Federal Criminal Investigations
FEDERAL CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS
CANNON & ASSOCIATES is dedicated to Fierce Advocacy for those facing Federal Criminal Investigation or Prosecution. It is crucial you contact an experienced Oklahoma Federal Criminal Defense Attorney, if you are facing federal criminal charges. You need a Fierce Advocate to defend your rights, your property, and your freedom. This page is an overview of the process and procedure of federal criminal investigations suspects are facing when they reach out to CANNON & ASSOCIATES.
How are Federal Investigations Conducted?
Multiple federal agencies have criminal investigative units or divisions that collect and provide investigations to the United States Attorney’s Office in the Federal District in which the events occurred. Despite the common perspective the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”), the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”), and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosions (“ATF”), conduct all federal criminal investigations; most federal agencies have a federal criminal investigative unit. However, the majority of federal criminal investigations are conducted by the following federal agencies:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
- United States Secret Service (USSS)
- Homeland Security Investigation (DHS/HSI)
Federal Investigators work under a similar framework as local and state law enforcement; they have areas of interest, such as Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) investigators primarily investigate tax fraud and financial crime, i.e. white collar crime. Federal investigators interview witnesses, collect evidence, and assist federal prosecutors, United States Attorneys, understand the facts of a particular case. Often times United States Attorney’s Offices work with multiple separate federal agencies in one investigation.
Search warrants are often requested in the course of federal criminal investigations. You have Constitutional protections in the Fourth Amendment that require probable cause before law enforcement can search your home, your person, your car, or other property. A “neutral and detached” judge must sign a search warrant prior to it being executed.
Federal arrests are more often conducted after an arrest warrant, based on probable cause, than state arrests, which usually occurs at the same time a crime is committed. Federal agents do have the authority to arrest an individual at the time a crime is committed, if probable cause exists, just like state and local law enforcement.
The evidence collected in the course of federal investigations is similar in form to the evidence collected in state and local law enforcement investigations, direct and circumstantial evidence.
Direct evidence: the statements, photographs, video, and other information obtained during a federal investigation is reviewed and evaluated against federal law and jurisdiction by United States Attorney’s Offices to determine, if sufficient evidence exists to present to a Federal Grand Jury. Direct evidence supports a fact without an inference, such as eyewitness testimony, including a person’s claim they actually saw a crime occur. However, testimony of something before or after an alleged crime is circumstantial evidence.
Circumstantial Evidence: all indirect information relating to a criminal act, as stated above, information before or after a crime is circumstantial evidence. It requires an inference or a leap from a fact known to a fact assumed.
Some state court criminal investigations consist of coordination and back and forth between District Attorneys and law enforcement over a period of time; however, generally law enforcement conducts its investigation separate from state prosecution offices. Alternatively, in federal criminal investigations the United States Attorney’s Office almost always works alongside federal criminal investigators during the course of the investigation, which facilitates Federal criminal charging decisions in United States Attorney’s Offices.
Conclusion
Federal criminal investigations are fast and fierce. Your opportunity to positively impact your federal criminal investigation is limited in time and scope. In order to intelligently decide whether to cooperate or not cooperate with federal criminal investigators is an experience driven analysis. You should contact an experienced federal criminal defense attorney prior to speaking to or cooperating in anyway with federal criminal investigators. It is my hope this page has educated you on major issues in federal criminal investigations.
Experience matters when your freedom or the freedom of a loved one is at stake. It is important to know the attorney you hire is a fierce advocate and has experience working with federal criminal investigators. John Cannon, owner of CANNON & ASSOCIATES, PLLC, will personally work along-side you during the entire process. John has been honored by being identified as a Top 40 under 40 in Criminal Defense by the National Trial Lawyers Association. John has the experience you need and will bring it to bear in your case. Additionally, he has an outstanding record of reaching the best possible outcome for hundreds of clients accused of the wide variety of criminal charges, evidenced by receiving the highest possible AVVO rating – 10 (superb). Contact CANNON & ASSOCIATES to protect your freedom and Fight your Case. You may send an email inquiry, complete the contact form on our website, or call at (405) 657-2323 for a free consultation.