Federal Crime Overview

Lawyer's Comment: The majority of Federal Crimes are listed in Title 18 of the U.S. Code. Many Federal Misdemeanors (CVB Crimes) are listed in the Code of Federal Regulations. If you are charged with a Federal Crime, either by information or indictment, you will be able to request an attorney at the PIA, which is the first hearing before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. The judge will then assign you, if you meet the requirements, to the Office of the Federal Public Defender or the local CJA panel.

Lawyer's Comment: Unlike many state-level prosecutions, federal crimes often involve significant investigation by grand juries. If you are contacted by a federal agent, and sometimes by your employer's attorney, it will often be part of a grand-jury investigation. Federal prosecutors put those involved in such an investigation into three categories: witness, subject, and target. These are fluid classifications and may change as the government investigation proceeds. A witness is someone who is not subject to indictment, but who may have information relevant to the investigation. A subject is someone who the government may or may file criminal charges against. A target is someone that, as the name suggests, is the target of the investigation. If the government files charges, it will be against this person. When the FBI - or other federal agent - first shows up at your doorstep, you will have no idea which category you fall in. That's why you need an experienced attorney to intercede on your behalf. Early intervention by counsel can help make sure that you do not end up as a target.