Federal Crime Lawyers in Sarasota, Florida 

Let Musca Law Help You Overcome Charges for Federal Crimes 

Overall, federal crimes can range from lesser-degree misdemeanors to full-scale felonies (depending on the nature of the offense), but every one of these crimes is a serious matter. Remember, a federal crime requires government intervention, meaning you will face the full force of our nation’s top legal officials. If you are facing charges for federal crimes, you will need expertise for overcoming this tricky situation. 

Let Musca Law help you combat charges for federal crimes. We have a 150+ track record of successful criminal defense and promise a secure lineup of quality services you can use to make the best outcome. Each of our federal crimes attorneys promises long-term assistance and guaranteed success. 

For more information, get in touch with our office in Sarasota, Florida at (941) 909-3234 to speak with an experienced attorney today.   

Important Facts about Federal Crimes 

Overall, the identification of federal crimes is incredibly simple. The governmental body defines each offense based on which laws have been broken and at what level. In such cases, one case of rape or obstruction of justice might be sent to a Florida State court, while a rape or obstruction case involving homicide might be sent to federal courts. 

As the name suggests, federal crimes constitute direct violations of one or more federal laws. Such crimes will eventually be presented before a federal judge and court, especially if the criminals pose a severe risk towards the safety of the public or (in the worst-case scenario) the entire nation. 

The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) lists the following crimes as examples of federal crimes:  

  • Counterintelligence crimes
  • Corruption of the public 
  • Cyber crimes
  • Immigration crimes
  • Organized criminal activity 
  • Terrorism
  • Theft of valuable items (art, jewelry, etc.) 
  • Threats against government officials 
  • Violent crimes
  • Violations of civil rights 
  • White-collar crimes 

Which Government Groups Handle Federal Crime Cases? 

If a person, group, or organization has committed a federal crime, one or more of the following agencies will conduct investigations, as ordered by the government:  

  • Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosive 
  • Department of Veterans Affairs 
  • Drug Enforcement Administration 
  • Environmental Protection Agency 
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 
  • Fish and Wildlife Service 
  • Health and Human Services 
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 
  • Internal Revenue Services 
  • U.S. Marshals Service 
  • U.S. Postal Inspection Service 
  • U.S. Secret Service 

The Full List of U.S. Federal Crimes and Subsequent Charges 

For a full list of federal crimes in the State of Florida that are reviewed by the U.S. government, be sure to review the official page featured on the Code of the United States House of Representatives, set in place by the national government. 

Charges for Terrorism in Florida 

Title 18, Chapter 113B-Section 2331 (1) of the Code of the U.S. House of Representatives divides acts of terrorism into two subtypes: 

  • International terrorism: acts of violence that put human lives at risk and break the laws set by the United States government (if such crimes are committed within the jurisdiction of the national government)
  • Domestic terrorism: acts of violence that put human lives at risk beyond the jurisdiction of the U.S. government or any of the 50 states

Furthermore, Chapter 113B-Section 2231 (a-c) declares that any person who has committed an act of terrorism (of either variety) will face a number of criminal charges, depending on the severity of the offense: 

  • Homicide: Any culprit who murders a U.S. citizen beyond the border of America will be charged with a fine, a life sentence, and/or the death penalty. 
  • Conspiracy to commit homicide: Any person who attempts to murder a citizen of the United States will face fines and a 20-year-to-life prison sentence. 
  • Physical violence: Any person who physically attacks and inflicts bodily harm on a citizen of the United States will be fined and be imprisoned for 10 years. 

Charges for Counterintelligence Criminal Activity in Florida 

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), counterintelligence crimes constitute actions involving the sharing of sensitive information with foreign intelligence services or any attempts to carry out these activities.  

U.S. Code Title 18-Chapter 37 lists the following charges for acts of federal espionage: 

  • Chapter 37-Section 792: People who harbor fugitives (individuals who have already committed or are preparing to commit one or more acts of espionage) will be charged with a fine and will face a 10-year prison sentence. 
  • Chapter 37-Section 793: People who collect information that can be used in a harmful away against the United States government and/or be used as a valuable asset to a foreign, body, country, or nation will be charged with a fine and will be sent to prison for a 10-year period (if the individual in question forfeits). In keeping with the sentence, the culprits will be forced to turn the information over to federal agents. 

Charges for Violations of Civil Rights in Florida 

The FBI defines a violation of civil rights as any perceived verbal and/or physical threat against the safety of the U.S. public stemming from a hatred of different skin colors, races, religions, genders, sexual preferences, and/or additional rights of United States citizens. The U.S. House of Representatives sets punishments for civil rights crimes in Title 18 Chapter 13 of the U.S. Code: 

  • Chapter 13-Section 241: If at least two people make an attempt to physically harm or threaten a resident of any region under the jurisdiction of America (U.S. state, territory, commonwealth, possession, or district) in an attempt to violate civil rights, these people will be fined or sentenced to prison. Courts may consider the death penalty as a form of punishment.  
  • Chapter 13-Section 249: Any person who attacks a person out of hatred for this person’s religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or additional civil rights and inflicts harm via blunt force or deadly weapon will be fined and punished with a 10-year prison sentence. 

