Federal Defense Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale

What’s your best legal option?

If you’re facing federal criminal charges, do not leave your fate in the hands of a public defender who has a stack of case files on his desk and is already over-extended coming in. When your freedom’s on the line, you need someone who will fight for you every step of the way. You need personal, dedicated representation from an experienced Fort Lauderdale federal lawyer who has successfully defended more than 1,100 federal cases over more than three decades. Representing clients in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Joffe Law, P.A. will work tirelessly to bolster your defense and ensure that you are treated fairly and in accordance with the law. You have rights, and we work vigorously to defend them.

When does it become a federal criminal charge?

Federal crimes are offenses that are expressly prohibited under federal law. They may occur on federal property, or involve people or property that is transported across state lines, overlapping state jurisdictions.

While the Fifth Amendment prohibits “double jeopardy,” the clause does not refer to cases that involve crimes that are recognized as offenses by both federal and state law. Therefore, it is possible for a defendant to be acquitted of a crime in state court, but later convicted in a federal court. Crimes are investigated by the FBI or, in some cases, other regulatory agencies. They are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and defendants appear before federal judges in Broward County U.S. District Court.

Types of cases our federal criminal defense lawyers handle

White collar crime

A phrase that is believed to have been coined in the 1930s, “white collar crime” refers to offenses that are mostly committed by business and government professionals. These crimes are non-violent in nature, and the motivation is financial gain. Most federal white collar crimes fall under the following categories:

• fraud
• bribery
• Ponzi schemes
• insider trading
• RICO or racketeering
• embezzlement
• computer crimes
• copyright infringement
• money laundering
• identity theft
• forgery

The federal government regulates white collar crimes through legislative acts passed by Congress and monitoring by regulatory agencies like the SEC and IRS. These offenses are investigated by the FBI; therefore, defendants must appear in federal court versus state court, though there are cases in which both federal and state governments have enacted legislation prohibiting certain white collar crimes. As federal offenses, white collar crimes typically carry severe sentences, which may include prison time and large fines. In some situations, white collar crime defendants may also face civil court actions in addition to criminal punishment, making it critical to retain the services of a trial-tested, experienced federal defense attorney in Fort Lauderdale, best suited for your unique case.

Federal fraud cases

Defined as an intentional deception or misrepresentation that is intended to benefit the perpetrator or a third party, fraud is a federal offense. Fraud can take many different forms, including:

• tax fraud
• securities fraud
• mail and wire fraud
• Medicaid and healthcare fraud

Other common types of fraud include bank fraud, mortgage fraud, and Ponzi schemes. Penalties for fraud may include up to 30 years imprisonment, probation, paying restitution to the victims, and paying fines. Being convicted of fraud can also severely limit an individual’s future employment prospects as well as impact social and personal relationships.

Sex crimes

Violent sex crimes and those that are committed against minors are generally very aggressively prosecuted by state and federal governments. Though most sex crimes fall under the jurisdiction of the states, there are some over which the federal government is more likely to exercise authority in investigating and prosecuting:

• aggravated sexual assault
• rape
• sex crimes involving minors
• human trafficking
• crimes involving repeat sex offenders
• federal sex offender registry compliance violations

Crimes that involve child pornography are aggressively investigated and prosecuted by the government. Federal law prohibits the possession, distribution, sale, and production of pornographic material that portrays a person who is under 18 years old. Defendants who are convicted of a child pornography-related offense are required to enroll and maintain their personal information in the federal sex offender registry, in addition to facing significant prison time. Always consult with a Fort Lauderdale federal defense attorney to learn your options immediately after you suspect you’re being investigated.

Federal drug crimes

Federal drug-related offenses, like drug trafficking cases, are more likely to be prosecuted in federal court while most drug possession cases are processed by Florida state courts. Federal law prohibits delivering illegal controlled substances as well as conspiring to deliver an illegal controlled substance. Cases that involve manufacturing and distributing drugs are also more likely to be prosecuted by the federal government. In addition to “street” drugs, prescription drugs have also become of increasing concern to federal law enforcement and prosecutors. Fort Lauderdale has grown increasingly notorious for its methadone clinics and has come under heightened scrutiny for its high volume of prescription drug-related fraud.

Alien smuggling

The term “alien” refers to a person who is not a citizen or national of the United States. The federal government prohibits the transportation of aliens beyond a designated port of entry of the United States. A person who does so for the purpose of private financial gain, labor, or commercial advantage may be fined and/or imprisoned for up to 10 years. An individual who causes injury to an alien in the course of smuggling may be imprisoned for up to 20 years. If the smuggler causes an alien’s death, he or she may be sentenced to life in prison. Federal law also recognizes aiding with alien smuggling and conspiring as criminal offenses.