Federal Crime Defense Attorney

Skilled Legal Defense for Federal Charges

Being arrested for any serious crime can be scary since your criminal record, freedom, and financial situation can all be affected in the long run. Federal charges can be especially daunting since they often have harsher penalties than state charges. This is why it’s best to hire a federal criminal defense attorney with years of experience handling federal cases for clients throughout Ohio.

When you reach out to Watson Kuhlman, LLC for legal support, you’ll speak with an Ohio federal crime lawyer who has the legal skills and education to confidently fight back against the federal prosecutors who have accused you of committing serious crimes. You can trust us to support you throughout the legal process, from the moment the federal investigation begins to the last federal court date in your federal criminal case. If you’re worried about the federal charges you’re facing and want to make sure you can fight back with a strong defense case, call our Cleveland law firm for a consultation with a skilled federal criminal defense lawyer.

How Are Federal Crimes Different from State Crimes?

If you learn you’ve been accused of one or more federal offenses, it’s essential to know what this means and how it’s different from state offenses. The short answer is that a federal crime violates a federal criminal law that applies to all states.

By contrast, state crimes violate state laws, which differ from one state to another. This means committing a crime in one state could result in a different charge and punishment than in another, while federal crimes are treated the same throughout the country.

Another difference is that federal offenses are tried by federal prosecutors in federal court, not local courts. The federal investigations can involve federal agencies depending on the specific federal offense. These can include:

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

Considering the power and resources these federal law enforcement agencies get from the federal government, you’ll find it very difficult to defend yourself against any federal criminal offense they accuse you of committing. This is why you need a seasoned Cleveland federal criminal defense lawyer to guide you through your case, collecting and presenting evidence to prevent federal prosecutors from proving beyond a reasonable doubt that you’re guilty.

Only certain types of crimes can be tried in federal court, as they must break federal law or have been committed across state lines. So, if you’re accused of rape, murder, theft, drug possession, or assault, you’re likely facing state charges since you broke state law, assuming you committed the alleged offense entirely in one state.

On the other hand, if you crossed state lines to commit an offense – which is often the case in kidnapping, U.S. mail, and drug trafficking cases – it becomes a federal crime. The same is true if you committed a serious crime on federal property – such as in a national park – or are accused of committing internet crimes.

Most white-collar crimes are also charged in federal court, with identity theft, tax evasion, and bank fraud all being examples of federal offenses. Certain violent crimes and immigration offenses can be subject to federal investigation and prosecution, as well.

In general, you could face federal charges if your alleged illegal actions broke federal law, involved federal property, victimized a federal official, or took place in more than one state. If you’re unsure why you’re being charged in federal court or are interested in learning how a federal criminal defense attorney can assist with your criminal case, call our Cleveland law firm today.

What Federal Criminal Cases Can We Handle for Clients?

No matter what kind of federal criminal charge you face, we’re confident our experienced criminal defense lawyers can handle your case for you. After all, we know how high the stakes are for you and your family since we’re very familiar with the vast resources the federal government agencies have, as well as the serious consequences that can come with a conviction.

We have the legal knowledge and experience necessary to defend our clients against a variety of federal criminal charges, including:

Drug trafficking
Conspiracy to distribute illegal drugs
Manufacturing of controlled substances
Kidnapping
Bank fraud
Bribery
Homicide
Manslaughter
Bank robbery
Mail fraud
Counterfeiting
Terrorism
Embezzlement
Identity theft
Wire fraud
Insider trading
Tax evasion
Extortion
Securities fraud
Healthcare fraud
Money laundering
Immigration fraud
Human trafficking
Child pornography
Federal firearm crimes
Racketeering

If you’ve been charged with any of these or other federal crimes, it’s imperative that you call our Cleveland law firm to begin your case as soon as possible. The federal government has multiple federal agencies at its disposal to thoroughly investigate potential crimes, so ignoring your federal charges or trying to handle them by yourself will not get you the favorable results you’re hoping for.

You need the help of a federal criminal defense attorney who has spent years working within the criminal justice system and understands the federal sentencing guidelines and defense options for your case. If you’re ready to learn more about how our skilled criminal defense attorneys can assist you, call our Cleveland law firm today to schedule an initial consultation.

What Penalties Can You Expect in Federal Cases?

One detail that sets federal crimes apart from state crimes is the harsher penalties that often stem from federal crime convictions. Federal offenses are usually considered serious on their own, and their stringent sentencing guidelines can make the penalties even more severe. After all, federal charges have mandatory minimum sentences that federal judges have to consider when they’re deciding on your punishment, complicating your case.

