Federal Charges

Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Serving Ohio

When you’re facing federal criminal charges, you need experienced legal representation to protect your rights and seek a fair resolution to the accusations against you. The consequences of a conviction may be life-altering, and federal prosecutors have considerable resources to bring to bear against you. Don’t leave yourself exposed to the full might of the U.S. Government. Instead, contact McNamee Defense to discuss your options with a federal criminal defense lawyer.

Why Choose a Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer from McNamee Defense?

A federal prosecution can have significant consequences for your rights and freedom, and your choice of legal representation is one of the most important decisions you can make in your criminal case. Turn to a felony criminal defense lawyer from McNamee Defense to help you face federal charges because:

• Our firm offers clients aggressive yet discreet legal representation for alleged federal offenses. We work tirelessly to protect our clients’ rights and interests, providing them with the attention and resources they deserve.
• We help our clients get their lives back on track as soon as possible. Our firm focuses on the facts of a client’s case, minimizes unnecessary delays, and vigorously pursues favorable resolutions to federal charges. We value your reputation, freedom, and future as much as you do.
• Attorney Colin E. McNamee has a decade-plus of experience representing clients in criminal cases. He has earned a reputation for compassionate, understanding legal advocacy and for taking a detailed approach to representation. That approach includes a thorough investigation and diligent preparation to provide every client with a robust defense against their charges.

Types of Federal Charges We Handle

At McNamee Defense, an experienced criminal defense attorney can assist you with resolving federal charges involving offenses such as:

• Drug violations, including drug trafficking, drug manufacturing/cultivation, drug conspiracy, or maintaining a criminal drug enterprise
• Firearms/weapons charges, including possession of a weapon by a prohibited person (e.g., convicted felon, domestic violence offender, habitual drug user)
• Sex offenses, including distribution of child pornography, solicitation of minors via the internet, or traveling in interstate commerce to commit a sex offense

Federal criminal charges can involve any offense that occurs in interstate commerce, relies on the mail or telecommunications systems, uses federal property, occurs on federal property/territory, or victimizes the U.S. government. Contact McNamee Defense today to discuss your federal charges and learn how our firm can help you formulate and pursue a case strategy to secure a more favorable resolution to your prosecution.

Differences Between Federal and State Charges

Federal criminal charges have certain key differences from state criminal charges. The federal criminal justice system tends to focus on crimes occurring across state or national borders or on federal land or property. Federal crimes may also involve offenses that occur through the U.S. Postal Service or via telephone, internet, radio, or television. These offenses also include many crimes that affect the banking or financial system.

Conversely, the state criminal justice system handles most other crimes, including violent offenses like homicide or assault, lower-level drug crimes like possession with intent to distribute or simple possession, domestic violence, and traffic offenses.

Federal and state charges also differ in the potential penalties imposed for convictions. Federal law tends to impose harsher sentences for crimes than state law does for comparable offenses.

Federal prosecutions take place in the U.S. District Court, whereas state criminal prosecutions occur in Ohio’s trial courts. In some cases, a defendant may face prosecution for both federal and state charges for the same criminal offense.

Consequences of a Federal Conviction

A conviction for a federal offense can have severe and potentially long-lasting consequences. First, a conviction will result in a sentence that can include various penalties, such as:

• Imprisonment : A federal conviction may result in a defendant receiving a term of incarceration, with the specific sentence imposed based on factors such as the offense level for the crime and the defendant’s criminal history category under the federal Sentencing Guidelines and the aggravating and mitigating factors in the case which may convince the court to sentence above or below the Guidelines range. Some federal crimes also have mandatory minimum sentences and statutory maximum sentences.
• Fines : Many federal convictions also impose fines that may reach millions of dollars for the most serious offenses.
• Probation : A federal court may impose probation instead of incarceration for less serious crimes. Probation requires a convicted defendant to submit to supervision by the federal probation office and to obey specific conditions, such as maintaining housing and employment, refraining from drug use, or avoiding new criminal offenses.
• Restitution : A restitution order requires a defendant to reimburse their victim(s) for financial losses the victim(s) incurred due to the defendant’s crime.
• Forfeiture : Federal criminal law allows the government to petition for the forfeiture of a defendant’s property if the government proves the defendant acquired the property through their criminal activity.

Defendants released early from prison may have to serve a term of supervised release that, like probation, requires them to submit to law enforcement supervision and follow specific conditions.

Convictions can also have other collateral consequences, such as the right to own or possess firearms or run for public office, and, for sex-based offenses, the requirement to register as a sex offender.

Potential Defenses to Federal Charges

Depending on the specific type of charge, a person arrested for a federal offense may have various defense strategies they could raise against a prosecution, such as:

• Lack of intent : Many federal criminal statutes require an offender to have committed the offense with a specific degree of criminal intent (e.g., willfully, knowingly, recklessly). A defendant may argue that the government’s case does not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they acted with the intent required by the charged criminal statute.
• Mistaken identity/alibi : Defendants may challenge victims’ or eyewitnesses’ identifications by highlighting factors that could have adversely affected their perception of the perpetrator. Alternatively, a defendant may present alibi evidence to prove they were elsewhere when an alleged crime occurred and did not commit it.
• Lack of possession : In federal drug and weapons cases, a defendant may assert that the evidence failed to prove they had actual (physical) or constructive (access/control) possession of the contraband.
• Unreliable forensic evidence : When a federal criminal case involves forensic evidence, such as fingerprints, ballistics, or DNA, defendants may challenge its reliability by highlighting issues with the government’s forensic testing or identifying breaks in the chain of custody of the evidence.

How Can a Criminal Defense Attorney Help You Face Federal Prosecution?

Don’t face federal prosecution without an experienced defense lawyer from McNamee Defense by your side. We can help you protect your rights, reputation, and freedom by:

• Thoroughly investigating your charges, rather than relying on the case file turned over by the government
• Helping you understand your charges and the potential outcomes of your case to guide you in making informed decisions at each step of the prosecution
• Evaluating your legal options for fighting for a more favorable outcome for your charges
• Putting in the hard work to build the most robust defense strategy given the circumstances
• Challenging the government’s case at every opportunity, including seeking to exclude evidence or dismiss your charges for lack of evidence
• Fighting for the best possible result under the circumstances of your case, even if that means taking your case to trial to contest the allegations or assert your innocence

Contact Our Ohio Law Firm Today to Discuss Your Federal Charges

Don’t leave the outcome of your case to chance. Contact McNamee Defense today for a confidential consultation with our legal team to discuss how we can help you pursue a favorable resolution to a federal prosecution. Our firm is licensed in Ohio and has law offices in Columbus and Bellefontaine.