Tampa Federal Criminal Lawyer

Were You Charged with A Federal Crime in Tampa?

Don’t Waste Any More Time; Contact Our Tampa Federal Criminal Lawyers to Fight for You ASAP!

Are you being investigated, or have you been charged with a federal crime in Tampa? If yes, you need to consult a Tampa federal criminal lawyer as a matter of urgency. While no type of criminal charge should be taken lightly, federal crimes generally require the most attention. That’s because the stakes in federal criminal cases are higher, and the legal procedures involved are very complex.

For example, federal crimes typically carry longer mandatory minimum sentences than state offenses. This means that even the least penalties for a federal charge can be extremely harsh. These already steep consequences can be worsened if you’re charged at both the federal and state levels for the same conduct. As if these aren’t scary enough, federal law enforcement agencies have more extensive resources to prosecute cases compared to the state.

In summary, federal offenses are too serious to fight alone. You need the help of not just any lawyer but one who is well-versed in defending federal criminal cases. Unlike a general criminal defense attorney who focuses on state-level offenses, a federal crime attorney is specialized in handling the complexities and high stakes of federal law.

 

What Crimes Are Considered Federal Offenses?

Federal Crimes Can Happen on Federal Land, Involve Federal Officials, or Cross State Boundaries

As a Tampa resident, you’re not bound by Florida state laws alone. The United States of America also creates numerous rules and regulations that you have to abide by. They are referred to as federal laws and failure to comply with them will put you in trouble with various government agencies. These include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and others.

Federal crimes are prosecuted by the United States Department of Justice, tried in federal courts, and include the following categories of offenses:

White-Collar Offenses 

White-collar crimes are non-violent offenses that involve deceiving a victim for monetary gain. They are called “white collar” because they’re carried out by top professionals (typically those in managerial or administrative positions). These people take advantage of their position of trust to perpetrate these acts. Common examples of white-collar crimes include embezzlement, money laundering, bribery, and racketeering.

Embezzlement occurs when the offender misappropriates funds for personal use such as through Ponzi schemes, check kiting, or siphoning. This is different from money laundering, which involves concealing money obtained from illegal activities. Bribery, on the other hand, refers to situations where public officials’ actions are influenced by monetary or valuable gifts. Finally, racketeering refers to the organized operation of criminal ventures and is regulated by the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

Drug Crimes 

Drug trafficking and prescription drug fraud are among the most common drug crimes Tampa residents are charged with. If you’re facing trial for trafficking of illegal drugs, it means that you’re suspected of transporting narcotics across state or international borders. The punishment for drug trafficking depends significantly on the quantity and type of drugs involved. Aggravating factors like possession of firearms also influence the severity of this offense.

On the other hand, prescription drug fraud happens when prescription medications are taken without the express instructions of an authorized medical practitioner. Tampa is currently in the middle of an opioid epidemic, and the authorities are doing everything they can to address it. This may include going hard on doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare workers who leverage their position to benefit from the sale of such controlled substances.

Note that you can be charged for drug crimes both at the federal and state levels.

Federal Fraud Offenses

Fraudulent activities refer to a wide range of offenses that involve intentionally deceiving someone else for financial gain. In this context, they are similar to white-collar crimes except that they don’t happen in an official setting. Criminals may be charged with bank, bankruptcy, health care, insurance, credit card, internet, mortgage, telemarketing, securities, and mail and wire frauds, as well as others.

As with every other federal crime, the United States aggressively prosecutes fraud offenses. Criminal activities under this category of federal offenses typically involve huge sums of money. You can expect the penalties to be as heavy as the amount of financial loss involved in the fraudulent transactions.

Sex Crimes 

Sex crimes are one of the most prosecuted federal offenses in the U.S. They include child pornography, human trafficking, child molestation, and chat room charges. Possession of child pornography occurs when the offender is found with digital images that show minors engaged in sexual activities. This is a grave offense that carries steep penalties for every adult involved, especially the producers and transmitters.

Human trafficking (also called modern-day slavery) happens when someone is forced to engage in sexual acts for money. In child molestation cases, the offender engages in sexual activities with a minor (a person under 18 years old).

Other federal crimes include immigration offenses, terrorism, threats against U.S. government members, gun crimes, homicide, and counterintelligence crimes.

 

What Are The Common Defenses against Federal Crimes in Tampa?

Discover The Numerous Strategies That May Be Employed to Fight Your Federal Charge

Even though fighting federal charges can be challenging, there are many defenses we can employ to achieve the best outcomes. They include:

Double Jeopardy

The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects defendants against double jeopardy. This simply means that you cannot be tried twice for the same offense. So, if you’re facing a second prosecution for a crime you were once found innocent of, your attorney may successfully raise this defense. It is worthy of note that double jeopardy also applies if you were found guilty during the first prosecution.

