Federal Crimes

Texas Federal Crimes Defense

Unique Circumstances

The majority of cases that are handled by attorneys fall under state laws. However, the United States has a federal criminal code defining crimes that are handled by federal agencies and prosecuted by federal attorneys, heard by federal judges in federal courts. The rules concerning how these trials are conducted, from evidence to sentencing, differ from state courts, meaning that being charged of a federal crime is a unique situation.

Understanding Federal Crimes

The theory behind federal criminal law relates to crimes which cross state lines, are related to national interest or national security, or simply fall within United States jurisdiction. There are specific federal crimes called white collar crimes, which are non-violent, financially-motivated crime. At The Law Office of Philip M. Gommels, we are defend every type of federal allegation. Some of the most common allegations include:

White Collar

Tax fraud
Mail fraud
Wire Fraud

Other Federal Crimes

Offenses which occur on federal property
Offenses related to organized crime
Child pornography
Threats to national security
Criminal conduct extending across multiple states
Criminal activity which crosses state lines

Federal offenses are investigated by agencies such as the FBI, DEA, or NSA, who then present their evidence to a U.S. Attorney under the authority of the U.S. Attorney General. When the case goes to trial, it will usually be heard in a U.S. District Court presided over by a federal District Court Judge.

Hire a Federal Crimes Lawyer Immediately

Because of the nature of some federal crimes, an arrest could come unexpectedly. Prosecutors and law enforcement officials may begin interrogating you moments after the arrest. If you are being questioned, you are being investigated; YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT.

If you or someone you know is being investigated for a federal crime, contacting an expert attorney immediately is crucial. An expert attorney will prevent you from making statement that the prosecution could use against you in court. Please call us right away for a consultation.

Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer in Texas

Federal Crime Definition

Usually, common criminal charges in Texas, like assault or DUI / DWI, are prosecuted under state law. However, there are times that you could be prosecuted under federal law.

In general, federal charges include large-scale crimes or financial crimes that involve large sums of money. That being said, federal prosecutors deal with fewer cases than state prosecutors. As a result, the potential sentence for a federal crime is much longer than for a state crime.

So, if you face federal charges in Houston or throughout Texas, it is crucial to find a federal crime defense lawyer. Fortunately, Philip M. Gommels has the skills and expertise to fight for you in the courtroom. To schedule your consultation, contact The Law Office of Philip M. Gommels, PLLC.

Types of Federal Crimes

To start, federal crimes involve a wide range of criminal activity. For example, these are some examples of federal crimes:

Money laundering
White Collar Crimes (e.g. conspiracy, RICO violations, and fraud)
Internet crimes
Immigration offenses
Mail fraud
Federal weapons charges
Interstate drug possession
Obstruction of justice
Drug trafficking or conspiracy

Now, these charges result in major sentences. More often than not, they could lead to life in prison. This means you could have no freedom for the rest of your life. As you can see, there is a lot on the line when it comes to federal prosecution. So, it is vital that you consult an experienced federal crime defense lawyer.

Federal Court: Prosecution and Grand Jury

After an arrest for a federal crime, the prosecutor dealing with your case will immediately take it before a grand jury. Specifically, there are 16 to 23 people in each grand jury. Further, a grand jury proceeding is private. Thus, your federal crime defense lawyer has limits on the role they play during this process. Now, you have the right to testify. However, this is very risky. Why? Because anything you say could be used against you during the trial under certain circumstances. So, it is in your best interest to consult an experienced federal crime defense lawyer before testifying at a grand jury.

To clarify, the purpose of the grand jury is not to decide if you are guilty or not. Rather their role is to decide if there is enough evidence to take you to trial. As a result, it takes much less for a grand jury to decide this than to convict you at trial.

So, if the grand jury decided the charges are enough for you to go to trial, you will then proceed to your initial hearing. During this hearing, you will stand before a magistrate. This is where you will be told the charges against you. After this step, you will have the arraignment. At this point, you decide whether to plead guilty or not guilty. If you plead not guilty, your case may go to a trial. In fact, a trial could actually help you beat the charges against you.

Top Federal Crime Issues in Texas

Although prosecutors handle far fewer federal crimes than state crimes, they still occur sometimes. So, here are the most common federal crimes committed in Texas:

Gun offenses. To start, about 50% of all federal firearms cases involve felons found carrying guns. This includes those in Texas. However, this is true for federal firearm cases all over the country.
Immigration crime (human trafficking). Out of all federal crimes in Texas, about ⅓ of them are convicted of an immigration crime. Again, this statistic applies to the whole country.
Drug trafficking. Drug offenses including drug trafficking are the second most common federal crime in Texas. In fact, there are currently 25,000 drug offenders in the federal system.
Child pornography. Similar to most states across the country, child pornography is in high demand. Specifically, this is a result of the wide access to broadband Internet.
Fraud and White Collar Crime. Usually, these are embezzlement and racketeering crimes.
Bank robbery. As people continue to struggle paying bills and finding work, bank robberies are becoming more common in Texas.
Wire and mail fraud. In most cases, people in Texas commit financial crimes using the US mail system, Internet, and phone systems.
Money laundering. With many organized crime gangs in Texas, money laundering is a common issue. In short, these criminals need to make the money they receive from their crimes look like they came from legal sources. As a result, they commit this type of federal crime.
Tax evasion. In general, tax fraud and tax evasion are common federal crimes. However, this is common all over the country, not just in Texas.
Counterfeiting and forgery. Similar to money laundering, this crime is mainly due organized crime and gang activity in Texas. Once again, this is a common issue across the US.

Statute of Limitations in Texas

So, there are many common federal crimes that happen in Texas. However, a statute of limitations applies to some of them. To be specific, a statute of limitations is the time period after a crime cannot be punishable or enforced by legal action. Further, these are statutes of limitations for common crimes in the state of Texas:

Assault and battery: 2 years
Arson: 10 years
Contract: 4 years
False imprisonment: 2 years
Kidnapping: 5 years
Libel: 1 year
Malpractice: 2 years
Murder and manslaughter: No limit
Personal injury: 2 years
Rape: No limit
Robbery: 5 years
Trespass: 2 years
Wrongful death: 2 years

Why You Should Hire a Federal Crime Defense Lawyer

As you can see, federal crimes are serious. In fact, they could cost you your freedom for the rest of your life. Thankfully, Philip M. Gommels is a skilled federal crime defense lawyer with the expertise to fight for you and win your case. Further, he understands the difference between federal crimes and state crimes in Texas. So, don’t waste time. It could cost you everything. Call The Law Office of Philip M. Gommels, PLLC to start your defense ASAP.

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