Being charged with a federal crime means the possibility of harsh mandatory minimum sentences, hard time in a maximum-security, government run penitentiary and the full weight of the United States government leveled against you with little possibility of recourse or appeal. Suddenly the idea of never seeing friends, family and no longer having the freedom to come and go for the foreseeable future is very real.
If you have been charged with a federal crime, contact Robert Zlatkin, Tampa criminal defense lawyer, immediately. You cannot afford to wait while the government builds its case against you.
Federal crime is a general term that is used to describe a number of criminal acts that are illegal under the U.S Constitution or federal statutes and legislation or that cross state or national borders. Among the acts that can fall under this umbrella are:
There are criminal statutes that are specific to the state of Florida that forbid certain behavior and ban possession of certain things. Each of the 50 states have these individual legislations. So too does the U.S. federal government. There is frequently overlap between violation of state law and federal law, and it becomes necessary to establish which criminal court has the right to prosecution for the offense.
There are several offenses that can be charged as both federal and state crimes. Examples of these crimes are:
Because the state and federal criminal prosecution are two entirely different entities, this would not constitute double jeopardy. Whereas crimes against the city of Tampa and the state of Florida are tried in state court, federal criminal cases are tried on behalf of the people of the United States by way of the U.S. Attorney’s Office as handed down by the grand jury. These cases are investigated by various government sanctioned agencies including:
When federal investigators start a case, they begin with a deep and very thorough investigation. Federal agencies have unlimited resources to devote to in-depth examination of facts and evidence that they will use to build their case and present their findings before a grand jury.
This is why it is so important to contact a lawyer that is well versed in defending against federal tactics and who has the courtroom experience needed to mitigate or even dismiss federal charges on the basis of deep legal knowledge. Because federal agencies can take all the time needed to build an airtight case, so allowing legal defense as much time as possible to prepare for these charges is essential.
There is also very little latitude allowed in terms of sentencing guidelines, so having a federal defense lawyer that understands these guidelines is crucial for pursuing the best possible outcome for each client based on their unique circumstances.
Robert Zlatkin has a wealth of experience both inside and out of the federal courtroom and as a former prosecutor, he understands investigative tactics from both sides and can use federal law to his client’s advantage. If you have been charged with a federal crime a, do not speak to investigators unless you have Robert Zlatkin, Tampa criminal defense attorney on your side.
Call Robert Zlatkin today.