When you commit a crime in Iowa, the state can charge you with a crime. That should be obvious, but you should be aware that some crimes can also attract the attention of law enforcement agencies at the federal level. That’s when a crime becomes a federal crime. Our Dallas County criminal lawyers can tell you what that means for your case.
What Makes a Crime a Federal Crime?
There are a few ways for a crime to become a federal crime. The feds will often weigh in on:
Crimes that cross state lines: If you are doing something illegal in multiple states, it’s likely that federal investigators will get involved.
Financial crimes: Many “white collar” and financial infractions are investigated by the U.S. government.
Civil rights violations: Hate crimes and any violation of civil rights can often be upgraded to federal crimes.
Crimes involving a federal program or institution: If the government funds or runs an institution and you use that to commit a crime, you’re likely to face charges in federal court. Good examples of this would be mail fraud, since you are committing a crime using the U.S. Postal Service, or Medicare fraud.
Crimes on federal property: Commit a crime on federal property and the feds are obviously going to get involved.
What Are Some Examples of Common Federal Charges?
Criminal actions that frequently cross state lines include drug trafficking and human trafficking. These are likely to attract attention from the U.S. government. Transporting stolen goods across state or country borders can also land you in a lot of trouble with the feds.
Financial crimes like securities fraud, embezzlement, and securities fraud are also investigated by the feds. A bank robbery that takes place in a federal building can also be considered a federal crime. In fact, any infraction committed on federal property can be a federal crime, including vandalizing a monument.
Cybercrimes are often left to federal investigators as well. Crimes like hacking and identity theft use interstate communications infrastructure, so it’s federal jurisdiction.
Who Investigates Federal Crime?
There are so many types of federal crime and that means that there are a variety of investigators working at this level to address different kinds of infractions. There’s the IRS, the Department of Justice, the DEA, and others. These organizations have a lot of resources at their disposal, so if you have attracted their attention you need to be prepared to fight back against any accusations, preferably with the help of a seasoned defense attorney.
What If I’m Already Facing State Charges?
The bad news is that facing state charges doesn’t mean that you won’t also face federal charges. You can also be charged for a federal crime and it is not considered double jeopardy.
Contact Our Legal Team
No matter what kinds of criminal charges you face, you should have an experienced attorney ready to stand up for you and your rights. Contact Iowa Defenders, PLLC and ask to schedule a consultation today. We can tell you more about what our legal team can do for you.
