Georgetown Federal Crime Lawyers

More About Federal Crimes in Texas

Federal crimes are considered more severe due to their nature and the scope of their impact. These crimes often involve interstate activity or national interests, such as bank robbery, drug trafficking, or mail fraud. Because these crimes can affect multiple states or even the nation as a whole, they are treated with a high degree of seriousness.

Investigation of federal crimes involves federal law enforcement agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The involvement of these powerful agencies can be intimidating due to their vast resources, specialist skills, and nationwide jurisdiction.

Examples of federal crimes can include but are not limited to:

• Counterfeiting: Creating a false replica of something valuable intended to defraud.
• Drug, Gun, or Human Trafficking: Illegally transporting drugs, guns, or humans across state lines or international borders.
• Violations of Securities Laws: Engaging in deceptive practices in the stock market.
• Violations of Interstate Commerce: Unlawfully interfering with business conducted across state lines.
• Money Laundering: Money laundering is the illegal process of making large amounts of criminally generated money appear to come from a legal source.
• Cybercrime: Cybercrime refers to any crime that involves a computer and a network, often targeting personal information, government data, and even electronic money.
• Mail and Wire Fraud: Mail and wire fraud involves using mail or electronic communications to carry out schemes to defraud individuals, institutions, or the government.
• Mortgage Fraud: Mortgage fraud is a crime in which a prospective homebuyer, seller, or lender lies or omits critical information on a mortgage loan application to obtain a loan or to get a larger loan than could have been obtained had the lender or borrower known the truth.
• Child Pornography: Child pornography is the illegal use of children in pornographic materials, including photographs, films, and digital media.
• Insider Trading: Insider trading is the buying or selling of a security by someone with access to material, nonpublic information about the security.

Potential penalties for these crimes can range from fines to imprisonment, depending on the severity of the crime, the offender's criminal history, and other factors.

Federal Sentencing Guidelines

Federal sentencing guidelines outline a standardized sentencing policy for those convicted of felonies and serious misdemeanors in the U.S. federal courts system. These guidelines can significantly impact your case, as they dictate the range of potential sentences a judge may impose, often leading to harsher penalties than those in state courts.