A Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer in Orange County CA Explains the Basic Differences Between Federal and State Crimes

A Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer in Orange County CA Explains the Basic Differences Between Federal and State Crimes

It’s possible that many individuals are unaware that California has two distinct federal and state criminal court systems. Investigators, prosecutors, judges, courts, and even prisons are all specifically designated for federal offenses. The majority of criminal accusations and trials, however, are based on state laws.

You might spend a large amount of time behind bars if you are the focus of a federal inquiry. Read on to learn more about federal charges and how to defend against them since they are not something to take lightly. Then contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 if you require a free legal consultation with a federal criminal defense lawyer in Orange County CA.

Federal crimes

The United States Code, a list of all the laws approved by the United States Congress, defines federal offenses. The Penal Code of California, on the other hand, contains extensive information about California state criminal law. The Sacramento state legislature has adopted this code.

California law may be identical to federal law, however federal offenses are more concentrated in certain areas, such as crimes committed across states, fraud schemes including those involving banking, online actions, financial institutions, and medical institutions, as well as crimes committed on federal grounds or property.

A federal criminal defense lawyer in Orange County CA can also help clients charged with tax offenses, terrorism, trafficking in drugs, export-import offenses, and immigration crimes. The penalty for federal prosecutions, particularly for drug offenses, may be more severe than those under comparable state statutes.

Who punishes federal offenses?

State laws are enforced in California by the California Highway Patrol, California Bureau of Investigation, county and local sheriffs, and police forces. In a similar vein, the federal government has its own law enforcement agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau (ATF), the Secret Service, the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Department of Homeland Security, and the Travel Security Administration (TSA).

The local police and more than one of these law enforcement organizations frequently work together in a task force to combat a particular type of criminality.

If you are accused of a federal crime, the charges will be brought and the case will be prosecuted by a United States Attorney (or, more likely, an Assistant United States Attorney). Your federal criminal defense lawyer in Orange County CA will have to speak with their office about potential plea deals. A federal judge or magistrate will preside over any trial in federal court.

Any term imposed after a conviction will be carried out at a facility managed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. If a court decides to sentence you to probation rather than jail time, the federal government also offers its own probationary services. Instead of communicating with a California probation officer, you would be required to report to a federal probation officer and adhere to all federal probationary requirements.

Can you be charged both federally and stately?

You may be subject to separate state and federal charges arising from the same occurrence, depending on the claims made against you. For instance, you can be charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion on a federal level if you engaged in a protracted scam. However, California may also bring charges against you for tax evasion directly connected to your failure to pay state taxes.

Your freedom is really at peril if you are charged with a federal offense since the federal government has extensive resources and federal crimes often result in more severe punishments. You will require a skilled and committed criminal defense group, such as the lawyers at Chambers Law Firm. Call us at 714-760-4088 or email us at dchambers@clfca.com to arrange a free first consultation with a federal criminal defense lawyer in Orange County CA.

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