Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Were you accused of a federal crime in Michigan? If so, you’ll likely need a strong defense to clear your name and dismiss your charges. A federal criminal defense attorney in Michigan can assess the details of your situation and help you through the fair trial you deserve.

When you get charged with a crime within Michigan, you may feel nervous and unsure what to do. When you realize the crime you’re charged with is a federal crime, you’ll likely be even more on edge. Federal crimes in Michigan often have harsher penalties than state crimes, and it’s never good for the federal government to see you as a criminal.

Because federal crimes carry more weight than state crimes, it’s essential to fight your charges and work hard to get them reduced or dismissed. Discussing your situation with a federal criminal defense lawyer from the Schwartz Law Group can be helpful. Steve Schwartz is admitted to the U.S. Eastern District Court and can customize a defense strategy tailored to your needs.

The Differences Between State and Federal Crimes

If you’re charged with a state crime in metro Detroit, it means the police believe you’ve violated a law passed by the Michigan state legislature. Although this crime may also be illegal in other states, states have the power to make their own laws and tailor the penalties for those who violate those laws.

If you’re charged with a federal crime anywhere in Michigan, then the police believe you’ve violated a law passed by the U.S. Congress. Federal crimes often address national concern or involve state crimes that cross state borders. 

Federal Crimes You Can Get Charged with in Michigan

There are various federal crimes you can get charged with in Michigan. Some federal crimes are an extension of state crimes, and some federal crimes are an entity of their own. Drug trafficking and manufacturing, for example, are federal crimes when drugs are trafficked and manufactured with the intent to cross state or national borders.

Child pornography, computer hacking, data mining and other crimes that use the internet are federal crimes because of their interstate nature. Many white collar crimes are federal crimes because they involve interstate fraudulent financial behavior, such as wire fraud, healthcare fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering.

Penalties That Can Accompany a Federal Criminal Conviction

Federal crimes in Detroit often come with higher penalties than state crimes. A drug trafficking conviction, for example, can result in five years to life in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, depending on whether you’ve previously been convicted of drug trafficking charges, the amount of drugs you’re caught with, and how many people are involved in the operation.

A federal child pornography conviction can result in up to thirty years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines. Harsher penalties may be imposed if the court determines that you created the pornographic images or you had the intent to distribute the images.

White collar federal crimes such as bank fraud come with hefty penalties. The fine for bank fraud crime can be up to $1 million and you may face up to thirty years in prison. Alternatively, a conviction for tax evasion could land you in federal prison for five years and result in a $100,000 fine or a $500,000 fine if you’re part of a corporation.

How an Attorney Can Defend You in Federal Court

Because the penalties for federal crimes are so harsh, it’s important to seek help from a federal criminal defense lawyer in Metro-Detroit and build a strong case against the prosecution. Your legal team can customize your defense strategy based on the crime you’re accused of. They’ll start by assessing the evidence brought forth against you and using any information possible to weaken the prosecution’s case.

Consult a Federal Criminal Defense Attorney

When you get charged with a federal crime in Detroit, you may feel uncertain about what your future holds. Speaking to an experienced attorney about your case can give you the confidence you need to move forward. We take cases from Metro Detroit including areas like Birmingham, Plymouth, Canton, Wayne, Westland, Novi, Troy, and more. 

To schedule a consultation with a federal criminal defense lawyer from the Schwartz Law Group, fill out the contact form below or call 248-930-5019.