case against you, identifying any weaknesses or inconsistencies, and developing a strategy to defend your rights and interests.
First, you'll probably talk to one of my attorneys or my office manager, and then you'll talk to me either over the phone virtually or face to face so we can discuss your federal drug case.
As far as the rest of the steps go in a federal drug prosecution, it's going to depend on the type of case you have. It's going to depend on the evidence they have against you. It's going to depend on who the judge is, who the prosecutor is, and which courthouse your case is pending.
That's going to dictate what the next steps are. Obviously, that's going to be coordinated through you and your attorney and your attorney dealing with the judge, the prosecutor, going through whatever evidence they claim they have against you, educating you on that evidence. Then you sit down and make some good informed decisions.
So, if you or a loved one has a federal drug case pending or you're even being investigated for federal drug charges, pick up the phone now. Call us at (213) 542-0994. I stand at the ready to help you.
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