Charges for Extortion Crimes in Florida 

The FBI defines white-collar crimes as severe offenses that take place in business/corporate sectors of the world. Different types of white-collar crimes include extortion (sharing private information with another group) and fraud (falsifying information). People who commit these crimes may be punished in one of several ways, as indicated in U.S. Code Title 18 Chapter 41: 

  • Chapter 41-Section 873: Any person who demands money via threats of informing will face fines and a prison sentence that does not exceed 1 year. 
  • Chapter 41-Section 874: Any person who forces a fellow employee (in a specific type of business or line of corporate work) to hand over earnings that this victim has rightfully earned as part of an employment contract will be charged with a fine and face a prison sentence that does not exceed a period of 5 years. 
  • Chapter 41-Section 876: Any person who sends communication via mail that threatens a victim’s well-being, potential kidnapping, or any sort of bodily harm will face a fine and a prison sentence ranging from 5 to 10 (possibly 20) years. 

What Are the Charges for Threatening, Abusing, or Harming Children? 

As dictated in federal law, crimes against children are (as the name suggests) directed toward victims who are under the age of 18. These crimes include child pornography, sexual exploitation, selling children, buying children, and child abuse. Here is a closer look at these offenses and subsequent punishments laid out in U.S. Code, Title 18, Chapter 110:

  • Chapter 110-Section 2251: Any person (including parents and guardians) who tries to encourage, tempt, lure, force, or coerce any child into performing a sexual act will be punished with a fine (in accordance with the offense) and will potentially face a 15-year prison sentence. People who participate in the development of child pornography will face a 20-year prison sentence, while multiple offenders will be punished with a 35-year jail sentence (or life sentence).  
  • Chapter 110-Section 2251A: Parents or guardians who sell children or attempt to sell one or more children for the purpose of sexual exploitation or child pornography will be forced to pay a fine and serve a jail sentence that does not exceed 30 years. 

Meanwhile, Chapter 110-Section 2258 dictates that people who fail to report any incidences that involve child abuse will also face fines and will be sent to jail for no longer than 1 year. 

Charges for Robbery and Burglary in Florida 

As defined by the FBI, robbery and burglary constitute acts of organized crime, carried out by networks of people who function in a criminal hierarchy. U.S. Code Title 18 Chapter 103 states that people who commit acts of robbery or burglary (as part of organized crime) will be punished in the following ways: 

  • Chapter 103-Section 2112: Any person who attempts to steal private property of U.S. citizens will be sent to prison for a period that does not exceed 15 years. 
  • Chapter 103-Section 2113: Any person who attempts to use any violent tactics or intimidation techniques in an effort to take property protected by a bank will be fined and imprisoned for a period that does not exceed 20 years. If these conspirators try to steal more than $1,000 of the bank’s money, they will be fined and face a 10-year prison sentence. If the culprits committed murder, they will face a life sentence. 
  • Chapter 103-Section 2119: People attempt to inflict any bodily harm on or to kill a U.S. citizen in an attempt to steal a vehicle will be fined and face a prison sentence that does not exceed 15 years. Criminals who physically injure the victim will be sent to prison for 25 years. In the event that a murder takes place, the culprit could face the death penalty. 

Participation in a Criminal Gang 

The Safe Streets Task Force and the National Gang Intelligence Center helps the FBI enforce safety on streets and fight criminal gangs in the United States. By using references offered by the NGIC, the FBI collects federal, state, and local data covering gang activity (including racketeering and organized crimes). In accordance with Title 18 Chapter 26 Section 521, here is a closer look at how culprits associated with criminal gangs are punished. 

  • People who take part in juvenile delinquency crimes or commit controlled substance felonies (by means of a membership in a criminal street gang) will potentially face a 10-year period of imprisonment. If only 1 controlled substance crime has taken place, the prison time will be reduced to no more than 5 years. 

Acts of Homicide (Intentional Murder) in Florida 

As dictated in U.S. Code Title 18 Chapter 51, homicide constitutes any violent act that results in the illegal killing of an innocent victim (or multiple victims) who are residents of the U.S. Here are some more details: 

  • Chapter 51-Section 1111: Any person who commits 1st-degree murder will be punished with life in prison or (potentially) the death penalty. Likewise, any person who commits 2nd-degree murder will be punished for life or ultimately face the death penalty.  
  • Chapter 51-Section 1112: People who commit an act of voluntary manslaughter will face a fine and will be sent to prison for no longer than 15 years. People who have been charged with involuntary manslaughter will be fined and punished with an 8-year prison sentence. 

Keep the following definitions in mind: 

  • Murder refers to the intentional killing of another human being. 
  • Manslaughter refers to the unintentional killing of another human being. 

Setting up Your Defense for Federal Crime Cases 

Based on the information provided by the United States Department of Justice, in the case of a federal crime case, the defendant may explain that he/she did not voluntarily commit the crime in question if he/she can supply viable evidence proving this point (without any doubt). Furthermore, these people can admit to taking part in a crime once a governmental member grants authority. 

Musca Law Will Help You Regain Control 

Our Florida federal crimes attorneys at Musca Law in Sarasota are prepared to help you protect your rights and aggressively fight for a satisfactory outcome. No matter what situation you face, we have the experience and determination to help you win. Don’t hesitate to contact our Sarasota office today at (941) 909-3234 to speak with one of our highly-qualified criminal defense attorneys. 

Get your case started by calling us at (888) 484-5057 today!