Crimes under federal jurisdiction are among the most severe crimes an individual may be charged with. According to this website, these types of crimes will be investigated even more extensively and thoroughly by the prosecution than other charges.
Often, crimes under federal jurisdiction involve federal authorities leading the case investigation, including agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security, Secret Service, or Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), among others.
The judicial process in these types of crimes slightly differs from cases in state courts. When an individual is arrested for a federal offense, they will be subjected to pretrial services, or a court probation officer will interview them and check their background.
Based on the information gathered, the judge decides whether or not the defendant will be released pending trial and may impose release conditions. However, no matter what criminal charges you may be facing, you can have a criminal defense attorney by your side to defend you and protect your rights. Let’s analyze some crimes that fall under federal jurisdiction in California.
Examples of Crimes That Fall Under Federal Jurisdiction California
Many crimes fall under federal jurisdiction in California. Some of these include:
- Internet sex crimes or computer crimes
- Child pornography
- Mail fraud or health care fraud
- Medicare fraud or Mortgage fraud
- RICO Act violations or PPP loan fraud
- Weapons offenses
- White collar crimes
- Wire fraud
- Antitrust violations or bank fraud
- Bank robbery, bankruptcy fraud, or bribery
- Counterfeiting, federal drug offenses, embezzlement
- Extortion, forgery, insurance fraud
- Money laundering, tax evasion, or public corruption
- Federal property crimes or federal conspiracy offenses
The Federal prosecutors at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California are responsible for the prosecution of individuals that have committed a federal criminal offense.
They enforce federal laws and handle these cases in Los Angeles and surrounding counties. Let’s look at some federal crimes and see what they imply.
Internet sex crimes or computer crimes
There are a number of federal crimes that fall under the umbrella of internet sex crimes or computer crimes. These include:
-Possession or distribution of child pornography
-Sexual exploitation of children
-Attempted enticement of a minor
-Traveling across state lines to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor
-Cyberstalking
-Online harassment
-Threatening communications
These are just some of the more commonly prosecuted internet sex crimes at the federal level. Given the reach of the internet, these types of crimes canspan jurisdictional boundaries, which is why they are often prosecuted at the federal level.
Wire Fraud Offense
Wire fraud is a federal crime and can be ascertained as such by the following factors:
- An individual willfully and knowingly devised or intended to create a scheme to defraud another citizen of money or property
- The individual’s intent to defraud was accomplished through the use of interstate wire facilities, such as television, email, telephone, or the internet
If you are convicted of a wire fraud offense, you may face stiff fines or imprisonment of up to 20 years or both. Suppose a financial institution, such as a bank, was affected by wire fraud. In that case, the fine can reach one million dollars, and imprisonment can reach up to 30 years, or both.
Mail fraud or health care fraud
Mail fraud includes any scheme to defraud someone using the mail system. This can be anything from a simple con game to a more complex fraud involving multiple parties and hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Healthcare fraud is another area that falls under federal jurisdiction. This can be anything from billing for services that were never rendered to upcoding (billing for a more expensive service than was actually provided). Healthcare fraud costs the US government billions of dollars each year, and it is one of the areas of focus for federal law enforcement agencies.
Extortion, forgery, insurance fraud
Extortion is the act of obtaining something from someone by force or threat of force. This can be done through violence, blackmail, or even just making someone feel threatened. Forgery is the act of creating a false document or altering a real one in order to commit fraud. Insurance fraud is when someone intentionally causes damage or injury in order to collect insurance money.
Money laundering, tax evasion, or public corruption
There are a variety of federal crimes that fall under the umbrella of money laundering, tax evasion, or public corruption. Money laundering is the process of concealing the origins of illegally obtained money, while tax evasion is the willful failure to pay taxes. Public corruption is the misuse of one’s position or office for personal gain.
All three of these offenses are serious crimes that can carry heavy penalties. Money laundering and tax evasion are both felonies, while public corruption is a misdemeanor. If convicted, offenders can face up to 20 years in prison and/or hefty fines.
These crimes often involve complex financial transactions and can be difficult to detect and prosecute. That’s why it’s important to have experienced legal representation if you’re accused of any type of federal crime related to money laundering, tax evasion, or public corruption.
Federal Weapons Violations
Federal weapons violations have serious life-altering repercussions. You can face these charges if you were found in possession of a firearm without a permit, concealed them, sold them illegally, or had them in your possession near school grounds, among other situations.
Federal Mortgage Fraud Charges
Many people misrepresent themselves on a mortgage loan application, deliberately or knowingly. Mortgage fraud is a severe federal crime that can be prosecuted as several different types of fraud, including money laundering, mail fraud, bank fraud, or wire fraud, each with severe penalties attached.
Since the Federal Court system operates very differently than a California State Court, a simple defense attorney may not be able to represent you appropriately. In this situation, contacting a federal criminal defense attorney is your best move to build a strong defense.
Conclusion
There are a number of different crimes that fall under federal jurisdiction, and it’s important to be aware of them. If you commit one of these crimes, you will be prosecuted by the federal government rather than the state government. These crimes include things like terrorism, tax evasion, and money laundering. So if you’re ever considering committing a crime, make sure to check and see if it falls under federal jurisdiction first — otherwise you could be in for a very nasty surprise.
