Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer Cleveland

Dedicated Advocacy When the Feds Come for Our Clients

If you’re convicted of a federal crime, you could be looking at extremely severe penalties. The prison sentences are steep and the fines are high. The agents who investigate these types of crimes — and the attorneys who prosecute them — don’t take these matters lightly. They will use the full force of the law and everything in their power to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you’re guilty. This is why you need a fierce advocate on your side. Regardless of the crime you’re charged with, speaking with a Cleveland federal criminal defense lawyer is likely in your best interest.

HMW Law, we’re here to assist and to secure the best possible outcome in your case. When you’re up against experienced federal prosecutors and law enforcement agencies, it’s best to have a legal advocate on your side who will fight hard for you and level the playing field. Our Cleveland federal defense lawyers have more than 75 years of combined legal experience. We are relentless in our pursuit to protect your rights and freedoms, and our federal criminal defense attorneys will not back down as we highlight the weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case against you.

What Are Federal Crimes?

In the U.S., both states and Congress establish laws concerning prohibited behavior. Depending on the alleged criminal conduct a person was involved in, they could be prosecuted either at the state or federal level, or sometimes both.

Federal offenses take many forms. We frequently hear the media discuss cybercrimes being prosecuted in federal courts, and that’s because these crimes often involve interstate jurisdiction by their very nature. However, there are many other types of criminal offenses that fall under federal jurisdiction.

What distinguishes a state crime from a federal one is where or how it occurred.

A federal crime is one that:

Violates laws passed by Congress or Constitutional protections;
Occurs on federal property, such as a National Park, post office, or federal prison; or
Crosses state lines, such as kidnapping or drug distribution

If any of these elements exist in the offense you’re charged with, it’s likely in your best interest to immediately contact a federal criminal lawyer in Cleveland, OH. Even if the feds have yet to bring charges against you, any attention from law enforcement agencies is something to worry about. Retaining legal counsel as early as possible is the best way to avoid unfortunate outcomes.

Federal judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement come down hard on those convicted of crimes, so make sure you have a dedicated legal advocate on your side.

Who Investigates Federal Crimes?

Federal crimes are thoroughly investigated, and such investigations often involve multiple agencies. Due to the nature of federal charges, it’s not uncommon for a specific offense to fall under the purview of several federally established departments.

For instance, a person accused of hacking into a federal government website could find themselves targeted by the FBI and Homeland Security simultaneously — along with various other divisions. The specifics of who handles federal cases will depend entirely upon the circumstances of the alleged crime.

Agents from various agencies conduct these investigations, such as:

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Drug Enforcement Agency
United States Secret Service
Central Intelligence Agency
National Security Agency
Internal Revenue Service

The agents may spend months or years looking into a person they believe is involved in a federal offense. During this time, they gather evidence that they eventually hand over to a federal prosecutor. This information is what a U.S. Attorney will use to build their case and attempt to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Because of the amount of time investigators and prosecutors spend building their case, by the time a defendant knows they are being charged, the Government already has mounds of evidence against them. However, this doesn’t mean that the information the prosecution has is strong enough to meet their burden of proof. It also doesn’t mean that all the evidence was lawfully collected.

This is why it’s important to retain legal representation right away. Our federal criminal lawyers can look for weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.

What Are Common Types of Federal Crimes?

HMW Law and our team of Cleveland federal criminal defense lawyers have the experience, resources, and professional network to handle virtually any type of federal criminal case. We’ll work hard to have charges dropped in your case, and if this isn’t possible, negotiating favorable plea agreements is something we’ve been very successful with in the past.

However, we will never simply “phone it in” to secure an easy conclusion. If it’s possible to fight back against the government’s misuse of the legal system and secure a not-guilty verdict, that’s exactly what we’ll fight for.

