The United States would not be the way it is if not for the fundamental belief that the states have some measure of independence from the federal government. Federal laws determine some of the rules by which you live, but as every civics teacher knows, state laws affect your life to a greater extent. State laws determine whether you have to parallel park to get a driver’s license, which cannabis products are legal for whom, and how divorce courts should divide marital property and determine how much alimony, if any, to award. They also decide matters related to serious crimes and determine whether the death penalty is an option; it is in Texas. Despite this, just because an alleged crime happens in Texas, you cannot be sure that a Texas state court will handle the criminal case. Even if you have never left Texas, you can still be charged with a federal crime. A Texas criminal defense lawyer can represent you in federal criminal court if you are being charged with a federal offense.
Common Types of Federal Crime Cases
The Google snippet definition of a federal crime will probably tell you that the crime crosses state lines, but this is as much of an unhelpful metaphor as saying that the mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell; you are still baffled as to what to do if you get charged with a federal crime or diagnosed with mitochondrial disease, respectively. Criminal cases where the defendant is accused of violating a federal law go through federal court. Many cases where the alleged illegal act took place online also tend to be federal cases since cyberspace is not located in just one state. The following types of crimes tend to be prosecuted in federal court:
● Tax evasion or tax fraud, because the Internal Revenue Code is federal law
● Bankruptcy fraud, because the bankruptcy courts are federal courts
● Healthcare fraud involving federally funded programs like Medicare or Medicaid or private health insurance companies that operate in more than one state
● Any financial crime that involves electronic transactions
● Possession or distribution of child exploitative images or videos if the content in question was acquired or distributed online
● Online solicitation of a minor
● Drug trafficking, especially if it involves transporting drugs across state lines or buying drugs online
● Insider trading, because it involves a nationwide stock exchange
● Conspiracy, when the conspirators are located in more than one state, whether that conspiracy involves illegal drugs, financial crime, or any other illegal activity
What federal criminal cases have in common is that long prison sentences are almost always at stake because federal law enforcement agencies will only invest their resources in investigating a case, and the federal courts will only invest their resources in prosecuting a case if it is something serious.
Contact the Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC About Criminal Defense Cases
A Dallas criminal defense lawyer can help you if you are being accused of a federal crime. Contact the Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC, in Dallas, Texas, to discuss your case.