When you commit a crime in New Jersey, a state prosecutor may not be the only one to take notice. Sometimes an offense can be considered a federal crime as well. If you have investigators from the United States government coming after you, you should talk to a Bergen County criminal defense lawyer. You need to figure out how you’re going to defend yourself against these allegations.
What Can Make a Crime a Federal Crime?
There are a few things that can turn a crime into a federal crime. The feds tend to get involved if:
- A crime crosses the border into another state or country
- An offender uses a federal program or institution to commit a crime
- Someone’s civil rights have been violated or a hate crime is committed
- The crimes are financial
- The Internet is being used to commit crimes
- An offense happens on federal land
The United States government has an extensive range of investigative agencies and teams at its disposal, so it’s not a surprise that it can cast a wide net to investigate all sorts of offenses. You do not want to face these investigators on your own, so it’s important to have a lawyer who will do the talking for you and keep you from incriminating yourself or accidentally saying something that could harm your case.
What Types of Crimes Are Often Considered a Federal Crime?
There are a few specific offenses that can end up being upgraded to federal crimes. If we’re talking about crimes that cross borders, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and moving stolen goods are common charges. These crimes happen in more than one state, so the feds get jurisdiction.
The use of a federal institution or program to commit an offense also gets the feds involved. Defrauding Medicare or Medicaid is a good example. Even if you are only accused of committing the crime in one state, you used a federal program to do it and will likely face federal charges as a result.
Cybercrimes like hacking or identity theft require interstate infrastructure, so that gets the feds involved too. Finally, “white collar” crimes like embezzlement or securities fraud can result in federal charges as well.
Can I Face Federal and State Charges at the Same Time?
Double jeopardy prevents someone from being charged for the same crime following a conviction or acquittal. This leads many people to think that they cannot be charged more than once for the same offense, but this isn’t necessarily true. When federal investigators get involved, it could result in a defendant being charged by the state and federal government for the same crime at the same time. It is certainly possible to face federal and state charges at the same time, so don’t assume anything once you’ve been accused of committing a federal crime.
Contact Our Law Firm
If you have been accused of committing a crime, don’t think that you can “clear things up” or fight these charges on your own. Contact the Law Office of Boyd & Squitieri to schedule a consultation with our team. We’re ready to fight for you.
