Most of the time when people hear about someone committing a Federal Crime, thoughts turn immediately to the most severe criminal acts possible. Kidnapping, well-orchestrated drug trafficking and dramatic high jacking all come to mind. But while those sorts of acts do indeed constitute Federal level crimes, that doesn’t mean that ALL Federal crimes are acts of epic violence and theft.
In fact, there are quite a few ways that people can break the law that can bring the attention of Federal law enforcement, and there doesn’t have to be any violence involved.
What Is A Federal Crime?
At its simplest, a Federal crime is simply an illegal act committed in such a way that it breaks the law—ANY law—at the Federal level. Kidnapping across state lines, bank robbery, and child pornography all operate at this level. But, so does impersonating military personnel, evading a draft into military service, and counterfeiting money. Any time you break a law established by a Federal agency or organization, this means you are subject to Federal, not state charges and prosecution.
This is even true in some instances you might not even think about, such as lying about your numbers when you file your taxes to the IRS. The IRS is considered a Federal agency, and when you lie to them, or attempt to manipulate your own income tax return, even that is considered a Federal crime. Financial crimes like insider trading and wage violations also fall under this category, which is why the consequences can be far more serious than a person might suspect, even if no one was physically injured.
If you find yourself in a situation where you may be facing Federal criminal charges, you should get the legal advice of a criminal defense attorney and find out where you stand. Federal crimes are in a league of their own, and you will need an experienced defense attorney to help you navigate these troubled waters.