Our federal criminal defense attorneys can help defend against these common federal criminal charges:

Child pornography: The illegal production, distribution, transportation, reception, accessing, or viewing of any sexually explicit content featuring someone under the age of 18
Conspiracy: Plotting to commit another serious crime can be grounds for conspiracy charges, which may escalate to a federal offense
Drug crimes: Many drug crimes can be charged as federal crimes, such as drug trafficking or selling a considerably large amount of narcotics
Fraud: Using deception to take the property, finances, benefits, or assets of another is fraud, which can include mail fraud, wire fraud, credit card fraud, healthcare fraud, securities fraud, etc
Identity theft: Misusing someone’s identity, financial information, or other data for personal or financial gain is a serious crime. Due to its increasing occurrence, federal agencies are coming down harder on those accused of this crime
Murder: The intentional taking of another’s life is one of the most serious federal crimes. You can be sure that the prosecution will do everything it can to secure a conviction
Sex crimes: Violent sex crimes like aggravated sexual abuse or sexual abuse of a minor are often considered federal crimes because they are considered crimes in all 50 states
Tax crimes: Attempting to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in any way can be a federal tax crime because the victim is a federal government agency
Weapon crimes: It can be a federal crime to carry, purchase, sell, transport, or manufacture federally restricted deadly weapons, such as unregistered firearms
Cybercrimes: Criminal offenses that occur on computers or networks are an increasing concern in America, so the federal government has begun making examples of individuals accused of these crimes
Internet crimes: People often use the terms internet crime and cybercrime interchangeably, but they are not one and the same. All internet crimes are cybercrimes, but not all cybercrimes are internet crimes. Regardless of semantics, the feds take both offenses seriously.

Other commonly prosecuted federal crimes include:

Construction fraud
Embezzlement
Mail and wire fraud
Drug trafficking
Insider trading
Immigration offense
Bank fraud
Money laundering
White collar crimes
Tax evasion
Tax fraud

Clearly, each of these criminal cases is a serious matter. The federal government is unlikely to go easy on anyone accused of these crimes — particularly considering the efforts they often put into these investigations. That’s why you need legal representation who will be just as dedicated to securing a favorable outcome for you. At HMW Law, we won’t stop fighting on your behalf. Contact us today for your free consultation. We’re ready to help.

What Are the Penalties for a Federal Crime?

The penalties for federal crime convictions vary. For instance, being found guilty of money laundering could result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years. However, if a person is convicted of healthcare fraud, they could be imprisoned for up to 10 years (unless there were aggravating factors, such as serious bodily injury, which increases the sentence). As with any other legal statutes under federal or state law, the potential sentence for any given crime will depend upon the nature of the offense and the circumstances surrounding it.

In a best-case scenario, a conviction may only result in fines or monetary restitution, which are sometimes used in place of imprisonment in a federal penitentiary. Fines for misdemeanors usually don’t exceed a few thousand dollars. However, felony acts can result in fines in the millions of dollars — and for corporate or financial crimes, monetary losses can be even higher and include asset forfeiture. There are even instances where defendants may get off with nothing more than probation, although this is unlikely considering the resources the government puts into investigations.

Of course, the major concern for most people facing federal charges is potential imprisonment. Federal sentencing guidelines lay out what a person might expect from the court. Relatively minor offenses could result in incarceration that only lasts a few months. However, federal penitentiaries can be challenging environments even for this amount of time. More serious crimes can lead to life imprisonment, and some offenses have mandatory minimums. Put simply, you need a Cleveland federal criminal defense lawyer who can fight on your behalf to avoid such negative outcomes.

Does the Federal Government Always Prosecute Cyber Crimes?

Cybercrimes are a unique form of criminal offense. To be clear, these crimes can be charged on both a state and federal level. However, the very nature of these offenses makes it more likely that they’ll be handled by federal authorities. That’s because cybercrimes very often have an interstate or international component, and that puts them under the jurisdiction of federal law enforcement agencies.

Even if a crime doesn’t involve Internet activity — which is frequently why the feds get involved — these actions can still cross borders in some ways. For instance, an employee who improperly accesses their employer’s system won’t necessarily need the Internet to commit a crime. However, their actions could still constitute a federal offense due to their results. This frequently happens when a crime affects interstate commerce.

