A federal criminal charge can lead to significant penalties, including time in federal prison, hefty fines, and reputational consequences. Defending your rights is key to avoiding unfair punishment.
Our experienced Anderson federal criminal lawyers can investigate your case, build a strong defense, and find loopholes in the prosecution’s argument. Without legal assistance, you can easily make mistakes and face unfair punishment. Call Ellis Hinton today to learn how our seasoned criminal defense attorneys and former federal prosecutors can help with your charges.
Federal crimes usually come with higher penalties than state crimes. The typical examples of federal criminal activity include the following:
A federal drug offense involves large-scale drug activities, such as trafficking or smuggling drugs across borders. These cases are often the result of investigations conducted by federal agencies. Federal laws, primarily under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), enforce stricter penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences.
Weapon offenses include illegal possession of firearms, trafficking in firearms, or using a weapon during the commission of another federal crime.
White-collar crimes cover fraud-related offenses such as wire fraud, mail fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, and identity theft. The common denominator of these crimes is financial gain through deception.
Some examples of cybercrimes include hacking, phishing schemes, online fraud, and trafficking child pornography.
Healthcare fraud involves schemes to defraud federal programs like Medicare or Medicaid, such as submitting false claims, receiving kickbacks, or overbilling.
Public corruption charges deal with bribery, extortion, or other abuses of public office for personal gain. Federal prosecutors often handle these cases due to the involvement of government officials.
Counterfeiting involves producing or distributing fake currency, documents, or goods. Federal penalties include substantial fines and imprisonment.
All federal-level crimes require a comprehensive approach to defense. A skilled Anderson federal criminal attorney can conduct an extensive investigation of the crime and develop a robust argument to reduce the penalty.
The right approach to building a defense can make a difference between a decade in prison and a few years of probation. Some of the defenses a competent federal criminal lawyer in Anderson can use in your case include the following:
Many federal crimes require proof of intent to commit the offense. Your defense attorney may argue that you did not knowingly or willfully engage in illegal activity. For example, in cases involving drug trafficking, you may be able to claim that you were unaware of the presence of drugs in your vehicle or house.
This defense applies when law enforcement induces a person to commit a crime they would not have otherwise committed. For instance, if federal agents persuaded you to engage in illegal activity through coercion or deception.
Federal cases often involve constitutional protections such as the Fourth Amendment (protection against unlawful search and seizure) or the Fifth Amendment (protection against self-incrimination). If evidence is obtained illegally or due process is violated, the defense can move to dismiss the case.
The prosecution must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Your federal criminal lawyer in Anderson may challenge the evidence’s strength, reliability, or admissibility. This approach often focuses on exposing weaknesses in witness testimony or the chain of custody.
You could face a significant prison sentence if you were charged with a federal crime. Besides immediate penalties, a conviction can long-term affect your life and reputation. That is why you must work with a competent legal team.
At Ellis Hinton, we have significant experience building strong defenses in federal crime cases. As former federal prosecutors, we know the system inside and out. Our firm is based in Greenville and serves SC and beyond. Call us for a consultation today.