Federal Criminal Lawyer
Practice Areas
By Thomas D. Carver
Facing Federal Charges or Criminal Investigation? Choose a federal criminal lawyer with a reputation for winning. Count on Carver & Associates.
OVER 45 YEARS OF PROVEN EXPERIENCE
FIVE-TIME LAWYER OF THE YEAR
A TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES
Experienced & Effective Federal Criminal Defense Attorney
If you are facing federal criminal charges in Missouri, you won’t just be defending yourself from the state of Missouri. You will be going up against the United States Government Federal Criminal Law. For an opponent like that, you need top federal attorneys on your side from Carver & Associates.
The list of potential criminal charges is long (and it’s best to speak with a lawyer) and includes any crimes that occur on or against federal government property or agents, but some of the most common are:
- Drug Trafficking
- Bank Robbery
- Child Pornography
- Mail, Securities, Internet Fraud
- Counterfeiting or Forgery
- Money Laundering
- Tax Violations
- Capital Murder
Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of federal crimes. To better understand the law and how it relates to your situation, we strongly urge you to contact a lawyer at our firm. Without proper legal assistance, you are more likely to not be treated fairly during the justice process of a federal criminal case.
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What is a Federal Criminal Offense?
Federal crimes aren’t your average, everyday crimes under the law. Many are white-collar offenses like fraud and embezzlement. However, federal criminal offenses also include certain kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, and drug cases that reach the federal level because of their seriousness, involvement with government agencies, or crossing state or international boundaries.
You are likely familiar with smaller but still potentially damaging State cases such as felonies and misdemeanors.
Federal crimes are often the big cases that make the news, as the investigation and arrest of the Beltway Snipers or Al Capone’s tax evasion. Watergate, perhaps the most infamous political scandal, would have resulted in the federal criminal prosecution of President Nixon had he not resigned first.
Under federal law statutes, the punishments and federal criminal justice system are very strict. This is why if you have gotten an arrest warrant, you must consult with an experienced federal criminal defense attorney to help you fight the criminal charges.
Federal Criminal Lawyers Help Even Before You Are Charged with a Crime
Often, federal criminal investigations are underway long before someone shows up at your door with a warrant issued by a court of federal law. This could begin with someone at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C., and then referred out to local agents.
Before you find out about a federal criminal investigation, authorities may already have gathered a great deal of information on you through interviews with associates, reviews of bank and other records, or even physical or electronic surveillance.
If you consult with experienced federal criminal defense lawyers and ask for the legal counsel you.
How Do You Know if You are Under Federal Investigation?
1- Personal contact
You may receive a call from a federal investigative agency requesting you to come in for an interview, or a pair of agents may show up at your home or business, asking to speak with you. You are not required to speak with them under the law. Don’t speak to them, contact a lawyer as soon as possible!
In some situations, they may have a search warrant entitling them to search your home, business, or any other place you may have stored potential evidence, such as a storage unit or a safety deposit box. The search warrant describes what locations will be searched and what they are looking for.
While you must comply with a search warrant, under the law, you are not required to speak with investigators. Be aware that any conversations you have with the agents will be recorded. Denials or lies to the investigators may result in an obstruction charge later. Thus, it is often the best course to decline an interview and refuse to answer questions until you have a federal criminal defense attorney present.
2- Target Letter
You may receive a “target letter.” This is a formal, written notice that you have been implicated in a federal crime and need to come in for an interview with the case agent and U.S. attorney handling the case. The U.S. attorney will have a local law office in your state, not in Washington D.C. Contact a lawyer immediately if you receive this!
If you are interested in becoming a cooperating witness, or you simply want to meet with investigators to find out what’s going on, your federal criminal lawyer will arrange a date and time to accompany you for your proffer.
3- Subpoena
There are two types of federal subpoenas. Either type may be issued by a judge, a U.S. lawyer, or a Grand Jury.
- Ad testificandum subpoena requires you to testify in a court of law.
- Duce’s tecum subpoena requires you to produce documents, such as business records.
Failure to comply with a subpoena can have serious consequences, so it’s imperative to contact a federal criminal lawyer immediately.
How Do Federal Criminal Investigations Work?
Real-life federal investigations are very different from Hollywood portrayals. While they can still be scary and produce anxiety, the lawyers in Springfield, MO at Carver & Associates will walk go above and beyond to ensure you’re prepared. Federal investigations can take years to complete, and you may not even know that you’re the target of an investigation until it’s well underway. Usually, such cases are brought to the attention of investigating agencies through tips or evidence of criminal activity that comes to the attention of authorities.
