Florence Federal Crimes Lawyer

If you are facing federal charges, you are fighting a powerful adversary with extensive resources: the Office of the United States Attorney. You need a formidable, experienced Florence criminal defense lawyer who is worthy of this opponent.

Join forces with a Florence federal crimes lawyer from Suzuki Law Group. Our award-winning team includes former prosecutors who have inside knowledge of how prosecutorial teams work–we have an edge. We are ready to put this edge and our decades of legal experience to work for you.

When Federal Charges Apply

Many unlawful behaviors can be charged at the state or federal levels. The particular circumstances of the crime are what determine the status of the charges as the answer to the question “when does a drug crime become a federal offense?” demonstrates. Though it is unlawful to possess, distribute, or traffic large amounts of illegal substances, at the state level, charges reach federal status when:

• Federal law enforcement offices are involved in some way
• The alleged crime involves crossing state lines
• The alleged crime occurs on property owned or under the authority of the federal government or on a Native American reservation

These standards actually apply to any crime. If a federal informant provides a tip to local police, a federal agent is involved in an investigation or arrest, contraband is trafficked across state lines, or a person is killed on federal grounds, the related crime becomes a federal case. Aggravating factors, elements of the crime that add to its severity, can also raise charges to the federal level.

Examples of Federal Crimes

People often think all white-collar crimes are federal offenses, but that is an inaccurate assumption. White-collar crimes can happen at the state level, but if they involve interstate activity, federal charges may apply. Along with these 3 Crimes You Didn’t Know Were Federal Offenses, other unlawful behavior often warranting federal charges are:

• Smuggling or harboring undocumented immigrant
• Human trafficking
• Mail fraud
• Illegally re-entering the country following deportation
• Mail or wire fraud
• Possessing child pornography

Partner With a Federal Crimes Lawyer in Florence Immediately

You have the right to an attorney after an arrest, and exercising that right is critical to the outcome of your case. A federal crimes lawyer in Florence will fight for your fair treatment by the criminal justice system. Your attorney can expose unfair treatment you experienced prior to securing representation, but it is better to prevent injustice before it occurs and causes damage by forming that legal partnership quickly. 

Your attorney will also protect you from saying things that the prosecution could later use against you. Upon your arrest, you only have to tell law enforcement your name. Wait until your attorney arrives before offering any information about the alleged criminal act, your knowledge of it, your whereabouts when it occurred, or any other incident-related information.

A judge will set your bail at a hearing, called an arraignment, held a day or so after your arrest. A Florence federal crimes attorney can present arguments to have your bail amount reduced and will fight to make sure the determined amount is fair. Your lawyer can also help you through the procedures for posting bail.

How the Federal Criminal Process Works

Federal criminal cases follow a process. The steps include your arraignment, or pre-trial hearing, followed by a pre-trial discovery period, then a trial, and then sentencing. In federal criminal cases, the burden of proof is on the U.S. Attorney to provide evidence of your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt to the jury.

According to a United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) annual report, of the 64,124 cases reported over the most recent year of data collection and over the past 25 years, four types of crimes have been represented most frequently. These crimes account for 81.8% of all cases and involve:

• Drugs
• Immigration
• Firearms
• Fraud, embezzlement, and theft

Of those cases, 97% involved felony charges. Felony charges and crimes are more serious than misdemeanors. Misdemeanors can bring up to a year in prison and fines, while felony convictions can lead to years in prison and more substantial fines.

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Sentencing for Federal Charges

The USSC’s Overview of the federal sentencing guidelines outlines the complex factors involved in sentencing. There are opportunities for your federal crimes attorney in Florence to argue mitigating factors, which are considerations that work in your favor and challenge aggravating factors presented by the prosecution. You can trust Suzuki Law Group to fight relentlessly to have your charges and penalties dismissed or reduced.

The USSC’s annual report included statistics on sentences given for federal convictions. Penalties included:

• Prison time, ranging from under five years to life sentences
• Financial penalties, including fines of payments of restitution to victims
• Supervised release periods, average 47 months
• For one conviction, the death penalty

Federal charges can carry serious penalties, which is a frightening reality. For the best chance of successfully fighting them, you need Suzuki Law Group’s exceptional and insightful representation. 

Our client reviews demonstrate our ability to secure favorable outcomes, and we want to apply that ability to your situation, adding your review to our winning history.

How a Skilled Attorney Can Help Protect You

Our team will work to find every shred of available evidence to support your defense and tear holes in the prosecution’s case. If having your charges dismissed altogether is not a possibility, you can count on your attorney to negotiate for a plea deal or to build a strategic defense and fight at trial. You can trust our team to listen to your input and provide wise legal guidance. 

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Former Prosecutors Are Powerful Defenders

A major part of building a strong defense is knowing how the offense works, and the prosecutors-turned-defense-attorneys at Suzuki Law Group have that knowledge. 

Our aggressive team does not back down from a fight, no matter how tough. Reach out today to partner with a team fiercely committed to protecting your rights and your freedom.

Call or text 602-682-5270 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form