Another reason federal investigations take place is the types of offenses that commonly occur on computer networks — even when the Internet is not involved. For instance, hacking government systems, cyber espionage or cyberterrorism, large-scale financial fraud, and crimes involving child exploitation frequently fall under the purview of the feds. Simply put, cybercrime allegations greatly increase the likelihood of the federal government getting involved.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’re facing federal criminal charges, you undoubtedly have many questions that need answering. Accusations of any unlawful conduct can be disruptive — even if you’re eventually exonerated — so it’s understandable that you have concerns. It would be great if an online resource could answer all your questions, but the best way to get answers specific to your case is to speak with an experienced Cleveland federal criminal defense lawyer. However, the following general questions can give you an idea of what you’re up against when federal law enforcement agencies come knocking.

Are federal crimes more serious than other crimes?

Federal crimes are not necessarily more serious than other crimes. The severity of a crime usually depends on the specific offense and the circumstances surrounding it. However, federal crimes are often more complex and can have more severe consequences than state or local crimes.

Federal investigations and prosecutions can involve significant resources and may result in harsher penalties, such as longer prison sentences and higher fines. After all, federal sentencing guidelines are frequently more severe than what you’ll see on a state level.

Put simply, there’s a reason so many people get scared when the prospect of a federal investigation arises. Even if government authorities claim they only want to have a discussion with you, the time to reach out to HMW Law is now.

Are federal crimes processed in federal court?

Yes, federal crimes are typically processed in federal court. This is because these crimes are prosecuted by the federal government and fall under their jurisdiction. Federal courts are responsible for interpreting and applying our nation’s laws, including statutes related to federal crimes. In the United States, the federal court system operates separately from state and local courts and has its own set of judges and procedures.

Do attorneys need to be admitted to practice in federal court?

Attorneys typically need to be admitted to practice in federal court to represent clients in federal criminal cases. Admission to practice in federal court is separate from admission to practice in state court, and attorneys must meet certain requirements to be admitted.

The requirements for admission vary depending on the court and the jurisdiction, but they often include passing a separate bar exam, demonstrating knowledge of federal law and procedure, and meeting certain ethical requirements.

Additionally, attorneys who are not members of the bar of the relevant federal court may be able to appear pro hac vice, or for a particular case, if they meet the court’s requirements for temporary admission. At HMW Law, our attorneys are admitted and ready to represent your best interests.

Why Do You Need a Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer?

Court admission requirements are one reason you need a Cleveland federal criminal defense lawyer on your side. However, this is far from the only reason. The simple fact is that the crimes prosecuted in these courts are typically more complex than those under state law. You need a lawyer who has knowledge of the specific statutes that you’re charged with and experience representing clients who have been charged with a federal criminal offense.

A legal professional with experience in this area is also essential due to the intersection of state and federal laws, the typical involvement of multiple agencies, and the unique statutory elements that apply on the federal level. Put simply, you cannot trust your future to a law firm that has zero experience in these types of cases. You need an experienced and dedicated Ohio federal crime lawyer on your side, and that’s precisely what you’ll find at HMW Law. Contact us today for a free consultation.

Contact a Cleveland Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Today

Being targeted by federal agencies is a terrifying ordeal. Their involvement typically means a person is accused of a criminal offense that’s so serious that the U.S. government feels its involvement is required. Even worse, the protections against double jeopardy in our criminal justice system are less applicable — because an individual can be charged with the same crime on the federal and state level. Clearly, there’s no time to waste if federal prosecutors are threatening to file charges or law enforcement agencies have contacted you. The time to fight back is now.

At HMW Law, our dedicated team of legal professionals is well-versed in federal criminal law. We’ve seen what these accusations can do to a person’s life, and we are experienced in taking on the government to avoid such negative outcomes. Retaining a strong, fiercely aggressive federal crimes attorney in Cleveland, OH to fight for you is vital to protecting your rights. When you choose HMW Law, you’ll get a team of lawyers who, together, have over 75 years of experience and have handled thousands of cases.

We deliver personalized legal representation and will maintain open and honest communication to provide updates on your case. Contact us at (216) 369-1352 today for a free consultation.