While a criminal offense in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania involves the violation of a state statute or local ordinance, a federal criminal offense involves the violation of a statute that the United States Congress has enacted. It is possible for states and the federal government to pass legislation on the same subject matter. When this occurs, the federal law may preempt local or state law pursuant to the Supremacy Clause of the United States Constitution. As such, there are several major areas of criminal law that the federal government has chosen to solely occupy, thus preempting a state prosecution of the matter.
Federal criminal offenses very often carry much harsher penalties and/or much longer periods of incarceration compared to state criminal offenses. A perfect example of the gravity of a federal criminal offense comes from “pop culture’s” understanding and treatment of federal crimes. The popular phrase, “don’t make a federal case out of it,” has roots in society’s understanding of the grand scale and harsh sentences associated with federal prosecutions. This is especially true since the passage of the Sentencing Reform Act which radically changed how an individual is penalized in Federal criminal cases and in particular the seriousness and gravity of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Under the United States Code, there are countless federal criminal offenses that include, but are not limited to the following, which are most commonly charged:
Remember, if you or a loved one is charged with a federal criminal offense or are being investigated by a federal agency, then it is imperative to preserve and protect your/their rights. Retaining an experienced criminal defense attorney to protect those rights should be done immediately. Facing a federal indictment can be life altering in many ways. Do not hesitate in retaining a skilled, experienced and aggressive criminal attorney to protect your rights, your reputation and your future. Joe D’Andrea’s practice has been exclusively dedicated to providing aggressive criminal defense for the accused for nearly forty years. Protect yourself, protect your rights.
You may get only one phone call, so make it the right one. Call Joe D’Andrea.