817.860.5000

Federal Crimes

Dallas & Fort Worth – Northern District of Texas
Federal Crime Attorney

  1. Individuals can be prosecuted in both Federal and State Courts for a variety of law violations. There is a substantial difference in the procedures, laws, rules of evidence and potential punishment in the two different legal systems. It is therefore important if you are charged with a Federal crime, or being investigated for a Federal crime that you contact an attorney experienced in the Federal court system to represent your best interests. At Ball & Hase, we have substantial experience in defending Federal criminal cases.

    One of the big differences in Federal prosecutions is in the area of sentencing. Sentencing has always been conducted in Federal Courts by the presiding Judge.1 The implementation- of the United States Sentencing Guidelines has substantially changed the course of Federal Sentencing. The Guidelines provide a somewhat complex set of rules to govern sentencing. Recent decisions of the United States Supreme Court have created an opportunity for experienced Federal criminal attorneys to obtain sentences below the guideline range. It is common for clients to be shocked at the severity of guideline sentences, particularly in comparison to sentences imposed in similar State court prosecutions. At Ball & Hase, we have experience in the complex area of Federal Sentencing.

  2. In Federal criminal cases, it is more common that there is an extensive period of investigation before any formal charges are filed. This provides an opportunity for an experienced Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer to influence the outcome of the case and even the Federal prosecutor’s charging decisions. It is therefore of extreme importance that if you are contacted by a Federal investigative agency that you contact an experienced Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer immediately.

    Most Federal crimes are investigated by a Federal Law Enforcement Agency. Those agencies can include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the United States Postal Inspector, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of an agency, such as Health and Human Services (HHS), the United States Attorney’s Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) which is a division for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and a variety of smaller agencies and their branches. If you are contacted by any of these agencies and advised that they are conducting an investigation, it is important to respond that you wish to speak with them in the presence of your legal counsel. This invokes your right to counsel and is an important protection. Identify the agent and his/her contact information and contact an experienced Federal Criminal attorney immediately. Do not forcibly resist any attempts to search or arrest, but do not provide any consent to search to the agents. It is also common to receive what is termed a “target” letter from an Assistant United States Attorney. The same advice applies. Contact Ball & Hase for expert assistance if one of these contacts occurs.

  3. An experienced Federal Criminal lawyer is essential if you are arrested, charged or investigated for a Federal criminal law violation. Federal criminal law violations can include: possession or delivery or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, money laundering, mail fraud, health care fraud, medicare fraud, wire fraud, tax evasion, conspiracy, mortgage fraud, computer crimes including Internet crimes and child pornography, bank fraud, bankruptcy fraud, securities fraud, firearms and weapons offenses, Federal program and contract fraud, RICO, civil rights violations, and the list goes on. If you are subject to arrest, charge or investigation for any one of these Federal crimes, any criminal defense lawyer experienced in State criminal defense should not do. You need an attorney who is experienced in the Federal court system.

    It is also important to note that in the Federal criminal justice system that there are large and complex investigations of corporations for law violations. We work with corporate counsel and executives to assist in the management of these investigations. Conflicts of interest have to be evaluated when handling these cases. We represent executives and other employees who are either targets of the investigation or merely government sought witnesses.

Free consultation: If you find yourself in any of the circumstances that require an experience Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer, we offer a free consultation for your legal problem, Contact a board-certified criminal defense attorney at Ball & Hase in Arlington. We can represent your interests in any Federal Jurisdiction in the United States. In an emergency, call 817.860.5000. We answer calls 24 hours a day.

1In the United States District Courts for the Northern District of Texas, the presiding judges are Judge McBryde, Judge Means, Judge Solis, Judge Kinkeade, Judge Fitzwater, Judge Robinson, Judge Cummings, Judge Lindsay, Judge Lynn, Judge Godbey, Judge Boyle, Judge O’Connor, and Senior Judges Fish, Buchmeyer, Fergeson and Maloney.