The punishment you can expect for your federal charges depends on a few factors, including the severity of the offense and your criminal record. If you’re charged with a federal felony offense, your penalties will depend on which felony category it falls into. They range from A to E, with Class A crimes being the most severe since they include violent crimes.

Consider some examples of the offenses in each federal felony class, along with their penalties:

Class A: These violent crimes can include first-degree murder, terrorism, aggravated rape, human trafficking, and aggravated kidnapping, leading to life in prison or the death penalty
Class B: These are violent crimes that harm or threaten to harm others, such as arson, second-degree murder, or fraud on a large scale, leading to at least 25 years in prison
Class C: These crimes can moderately harm others physically or financially, including robbery, burglary, embezzlement, and voluntary manslaughter, often leading to 10 to 25 years in prison
Class D: These crimes involve lower levels of financial or physical harm for others, such as some white-collar crimes, certain drug crimes, and theft, resulting in 5 to 10 years in prison
Class E: This type of unlawful conduct causes minimal harm to others, such as drug possession and certain firearms violations, leading to 1 to 5 years in prison

These offenses come with additional penalties aside from prison time, such as thousands of dollars in fines, probation, and the loss of your civil rights. This is why it’s so important to hire an Ohio federal criminal defense attorney who can defend you from the federal government’s criminal allegations against you in federal court.

You deserve the chance to show you’re not guilty as charged, which requires a solid defense case that can combat the evidence gathered by certain federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Homeland Security. An experienced Ohio federal criminal defense attorney knows how to refute the proof against you and present evidence that supports your claims, regardless of what your specific charges are or which federal agencies are involved in your case. If you’re ready to seek legal counsel from a trusted federal criminal law firm, call our Cleveland law office to get started.

How Can an Ohio Federal Lawyer Defend You from Your Charges?

When you get legal representation from our law firm, your lawyer will begin your case by reviewing the details of your charges, ensuring you know what you’ve been accused of and why. We will explain the federal sentencing guidelines, the evidence against you, and the potential criminal defense options to use in federal court. Over the years, we’ve defended numerous clients using a variety of defense angles. Some of the most common criminal defense options include:

The evidence against you is inaccurate or insufficient, which you can prove with your own evidence that could include video footage, receipts, or witness statements
You’re a victim of unlawful search and seizure, meaning the police officers obtained evidence in a way that violated your rights and should therefore be excluded from the case
Your constitutional rights were violated through certain legal errors during the arrest or interrogation, such as ignoring your request to speak to an attorney
This is a case of mistaken identity, which means the alleged victim or witnesses misidentified you as the perpetrator, and your lawyer can prove it
You have an alibi that proves you were somewhere else at the time of the offense
The statute of limitations on the offense has run out, so the prosecutors can no longer bring charges against you

These are only some of the possible defense angles your Ohio federal crime lawyer might use for your case. If none of these apply and it seems unlikely you can completely avoid a criminal conviction, your lawyer might rely on plea bargaining instead. This means they’ll negotiate with prosecutors to get you reduced charges or less severe penalties so you don’t have to go to trial and risk being found guilty of a more serious offense.

In our years of experience providing legal guidance to clients, we’ve found that every criminal case is unique, so it’s critical to give each one personalized attention before determining the right defense angle to use. Whether we use one of the most common defense options or negotiate a plea deal, you can rest assured your case is in capable hands since we’re committed to fighting for the best outcome for every client. Call us today for the legal guidance you need during the criminal justice process in Ohio.

When Should You Call an Ohio Federal Crime Defense Attorney?

If you recently learned you are under investigation by federal agencies or have already been charged with a federal offense, don’t wait to secure legal representation. You deserve to get fast, accurate answers to your legal questions so you can have some peace of mind from the beginning of your case rather than losing sleep over the possible consequences you could end up with.

At Watson Kuhlman, LLC, we understand how scary it is to face any criminal charge, especially federal charges that could result in fines and years in state prison. That’s why we’re dedicated to offering the legal answers and supportive attitude you need at this challenging time. If you’re worried about how a federal crime conviction could affect your future, we urge you to contact our law firm to speak with a skilled Cleveland federal criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.

No matter what your specific charges are, you need a legal team by your side that will provide the time and attention necessary to craft an effective defense strategy for you. We know what it takes to get the best possible outcome for our clients, so you can rely on us to provide an aggressive defense angle tailored to your case. Call 216-208-7858 today to schedule a time to talk to a trusted federal criminal defense lawyer from our Cleveland law firm.