Federal Crimes

Work with a federal criminal defense expert.

Federal Crime Defense Attorney | Santa Rosa, CA

What Is A Federal Crime?

A federal crime is a violation of federal laws or legal codes passed by Congress. These crimes are prosecuted and heard in federal courts.

Federal crimes include:

  • Criminal offenses that have occurred on federal property or against federal officers
    (e.g. murder in a national forest or assault on a DEA agent)
  • Crimes that have crossed between states
  • Immigration and customs violations

Many federal crimes are illegal at the state level as well and overlap. This is known as “concurrent jurisdiction”, a situation in which federal and state governments have the ability
to pursue different actions against the defendant regardless of one’s protection against double jeopardy under the Fifth Amendment.

Federal Crime Defense

Jurisdiction is what sets state and federal courts apart. Jurisdiction is the court’s power to hear certain kinds of cases. State courts have the broadest jurisdiction and cover a wider variety of cases as opposed to Federal courts.

Federal courts take over in special cases where the U.S. is involved as a party or if there exists direct violations of the U.S. Constitution or federal statutes. Cases between individuals from different states in which the amount of the case exceeds $75,000 are also heard by federal courts.

When choosing a law firm to represent you in a federal criminal case, it’s very important to make sure the firm has federal crime experience. At Quinnan Law, we have extensive experience dealing with investigative agencies such as Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We know how to handle federal cases and the unique requirements they come with.

Federal Crime Sentencing

In federal court systems, sentences are based on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, mandatory minimum sentencing laws, or both. Mandatory minimum sentences are set by Congress and require minimum prison terms for specific crimes. These sentences apply to crimes relating to drug offenses, pornography, and economic offenses.

Judges use the Federal Sentencing Guidelines Manual to hand down a calculated sentence. Based on the circumstances surrounding the case, a judge can go above or below a guideline sentence.

At Quinnan Law, we are ready, willing and able to handle your federal criminal case no matter how serious the crime. Call us today to arrange a free initial consultation to find out how we can help you.

State vs Federal Drug Charges: What’s The Difference?

State vs Federal Drug Charges: What’s The Difference?

If you’ve been charged with a drug-related crime, it’s important to know if you’ll be prosecuted at the state or federal level, because the penalties for state vs federal drug charges are very different. To determine who will prosecute your case,...

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At Quinnan Law, we offer every client a free phone consultation to discuss their unique situation and determine how we can help. To arrange a consultation, please fill out the adjacent form or call us at: (707) 540-2356.

We provide representation in California State and Federal Courts. We accept most major credit cards for your convenience.

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