A federal crime is one that is prosecuted under federal law. A District Attorney prosecutes state crimes and a United States Attorney prosecutes federal crimes. State courts handle state-related crimes and issues such as family law, property issues, and traffic violations. A federal court will preside in a case in which numerous states are involved or when the law that was broken was a federal law.
For example, white-collar crimes are almost always prosecuted as federal crimes because they break federal securities laws. A matter that involves either interstate or international commerce, such as charges of drug trafficking or wire fraud, is likely to be charged in federal court. The truth is that some attorneys only handle federal or state cases. At Chambers Law Firm we are highly qualified for and experienced in both.
California laws may directly contradict federal law
Every state in the nation has the responsibility of enforcing both state and federal las. However, due to the constitutional division of authority between the United States and the individual states, California may decriminalize certain types of conduct, such as the use of marijuana, while they still remain illegal at a federal level.
Drug trafficking is a commonly charged federal crime
Federal law makes it illegal to sell, transport, or illegally import an illegal controlled substance into the United States. There are many factors that determine what the potential outcome will be for a person convicted of federal drug trafficking charges including:
- The type of drug
- The amount in possession
- The area in which the drug was distributed
- Whether or not minors were involved in the distribution
A person convicted of a first federal drug trafficking offense could face a prison sentence of up to ten years depending on how much of the drug they had.
The federal government is going to be aggressive in their prosecution
The fact of the matter is that some consider that the best prosecutors in the country work at the federal level. They are used to winning cases and they are used to have vast resources at their disposal. These are aggressive prosecutors who want to put people behind bars. If you are charged with a federal crime then you need to ensure that your attorney is up for the challenge of taking your case on.
We will find the best way forward for your case
Every single client we have is in a unique situation. No matter what the charge is or how many people we have defended who were facing the same charge, we treat each case on an individual level. If the best way to move forward is to find a plea deal that gives you the best possible outcome then we may do that. If the best way forward is to fight your case in court, we will do that. Contact Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088 now to find out what your options are.