In addition to more familiar agencies like the FBI, DEA, and ATF, most government agencies have their own investigative arm. Depending on your occupational affiliations or the crime, you could be investigated by organizations like:
- Internal Revenue Service (Washington, D.C.)
- Department of Agriculture (Washington, D.C.)
- Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (Washington, D.C.)
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Washington, D.C.)
If you are a federal employee, federal contract employee, or work for a business that has federal contracts, you may also be drawn into a federal internal investigation through the Office of the Inspector General (IG). Each federal department has its own IG handling internal cases, cases involving potential fraud, or other crimes in contracting activities.
These agencies get information about possible crimes through:
- Audits and internal investigations
- Whistleblowers and anonymous tips
- Suspicious bank activity
- Information obtained while investigating other matters
Investigators take tips and information and investigate further to see if there is any evidence of criminal activity. It’s during this phase that much of the information and corroborating evidence is gathered by an investigator and federal law, and the person or persons being investigated may not even be aware that they’re under suspicion yet.
If the preliminary investigation produces enough evidence, investigators will go to a judge to get search warrants or permission to perform wiretaps and other surveillance. This is when you may get a visit from the feds or receive other notifications that you are under investigation. The agency will then evaluate all of their evidence and decide whether to drop the matter, convene a grand jury, or press formal charges by a lawyer.
In addition to protecting your rights, a federal criminal defense attorney can help you at any step in the process. Your lawyer has the ability to:
- Find out if you’re a witness, subject, or main target of an investigation
- Keep you from making matters worse through suspicious behavior
- Advise you about when to talk to federal authorities and how much you should say
- Negotiate on your behalf to get a plea deal, drop or reduce the charges, or ask for leniency in sentencing
- Interview witnesses, organize bail, and help you prepare a defense
The Federal Prosecutor’s Role and Steps in Federal Prosecution
Once formal charges have been filed, and indictments handed down, the prosecution begins. Unlike state criminal cases, federal cases are prepared and tried by the U.S. Attorney’s office for that district.
Your federal criminal defense attorney works closely with you through each phase of this process. A plea bargain may be possible, but there are restrictions on pleading to a lesser charge in a federal court of law. There are also restrictions on the ways a federal attorney can try to convince you to make a plea deal. For example, they cannot hint at or threaten the death penalty in an attempt to induce a guilty plea to a lesser charge.
Federal Prosecutors
Federal criminal jurisdictions are separated into regions outside of Washington D.C. Missouri’s federal legal system is divided into the Eastern District court of law and the Western District court of law. Each district is represented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for that district. The Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) works on behalf of the U.S. Attorney in Washington, representing the government of the United States in federal prosecutions outside of the capital in Washington D.C.
Why Choose a Federal Attorney vs. Average Attorney?
From the way cases are investigated and prosecuted to the potentially hefty criminal penalties, federal criminal cases are on another level than state and local cases. For example, in Missouri, you have federal courts, but the majority of cases are heard by the State Court. Every state in the U.S. has this system as well, separate state criminal codes and court systems. These systems are different and require a different type of lawyer. Contact a lawyer with significant federal legal experience.
That’s why you need a federal criminal defense lawyer who has the federal experience and is a licensed federal attorney. Federal court experience and a good reputation can also help your case when it comes time to cut a deal, set a cooperative tone with investigators, or negotiate a reduced sentence.
Are There Qualified Federal Defense Attorneys in Missouri?
It may surprise you to know that federal courts are all across the country, outside of Washington D.C. If you’re looking for a local law firm with the deep knowledge and experience it takes to handle federal criminal cases, your search has ended with Carver & Associates. We have more than 60 years of collective legal experience winning justice for clients, and you’ll always receive the kind of personal representation you deserve. We’re convenient to Springfield and the surrounding communities. Contact us to schedule a consultation with our federal criminal defense lawyer today.
Choose Top Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys
Thomas Carver has extensive experience litigating criminal cases in a federal court of law. His legal skills have been recognized by their peers with awards of excellence, proving him to be the top federal criminal defense lawyer in Springfield, MO.
Tom has practiced law for over 43 years and has been a lawyer for almost 300 clients in criminal cases. Aside from being elected President of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in 2001, Tom has been awarded numerous legal accolades throughout his distinguished career, including being named Lawyer of the Year in both 2013, 2015, and 2018 for the southwest Missouri region in the area of white-collar law.
When the chips are stacked against you, you need the best attorneys to help even the odds, and the team at Carver & Associates had proven time and again to be the most professional federal criminal defense lawyers in Springfield, MO.
What Makes a Good Federal Criminal Defense Attorney?
