Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers
Elite Defense for Federal Court | Central District of California | Nationwide Federal Representation
Federal Charges Are Different, Serious, and Demand Specialized Legal Expertise
Being investigated or charged with a federal crime is exponentially more serious than facing state charges in Los Angeles or anywhere in California. When federal law enforcement agencies like the FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS, Secret Service, ICE, or Homeland Security investigate you, they’ve already spent months or years building their case before you even know you’re a target. When federal prosecutors indict you, they have unlimited resources, sophisticated technology, and a 93% conviction rate. Federal sentencing means mandatory minimums with no parole, strict sentencing guidelines that tie judges’ hands, and decades in federal prison far from your family. Federal charges can destroy your entire life, but they’re not unbeatable.
At LibertyBell Law Group, our federal criminal defense lawyers in Los Angeles have extensive experience defending clients in federal court throughout the Central District of California (which includes Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo federal courts). We’ve represented clients in federal drug trafficking cases, white collar fraud prosecutions, RICO indictments, federal weapons charges, immigration crimes, and every type of federal offense. We understand federal criminal procedure, federal sentencing guidelines, federal cooperation agreements, and how to fight the federal government’s unlimited resources with strategic, aggressive defense.
🚨 WHY FEDERAL CASES ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN STATE CASES
If you’re facing federal charges or under federal investigation, you need to understand exactly what makes federal prosecution so much more serious than state charges:
- They’ve Been Building the Case for Months or Years: By the time you’re arrested or indicted, federal agents have already conducted extensive surveillance, wiretaps, undercover operations, cooperating witness debriefings, financial analysis, and evidence gathering. They know everything about you before you know anything about the investigation.
- 93% Federal Conviction Rate: Federal prosecutors only indict cases they’re confident they can win. They have unlimited resources, elite investigators, sophisticated forensic capabilities, and years to build their case. This isn’t to scare you – it’s to emphasize why you need elite defense representation immediately.
- Mandatory Minimum Sentences: Many federal crimes carry mandatory minimum sentences that judges cannot reduce regardless of mitigating circumstances. 5, 10, 20 years, or life without parole – mandatory. No early release. No parole. You serve at least 85% of your sentence.
- Federal Sentencing Guidelines: Federal judges calculate sentences using a complex point system (offense level + criminal history category). While guidelines are now advisory, judges still follow them closely. Even minor enhancements add years to your sentence.
- Cooperating Witnesses: Federal cases often involve co-defendants who “flip” and cooperate against others in exchange for reduced sentences. These cooperators are incentivized to lie, exaggerate, and implicate as many people as possible to maximize their sentence reduction.
- Pre-Trial Detention: Federal courts presume you’re a danger or flight risk in many cases. Getting bail in federal court is much harder than state court. Many federal defendants spend years in custody awaiting trial.
- Trial Tax: If you’re convicted at trial, your sentence will be significantly longer than if you’d pled guilty. This “trial tax” punishes defendants for exercising their constitutional right to trial and pressures guilty pleas.
- Federal Prisons Are Far Away: Federal prisoners are often sent to facilities hundreds or thousands of miles from home, making family visits virtually impossible and destroying family relationships.
Federal charges demand immediate, elite legal representation. Every day without an attorney is a day the government builds their case against you. Call LibertyBell Law Group NOW at (855) 529-7761. We’ve defended federal cases for decades and we know how to fight back.
Understanding Federal Criminal Jurisdiction: Why Your Case Is Federal
Most crimes are prosecuted in state court under California law. So why is your case federal? Federal jurisdiction exists when crimes involve federal laws, cross state lines, occur on federal property, involve federal agencies or officials, or affect interstate commerce. Understanding why you’re facing federal rather than state charges is crucial to your defense strategy.
Common Reasons Cases Become Federal
Interstate Commerce
The federal government has broad authority to prosecute crimes affecting interstate commerce. This includes drug trafficking across state lines, wire fraud using phones or internet, bank fraud affecting federally insured banks, transportation of stolen goods across state lines, and virtually any crime involving the mail, telephone, or internet.
Federal Property or Federal Officers
Crimes occurring on federal property (military bases, federal buildings, national parks, Indian reservations) or crimes against federal officers (assaulting federal agents, threatening federal judges, fraud against federal agencies) are federal offenses.
Specific Federal Statutes
Certain crimes are defined exclusively by federal law: immigration crimes, federal tax offenses, counterfeiting, federal drug trafficking, RICO violations, federal firearms offenses (especially for prohibited persons), and federal terrorism charges.
Quantity or Scope Triggers Federal Interest
Large-scale operations attract federal prosecution: major drug trafficking organizations, multi-million dollar fraud schemes, organized crime enterprises, and interstate criminal operations.
💡 Insider Tip #1: Federal Task Forces Mean Federal Charges
Los Angeles has multiple federal-local task forces: the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force, DEA task forces, ATF gun trafficking task forces, and Secret Service financial crimes task forces. If local police or sheriffs work with federal agents on your case, expect federal charges even if the crime seems like a state offense. Task force investigations almost always result in federal prosecution because federal agencies control the investigation and federal prosecutors want to justify the resources spent.