Miranda Violations

Federal laws make it compulsory for federal agents to read their Miranda rights to detainees before asking them questions. Failure to do this would render any implicating statements made during interrogation inadmissible in court. This means that such statements cannot be used against you during trial. So, while this defense will not automatically lead to a case dismissal, it can significantly weaken the prosecution’s arguments.

Alibi 

An alibi claim is one of the strongest defenses to a federal charge. By raising this defense, you’re saying that you couldn’t have committed the crime because you were somewhere else.

It also implies that you didn’t have any opportunity to commit the crime. The third element of an alibi defense is that you could not commit the offense by any other means. Successfully raising the defense of alibi will lead to an acquittal.

Search and Seizure 

Per the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, you are protected against unreasonable searches and seizures. If an officer violated this right in the course of investigating you, you may raise it as a defense in court.

Unreasonable search and seizure happens when law enforcement seizes or searches your property without a valid warrant. If there is a warrant, it becomes unreasonable when it goes beyond what the scope of the search allows. Search and seizure is also illegal if there is no probable cause or reasonable suspicion of crime to support it.

Statute of Limitations 

Every criminal charge has a timeline within which prosecution must begin. This is known as the statute of limitations. Statutes of limitations ensure that there is an end to litigation. These timelines also promote fairness by ensuring that prosecution occurs when evidence and witnesses’ memories are more likely to be intact.

Generally, most federal cases have a statute of limitations of 5 years. However, others like bank, mail, and wire frauds span for much longer. If the government fails to meet these timeframes, they lose the right to prosecute you for that crime.

Other defenses against federal charges include inadequate evidence, insanity, self-defense, and entrapment.

Why Should My Attorney Be Experienced in Federal Courts?

It Is in Your Best Interest to Approach Only Federal Defense Attorneys to Fight Federal Charges

Just like you wouldn’t visit a dentist for an eye problem, you shouldn’t approach just any attorney to defend a federal charge. Federal criminal cases are very complex and require a distinct approach compared to state criminal charges. From investigating crimes to the court system organization, bond hearing, plea bargain, sentencing guidelines, etc., everything about federal cases are different. So, if you hire an attorney who has no idea of how to navigate the federal criminal justice system, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

At Taracks & Associates, we have decades of experience in defending federal criminal cases. As former prosecutors, we understand the tricks and strategies the government will try to employ to get you convicted. You can trust us to counter their tactics with the most effective and robust defense strategies on your behalf.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Tampa Federal Criminal Lawyers Provide Answers to Your Queries

At Taracks & Associates, our proactive legal team seeks to solve your problems before you even think about them. We know that you have lots of questions on your mind. So, we’ve provided answers to those we frequently are asked:

When Should I Contact My Federal Defense Attorney? 

You should consult your Tampa federal criminal defense lawyer the moment you suspect you’re being investigated for a federal crime or soon thereafter. Common signs that you could be under federal criminal investigation include a federal agent making attempts to speak to you, a federal prosecutor sending you a target letter, or being subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury.

What If I Had No Idea I Was Committing A Federal Crime? 

Unfortunately, ignorance of the criminal nature of an act is not a defense against a federal crime. If you’ve been charged with a federal crime you didn’t know was an offense, your best bet is to seek legal help immediately. Our federal criminal lawyers in Tampa will review your case and determine the proper approach to fight your charge.

What Options Do I Have If Convicted for A Federal Offense in Tampa? 

You may appeal a federal case after a conviction. Trial courts aren’t immune from mistakes, and it’s possible to find errors in the proceedings or in how they applied the law. If this is your situation, our attorneys will file an appeal to ensure that justice is served.

Should I Allow A Public Defender to Handle My Case?

There’s no doubt that public defenders are experienced and mean well. Unfortunately, no matter how dedicated they try to be, their overwhelming caseloads are always a huge burden. With so much work to do, a public defender is incapable of giving your case the attention it deserves. This significantly limits your chances of achieving the best results.

 

Speak with A Compassionate Tampa Federal Criminal Lawyer Today

We Have The Experience And Skill to Defend You against Any Federal Charge

The best strategy against a federal charge in Tampa is a seasoned Tampa federal criminal attorney. A formidable federal criminal defense lawyer in Tampa will level the playing field between you and the experienced federal prosecutors. From explaining your options to preparing your best possible defense and everything in between, they’ll stand by you every step of the way.

In a nutshell, your choice of legal representation is the singular most important decision you can make in your federal case. That’s why you should stick with none other than the federal lawyers at Taracks & Associates. With a former prosecutor on staff, we know what it takes to fight your charge and achieve the best outcomes. Our verifiable and impressive track record of successful federal defense cases makes us confident that we can handle yours, too.