You would not want your chiropractor to treat your heart condition, and you don’t want a divorce attorney preparing your federal criminal defense. When looking for a criminal defense attorney, you want to find someone who has been a justice advocate with experience and a proven record of success in that practice area, including the particular type of crime. White-collar criminal cases differ greatly from federal drug trafficking or kidnapping charges. To get justice, you need a specialist.
Other factors to take into consideration are:
1- Professionalism
When your life and future freedom are on the line, you want a professional federal criminal defense lawyer who is timely, organized, and willing to put in the necessary effort to protect your rights and the justice process.
2- Reputation
It helps if your federal criminal defense attorney is well-known and respected in the federal court system in Missouri. An ongoing working relationship with judges and federal prosecutors makes it easier to negotiate aspects of your case.
3- Affordability
Preparing a federal criminal defense is not cheap. However, you want a criminal defense attorney who charges fair fees that are commensurate with the work involved.
4- Experience
You don’t want a lawyer who’s fresh out of law school handling your federal investigation defense. If you are facing overwhelming evidence and certainty of prison time under the law, you want a seasoned professional. If you plan to contest your case in a court of law, you want an attorney with a federal trial track record.
Don’t wait to Hire a Lawyer.
One of the biggest mistakes in federal criminal cases is waiting for a lawyer in that part. Federal criminal investigations take months or years for the case to proceed. You can hire a good lawyer early and increase the chances that you will achieve victory. It’s a criminal investigation that takes place before any charges can start, and your legal advisor has a lot of work to do to find that same balancing act for federal cases in most instances. When you are charged with another offense, your attorney will likely have to do so to follow.
Hire The Best Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
If you have been charged for federal offenses or are undergoing federal criminal trials, the best way to deal with it is with the help of an experienced federal defense lawyer. Hiring an expert federal defense attorney will help get the best defense strategy to represent your case in the federal district court.
At Carver & Associates, we have been serving our clients with federal charges and provide them legal guidance to protect their rights, reputation and settle their records with mandatory minimum penalties. To consult with our attorneys, feel free to contact us and book a free consultation or visit our law office.
Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer, FAQs
1- What should you do if you have been charged with a federal criminal offense?
1- What should you do if you have been charged with a federal criminal offense?Federal Government has the most strict law for those who have committed any federal crimes or have been against federal law. So, if you have been charged and arrested for a federal offense, the best way to deal with it is by hiring an experienced criminal defense lawyer who understands everything about federal sentencing guidelines. From receiving a letter from Federal Prosecutor to representing your case before a federal judge and dealing with federal authorities, the experienced federal criminal lawyer will be by your side.
2- How would a lawyer help you fight your charges?
An experienced defense lawyer will prepare a remarkable defense strategy based on the facts of your case and represent it in court. It will help you get free from your charges with minimal penalties to get the best from it.
3- Who investigates Federal Crimes?
All federal offenses and crimes are being investigated and dealt with by the law enforcement agency – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
4- When should you hire a federal defense attorney?
To get the best from your case, it is suggested to connect with an expert attorney as soon as possible. The federal law is strict with procedures of federal crimes investigation, and it might be possible that if you make any delay, you may lose your chance to protect your reputation and rights.
5- How much does a federal defense lawyer cost?
The fee of a federal defense lawyer depends on the severity of your case and the lawyer you are hiring. However, Carver & Associates offers a free consultation. So, if you want to understand your charges and legal options, feel free to book a free consultation with us.
Why Carver & Associates
45+ Years of Proven Experience. Thousands of cases won. Award-Winning Representation.
Over 45 Years of Proven Experience
Tom has been a pillar of the Springfield MO legal community for four decades. He has represented over 300 clients in federal cases and literally thousands of clients in Missouri state courts.
Five-Time Lawyer of the Year
Five-time designation by Best Lawyers as “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of criminal law in Springfield, Missouri among numerous other accolades..
A Track-Record of Successful Outcomes
Tom is a fierce advocate for his clients and is known for helping families obtain the best outcome possible. Sentence reductions, dismissals and death row reversals to name a few.
The Power of Experience
When your life is on the line, you don’t want to chance your future to a legal rookie. You need an advocate who has seen it all before and knows how to make the best out of a terrible situation.
Carver & Associates are not only experienced, but effective. Judicial matters can be complicated, and we are on hand to answer your questions and keep you informed on every aspect of your case. We take great pride in using our experience to benefit you.
Thousands of People Helped
Using our experience to secure positive outcomes for our clients.
Felony Assault Trial
Not Guilty
Class A Felony Domestic Assault
Reduced to Misdemeanor
Five Counts of Sex Trafficking
All Charges Dismissed
Federal Death Penalty