The Criminal Defense Law Center of
West Michigan

Federal Criminal Defense Attorney

If you are being investigated or arrested by federal law enforcement agencies, you are facing serious criminal charges.  You need to talk to Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Shawn Haff from The Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan as soon as possible if you are facing federal charges such as:

We will provide you with a fierce federal criminal defense attorney for federal charges. We have the tools needed to get you the best results possible on your federal charges and we won’t charge you an arm and a leg like other lawyers do. Our Federal Defense Attorneys in Grand Rapids, Michigan will not rest until you get the best results possible.  

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Federal Charges Are Tough

Federal charges could result in you facing serious penalties. We can protect you from federal authorities such as the FBI, IRS and the DEA.

Federal drug charges can result in fines that reach millions of dollars and prison time. If a person already has a drug offense on their record, a person could be facing life in prison for an interstate trafficking charge.

If a person is charged with tax fraud or tax evasion, they could face up to a $25,000 dollar fine and a year in prison for each year a tax return was not received.

A wise person would call a federal criminal defense attorney at The Criminal Defense Law Center of West Michigan if they are ever charged with federal tax fraud or evasion at 616-438-6719.  Our Grand Rapids, Michigan federal defense lawyers are here for our 24 hours a day seven days a week. Call now!

Racketeering has a broad definition. Any activity that involves being involved with an illegal organization is referred to as racketeering.  Racketeering is a felony at the federal level that is pursued under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Act (RICO), resulting in fines, restitution and prison time if convicted.

In addition to the harsh criminal penalties for RICO charges, which are handled at the federal level, any assets that were gained through racketeering must be forfeited. Additionally, the plaintiff may be able to obtain compensation for attorney fees and additional damages depending on the circumstances of the case. Our Grand Rapids, MI federal defense attornys have handled these types of charges successfully. 

The original intent of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act was to fight Mafia crimes. Today, it is much more frequently used as a tool by prosecutors to go after white-collar criminals. RICO charges are often brought in cases involving federal charges relating to white-collar crimes such as:

  • Credit card fraud
  • Counterfeiting
  • Money laundering
  • Insurance fraud
  • Billing fraud
  • Federal conspiracy

The Process for a Federal Criminal Case in Michigan

Federal cases are unique because there are some steps in the process that happens far more frequently than in state cases.

According to The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the federal process can have the following stages:

  1. Investigation: Federal agencies, such as the DEA, ATF FBI or DHS, are often involved in collecting evidence in federal criminal cases.
  2. Charging: The prosecutor, once the investigation is done, will review the evidence gathered and decide whether to present your case to a grand jury.
  3. Initial Hearing/Arraignment: after a defendant is arrested and charged, an initial hearing with a judge will occur. A plea will likely happen at this stage.
  4. Discovery: The defense attorney and prosecutor review the case and share the required records needed for trial.
  5. Plea Bargaining: If the government has a strong case, the defendant may not be offered a plea deal. If the government does decide to offer a plea deal, the defendant must agree to plead guilty or no contest in court.
  6. Preliminary Hearing: If the defendant pleads not guilty, the prosecutor may be required to demonstrate that there is enough evidence to warrant a trial. In many cases, the defendant will waive this step.
  7. Pre-Trial Motions: The prosecutor or the defense attorney may make pre-trial motions.
  8. Trial: This is where the prosecutor presents evidence in an attempt to prove the defendant’s guilt to the jury. Trials have opening statements, witness examination, objections, and closing arguments.
  9. Post-Trial Motions: If the defendant is convicted, the defendant may want to file a post-trial motion.
  10. Sentencing: several months after the trial, the defendant will be sentenced. Congress has set minimum and maximum punishments that guide the judge’s decision.
  11. Appeal: If the defense believes their client was wrongfully convicted, they may appeal the verdict.

As you can see, there are a lot of steps in a federal case! If you have any questions, don’t wait to call Shawn today at 616-438-6719.

The punishments for being convicted of a federal crime are too harsh to face alone! You need an aggressive lawyer at your side. Our Federal defense attorneys in Grand Rapids, MI are a must! You can not take on Uncle Sam without a tough lawyer by your side. 

Jurisdiction for Federal Criminal Prosecutions in Grand Rapids

There are two federal court districts in Michigan. There is a Western District and an Eastern District. Each one of these federal courts has the jurisdiction in Michigan for any violation of federal offenses that take place in Western or Eastern Michigan.  Federal offenses are violations of laws against the United States.  It would be a great benefit to have our Federal Defense Lawyers on your side to assist you when facing serious criminal charges against the United States Government. 

Make Complex Cases Easier With a Grand Rapids Federal Criminal Attorney

Crimes against the United States are complex and serious. These cases always necessitate having an oustanding Grand Rapids Federal Criminal Defense on your side. An attorney who will help you stand up for your rights. Call us today to get the best results possible. Do not delay in retaining legal counsel on federal cases. These cases move much quicker than state cases do. 

Retain Our Federal Defense Lawyers in Grand Rapids, Michigan

When your liberty is at stake, call us today at 616-438-6719.  Federal crimes are punished more severely than state charges in Michigan are. In many cases, prison sentences are almost a given, even for offenses that on the surface don’t appeare serious. 

In ending, here is a civics lesson. There are important differences between criminal charges at the federal level and state level. The federal government has powers that are “enumerated” in the Constitution. If the power is not listed, the federal government has no authority to pass laws regarding the subject. State governments, which are not encumbered, have more authority to regulate these subject matters. Therefore, the state has the so called police power to govern the “health, safety, morals and welfare” of its citizens. Because of this, the state can outlaw drug use, prostitution etc. This also means that the state has the exclusive authority to prosecute these kinds of crimes. 

The “commerce clause” is the main authority for the federal government to criminalize something. This power gives the federal government authroity regulate interstate commerce. If a certain act could impact interstate commerce, the federal government can then make this activity against the law.  The federal government uses this clause to criminalize numerous activities that only have minimal impact on interstate commerce. Because of this, we have a federal criminal code that is very bloated. 

If you are facing criminal charges from Uncle Same, contact our Grand Rapids Federal Defense attorney now at 616-438-6719. The call is free. Will you be? 

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