Red flags you’re dealing with a federal task force: FBI or DEA agents present during state police investigation, search warrants issued by federal magistrate judges, statements like “this is a joint investigation,” seizure notices from federal agencies, or interviews conducted at federal buildings. If you see any of these signs, contact a federal criminal defense attorney immediately – do not talk to any law enforcement without your attorney present.
The Complete Guide to Federal Crimes We Defend
Federal Drug Trafficking (21 USC § 841)
The Charge: Manufacturing, distributing, or possessing with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Mandatory Minimums:
- 5 years: 5+ kg cocaine, 28+ g crack, 50+ g meth, 100+ g heroin, 100+ kg marijuana
- 10 years: 50+ kg cocaine, 280+ g crack, 500+ g meth, 1+ kg heroin, 1000+ kg marijuana
- 20 years to life: If death or serious injury results from drug use
Common Examples: Large-scale drug trafficking organizations, interstate drug transportation, distribution networks, drug importation, pill mills, fentanyl distribution.
Key Defenses: Lack of knowledge, constructive possession challenges, entrapment, illegal searches violating Fourth Amendment, drug quantity disputes, unreliable confidential informants, insufficient evidence of distribution intent.
Federal Wire Fraud (18 USC § 1343)
The Charge: Devising a scheme to defraud using wire communications (phone, email, internet).
Penalties: Up to 20 years federal prison (30 years if fraud affects financial institution), fines up to $1 million, restitution to victims.
Common Examples: Email phishing scams, telephone fraud schemes, internet fraud, cryptocurrency fraud, telemarketing fraud, online auction fraud, romance scams.
Key Defenses: No intent to defraud (good faith mistake), no false representations, victim wasn’t actually deceived, statute of limitations, insufficient evidence.
Federal Bank Fraud (18 USC § 1344)
The Charge: Executing scheme to defraud financial institutions or obtain money from banks by false pretenses.
Penalties: Up to 30 years federal prison, $1 million fine, restitution.
Common Examples: Check kiting, mortgage fraud, loan fraud, account takeover, credit card fraud, ATM fraud, insider fraud by bank employees.
Key Defenses: Lack of fraudulent intent, accounting errors, bank failed to follow proper procedures, statute of limitations, victim bank wasn’t actually deceived.
Federal Tax Evasion (26 USC § 7201)
The Charge: Willfully attempting to evade or defeat taxes.
Penalties: Up to 5 years federal prison per count, fines up to $250,000 (individuals) or $500,000 (corporations), restitution of taxes owed plus penalties and interest.
Common Examples: Failing to report substantial income, claiming false deductions, hiding assets offshore, using nominees or shell companies, filing false returns.
Key Defenses: Reliance on professional tax preparer, lack of willfulness (honest mistake), insufficient evidence of intent to evade, IRS calculation errors, statute of limitations (generally 6 years).
Money Laundering (18 USC § 1956)
The Charge: Conducting financial transactions involving proceeds of specified unlawful activity with intent to promote criminal activity or conceal source of funds.
Penalties: Up to 20 years federal prison per count, fines up to $500,000 or twice the value of funds laundered, asset forfeiture.
Common Examples: Structuring cash deposits to avoid reporting requirements, using shell companies to hide illicit proceeds, cryptocurrency laundering, purchasing assets with drug money.
Key Defenses: Lack of knowledge funds were from illegal source, legitimate business transaction, no intent to conceal, insufficient evidence linking funds to specified unlawful activity.
RICO – Racketeering (18 USC § 1961-1968)
The Charge: Conducting affairs of an enterprise through a pattern of racketeering activity (two or more predicate acts within 10 years).
Penalties: Up to 20 years federal prison per count (life if predicate act punishable by life), fines, forfeiture of all interests in enterprise, treble damages in civil RICO.
Common Examples: Organized crime families, drug trafficking organizations, corrupt businesses, gang enterprises, fraud networks.
Key Defenses: Lack of “pattern” (two isolated acts aren’t a pattern), no enterprise existed, defendant not involved in enterprise affairs, predicateacts weren’t proven beyond reasonable doubt, statute of limitations on predicate acts.
Federal Weapons Offenses (18 USC § 922, 924)
Common Charges:
- Felon in possession of firearm: 10-year max (15 years if 3+ prior violent crime/drug convictions)
- Straw purchasing firearms: 10-year max, $250,000 fine
- Trafficking firearms: 10-20 years depending on quantity
- Possession of firearms during drug trafficking: 5-year mandatory minimum consecutive to underlying drug offense
- Machine gun possession: 10-year max
Key Defenses: Lack of knowledge of felon status, constructive possession challenges, momentary possession exception, lack of knowledge gun was in vehicle, illegal search and seizure, entrapment in straw purchase cases.
Immigration Crimes (8 USC § 1325, 1326)
Illegal Reentry After Deportation (§ 1326):
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