If you have been arrested for a crime in Arizona, you may face criminal
charges at either the state or federal level. What does this mean? It
is important for you to understand your charges, as this is a critical
aspect of a successful defense.
A state crime is a violation of an ordinance or statute passed by a local
authority or state legislature. A
federal crime, on the other hand, is a violation of a law passed by the U.S. Congress.
Usually, federal crimes are those involving a national concern, such as
drug trafficking across state lines, the counterfeiting of money, and
more. Federal agencies may become involved in investigating and prosecuting
federal crimes, including the FBI, ATF, CIA, DEA, and other agencies.
Many crimes may overlap both areas, making them prosecutable in both courts.
Federal crimes are considered so severe that they are illegal across the
country, while state crimes are only considered illegal within a state’s
jurisdiction. A federal crime is considered the most serious criminal
act, and therefore comes with much harsher punishments than crimes prosecuted
at the state level. For
drug crimes in particular, there are federal mandatory minimum sentences.
Federal crimes include the following:
- Crimes in which a defendant crosses state lines (such as kidnapping)
- Immigration and customs violations (such as illegally residing in a country
without a visa)
- Crimes in which criminal conduct crosses state lines (such as internet crimes)
- Crimes adversely affecting a national interest (such as counterfeiting)
In order for an attorney to represent you in a federal criminal case, he
or she must be licensed to practice in the federal court where the case
is pending. It is important to choose an attorney who has experience handling
federal cases.
If you have been accused of a federal crime, you should immediately seek
out a qualified attorney to represent you. The Tempe criminal defense
lawyers at Suzuki Law Offices, L.L.C. are prepared to review your charges
and talk to you about how best to proceed with your case. Our team of
former state and federal prosecutors is available 24/7 offer you a free
and confidential case review.
Contact us today to tell us about your case.