You may wonder what the difference is between a drug charge after an arrest by the Winter Park Police Department or the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and a drug arrest by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The federal charge will involve the possession of more drugs and most likely trafficking. Federal drug charges account for almost 32 percent of federal offenses, according to the United States Sentencing Commission.
Other federal crimes the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) oversees include terrorism, white collar crime, organized crime, violent crime, cybercrime, immigration under Customs Enforcement, civil rights violations, and corruption. If you use the U.S. mail or internet and the crime reaches beyond Florida’s borders, the federal government will investigate. Because the government has unlimited resources to pursue you, it is imperative that you consult a Winter Park federal crime lawyer with experience winning cases against the government. The Umansky Law Firm has criminal lawyers who are available to help.
The government charges drug crimes based on its offense guideline. The Drug Quantity Table is made up of 17 base offense levels and is determined mostly by the controlled substance involved.
While prosecutors use this evidence to convict you, we attempt to use it to exonerate you. Arresting agents may misidentify the substance you are charged with or you as the perpetrator. Your rights might be violated by overzealous agents. An arrest may not mean a trial is inevitable, since 97 percent of federal cases are settled via plea deals. As you work with your Winter Park federal crime attorney, we will ensure you are comfortable with whatever path your case takes.
“White collar crime” is a blanket term for dozens of non-violent offenses the government prosecutes, all related to theft. These crimes include:
The term ‘white collar crime’ references how businessmen, bankers, politicians, and other professionals who committed non-violent fraud would dress in the 1930s. Today, the FBI rigorously prosecutes these crimes because they can impact the country’s economy. If you are arrested for one, act immediately.
Fraud is a widely reported white collar crime, but it may not always involve banks and stock traders. It can involve consumers, real estate, and internet scams. A Federal Trade Commission survey reported 61.8 million cases of fraud in a recent year.
Fraud charges can lead to fines, incarceration, and restitution. The government can seize your assets and even attach your Social Security benefits in some cases. A competent Winter Park federal crimes attorney protects your rights if the prosecution is railroading you into something you did not do or charging you unfairly. Even if you admit to culpability, you deserve to be heard and to be represented in court. We know there are two sides to the story, and you should make your case.
If FBI, DEA, or other federal agents that assist the federal government prosecuting crimes contact you, or if you receive a target letter from the U.S. Attorney’s Office letting you know that you are under investigation, inform the official that you will cooperate after consulting a federal crime attorney before you answer any questions. If you are pressed beyond your statement, the agent may be violating your Constitutional rights.
We work closely with you to establish mitigating circumstances and an appropriate defense to your charges. Our mission is to get the charges dropped or reduced, or win at trial. Some defenses include that you are innocent, did not have the intent or knowledge that you were committing a crime, you have an alibi, or were justified in what you did. A Winter Park federal crime attorney can also file for habeas corpus to challenge your detention if agents violate your constitutional rights. Other defenses are available depending on your situation.
If you are arrested or notified that you are under investigation for a federal crime, you want an attorney who understands the federal system, which differs from the state crime system. Federal prosecutors are extremely aggressive, but so are we when we negotiate on your behalf or represent you at trial.
It may seem logical to wait after an arrest or the receipt of a letter from the U.S. Attorney’s Office to see what they want or to try and tell them your side of the story. Instead, call a Winter Park federal crime lawyer at once and let us help you.
The Umansky Law Firm Criminal Defense & Injury Attorneys
