Have You Been Arrested for a Federal Offense?
Federal crimes are some of the most serious crimes you may be charged with. Involving more severe offenses than other charges, you can expect the investigation of these crimes by the prosecution to be extensive and very thorough.
Many times these crimes can involve investigation by federal authorities, where they are responsible for gathering evidence for federal prosecutors.
These agencies include the Federal Bureau of investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security, Secret Service and other federal agencies.
Federal Court Criminal Process
The judicial process in federal criminal cases are different from cases in a state court. After an individual is arrested for a federal offense, a pretrial services or court probation officer will interview the defendant and review their background.
This information will be used later to help the judge decide whether or not to release the defendant pending trial. The judge can also impose conditions of release. Federal prosecutors at the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California are responsible for the enforcement of federal laws and the prosecution of individuals who commit a federal criminal offense.
They handle all federal crime cases in the Los Angeles area and surrounding counties. They work closely with federal agents to examine all the evidence gathered during an investigation.
If they believe there is sufficient evidence to prosecute, will present their case to a federal grand jury who will decide if there is sufficient evidence to require a defendant to stand trial, and they will file a federal indictment in the United States District Court that has jurisdiction over the case.
At the initial appearance, a federal judge will advise the defendant of the charges filed against them and will determine if there is probable cause to believe the defendant has committed a federal offense.
The judge is responsible for sentencing a defendant after a plea bargain or trail. He is required to consult the federal sentencing guidelines before making their decision.
This results in sentencing guidelines that will require much harsher penalties than a state or local charge. When facing this type of charge in the Los Angeles area, consult with a criminal defense attorney to assist you with a strong defense against any pending action against you.
Our firm can begin an effective investigation into the facts surrounding any criminal charge you may be facing.
Federal Criminal Defense in California
Our defense lawyers have decades of experience in representing clients against any type of federal offense, including child pornography, Internet sex crimes, health care fraud, mail fraud, Medicare fraud, mortgage fraud, RICO Act violations, PPP loan fraud, weapons offenses, white collar crimes, and wire fraud.
We also handle criminal cases in federal court related to antitrust violations, criminal appeals, bank fraud, bank robbery, bankruptcy fraud, bribery, federal conspiracy offenses, computer crimes, counterfeiting, federal drug offenses, embezzlement, extortion, forgery, insurance fraud, Medicaid fraud, money laundering, public corruption, tax evasion, and federal property crimes.
If you are facing these and any other type of federal crime, you can be assured that our law firm will provide you with the individual attention you will need to get your through this complex legal process.
We have devoted our law practice exclusively to criminal defense, which includes federal criminal representation in Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura County, and anywhere throughout the State of California.
Charged With a 18 U.S.C. § 1343 Wire Fraud Offense?
Wire fraud is considered a serious crime under federal law. There are 2 major factors that determine if a crime is wire fraud:
- One willfully devised or intended to devise a scheme or means to defraud another person of money or property with the intent to defraud.
- They must do it through the use of interstate wire facilities, such as telephone, television, email or the Internet.
The penalties for wire fraud are stiff fines or imprisonment for up to 20 years, or both. However, if the violation affects a financial institution like a bank the fine can go as high as $1,000,000 or imprisonment up to 30 years, or both.
If you are being investigated for or have been arrested for wire fraud it is crucial to your defense that you contact a criminal defense attorney that is qualified to handle and investigate this type of crime on your behalf.
These types of crimes are generally investigated over a period of time by law enforcement as they build their case.
Telephone activity, financial records of various types, and email or Internet traffic is liable to be examined.
In some cases investigators and prosecutors may reach out to suspects in the hopes of further incriminating them, obtaining further evidence, widening their investigation or acquiring a plea bargain.
Federal Weapons Violations
Being charged with a federal weapons offense should be taken very seriously as it can be a life altering situation that can be difficult to recover from.
Your first action if you are charged with such a crime is to contact a criminal defense attorney that has experience and success in dealing with this type of crime.
Depending on the situation, you could also be facing federal charges, so having adequate representation is vital. Our firm is accomplished in handling weapons cases such as:
- Possession of a firearm without a permit
- Assault weapons
- Concealed firearms
- Felons in possession of a firearm
- Illegal sales
- Possession near school grounds
- Probation violations
Law enforcement officials can be uncompromising when it comes to a weapons investigation. The practiced criminal defense lawyer that you will be working with at Cron, Israels & Stark will begin your defense by examining all aspects of the investigation being done by the prosecution to ensure your constitutional rights are not being violated and acting assertively if it is found that were.
Are You Facing Federal Mortgage Fraud Charges?
The subject of mortgage fraud charges has been covered in the media for some time now. It has many aspects to it and is defined as a wide range of illegal/criminal acts in which the person deliberately or knowingly misrepresents himself or herself on a mortgage loan application.
Mortgage fraud is a federal offense and can also be prosecuted as several different types of fraud, including wire fraud, bank fraud, mail fraud and money laundering, with severe penalties attached.
The investigation can be lengthy and include examination of financial statements, job records, interviews and other personal information. If you are being investigated or charged with mortgage fraud it becomes necessary to contact a criminal defense attorney who is adept at negotiating this type of investigation.
Being investigated by federal authorities is not something that one would do on their own without representation. The process can be long and drawn out and it can disrupt your life and ruin your reputation.
We can assess the circumstances surrounding your investigation in order to advise of the best course of action. If an investigation is not warranted, we will take assertive measures to have the investigation ceased or steered in another direction.
This type of investigation also gets complicated by the fact that in addition to a federal investigation, states are also getting more involved in the process of investigating mortgage fraud.
Investigations involving mortgages are as complex as the real estate industry itself. It takes know-how, experience and savvy to negotiate the system and obtain a favorable outcome when dealing with a mortgage fraud investigation.
We will take action and make maneuvers in order to protect your rights and help you to secure the most successful resolution possible. Being investigated for mortgage fraud can be an upsetting and complex set of circumstances. If you are being investigated for mortgage fraud, contact us to review the details.
Why You Need a Federal Criminal Lawyer
If you are under a federal criminal investigation or have already been indicted for a federal crime, you first need to know that the Federal Court system functions quite differently than a California State Court.
They have different types of crimes, federal rule of criminal procedure, and federal sentencing laws. Federal crimes and sentences have individual criminal statutes and the
sentencing guidelines. This means federal judges have much less discretion in determining an appropriate sentence.
If your defense attorney is not familiar with these procedures and guidelines, they may not know how to effectively prepare your legal defense.
This makes choosing the right law firm to handle you case all the more critical for a favorable outcome to your case. we can make a huge difference to your personal and professional life. We will thoroughly prepare your case to build a strong defense strategy.
Because of the extensive investigation you are likely to face by federal prosecutors for federal crimes charges, we encourage you to contact our office at Cron, Israels & Stark as soon as possible. The complex task of determining what evidence they have against you will take exhaustive research and documentation.
Federal crimes charges are often long term investigations that deal with many witnesses, financial records, warrants and plea bargains that require the expertise of a professional firm such as ours. You can trust your defense to attorneys who have over 100 years of combined legal knowledge.
Contact our firm today to find out how we can help you with a strong defense.