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Federal Criminal Defense

The federal government and the individual states of the United States have divided up power to govern the people according to rules set forth in the United States Constitution. Under the rules for separation of powers, states make decisions about most of the activities that impact citizens within their state while the federal government passes laws related to behaviors and activities that impact the U.S. as a whole. This means that most criminal offenses are state offenses and if you commit a crime in Florida, you will be tried in state court under state laws and go to state prison if found guilty. There are, however, some federal crimes that will result in federal charges and being tried in federal court.

Federal crimes typically have much more stringent penalties than state crimes. When you commit a federal crime, it is common to face a mandatory minimum sentence of as much as five to ten years in prison. You must take federal crimes very seriously and get legal help as soon as the charges are brought against you. The experienced Fort Myers criminal defense lawyers at Musca Law have the knowledge and skill necessary to represent you if you are accused of a federal crime.


Federal Criminal Defense in Lee County

There are many different examples of federal crimes including:

  • Internet child pornography
  • Kidnapping across state lines
  • Organized crime
  • Threatening public officials
  • Dealing drugs across state lines (interstate drug trafficking)
  • Bank robbery
  • Tax fraud
  • Tax evasion
  • Fraudulent abuse of welfare benefits or social security disability benefits
  • Hijacking of trucks involved in interstate commerce (trucks moving goods or items between the states)
  • Certain types of white collar crime including insider trading, fraud and embezzlement
  • Mail fraud

In each of these examples, the illegal behavior has an impact on more than one state, giving the federal government power to hear the case and penalize the offender under the Interstate Commerce clause found in the Constitution.

Certain crimes can only be tried on the federal level, which means that the federal court has “exclusive jurisdiction.” Tax fraud and other crimes against the IRS are examples of crimes that are exclusively federal in nature. Other crimes may be tried on either a federal level or a state level. For instance, child pornography is illegal under Florida law and under federal law and you may be tried in state or federal court if you are accused of this offense.

When you are charged with a federal crime, it has very serious potential consequences. You should contact a Fort Myers criminal defense lawyer with experience in handling federal cases as soon as possible to help you to respond to the charges in a manner that complies with federal court rules and to help you to build a successful defense.

Don’t gamble with your freedom, future and reputation. If you are facing accusations of a federal crime in Lee County or elsewhere in Southwest Florida, call the Fort Myers criminal defense lawyers at Musca Law for a free consultation. 239-277-5297. Phone answered 24/7.