Being charged with a criminal offense at the federal level can be particularly daunting. Often, federal criminal cases deal with the most serious crimes, such as drug trafficking, white-collar crimes, and kidnapping. As such, the penalties for a federal crime can be severe, and getting a conviction can be life-impacting.

If you have been charged with a federal crime in Illinois, it is important that you seek help from an experienced federal criminal lawyer as soon as possible. With federal crimes, the United States federal government has investigative agencies that spend a long time gathering evidence and building a case against you. When it comes to your trial, the federal prosecutors will likely have a strong case for conviction against you, and you will need a criminal defense attorney that can argue aggressively on your behalf.

At Hirsch Law Group, we have a team of highly experienced federal criminal lawyers that can help you win your case. Our law firm prioritizes protecting the rights of the accused and we ensure to dedicate equal time to each case. As a team of former prosecutors, we have a unique skill set that can help us predict the arguments of federal prosecutors, and prepare defenses based on these predictions.

Our federal criminal defense attorneys have built up a strong attorney-client relationship throughout our years of practice and dedication. The lawyers in our law firm have gained a high degree of professional achievement and have been ranked among America’s Top 100 Attorneys.

Schedule a free consultation with us today by calling 815-880-1134.

What is a Federal Crime?

Federal crimes are charged and prosecuted by the U.S. federal government. Many acts are regarded as crimes under both state and federal law however there are certain circumstances in which the federal government will step in to charge an individual for a federal crime, including:

  • Crimes that have been committed on federal property, which can be any land, building, or real property that is owned or leased by the federal government or a department of government.
  • Crimes that are committed across state lines or occur in more than one state.
  • Crimes committed against federal agents.
  • Crimes committed by using a federal entity or against a federal entity, such as the U.S. postal service.
  • Crimes that are related to immigration or customs.

There are also certain crimes that are almost always charged at the federal level, including drug trafficking across state lines, crimes against the government such as fraud, and child pornography charges. Additionally, if the United States attorney’s office considers the crime to be of a certain level of seriousness, they may decide to charge it at the federal level.

All federal crimes are investigated by federal law enforcement agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). During these investigations, federal agents usually gather significant amounts of evidence, due to the unique tools and extensive budgets that they have.

Once federal criminal investigations are conducted, the matter will be brought to a federal prosecutor and grand jury, and you will be arrested and tried in a federal court. You will need the backing of an experienced federal criminal defense lawyer to help minimize your sentence and protect your rights.

Federal Crimes vs. State Crimes in Illinois

All citizens of the U.S. are legally obliged to abide by state and federal laws. By residing in Illinois, you have a duty to respect the state criminal laws, such as local DUI and traffic laws, assault laws, etc. You also have an added duty to abide by all federal laws, which represent a separate legal system.

There are significant differences between state and federal criminal charges. For the most part, federal crimes are regarded as much more serious and the penalties for a conviction are far more severe. Some of the main differences between state and federal crimes include:

Seriousness

As noted above, if the United States attorney’s office deems a crime to be too serious to be charged at the state level, it will move to the hands of the federal government. As federal crimes carry a significant serious level or pose a threat to the government, they are treated much more seriously and have further stretching consequences.

Resources

With state crimes, the bodies that are responsible for investigating the crime are usually the local sheriffs or police officers. The case is then usually tried in county or state courts by a local judge. On the other hand, a federal investigation will usually have a significant amount of resources and a whole investigative team, which is under the Department of Justice (DOJ). A United States district judge will then hear the case in federal courts, and the prosecutor will be appointed by the U.S. government.

Sentencing

The sentencing for federal criminal convictions is usually far more severe than for state crimes. Due to federal sentencing guidelines, judges are required to hand down a sentence for a conviction and must abide by mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines.

Prison

If you are sentenced to jail time for a crime by state courts, you will spend time in a county jail or state prison. For a federal conviction, you will be sentenced to time in federal prison.

Conviction Rate

Due to the significant amount of resources that the federal criminal justice system has, the conviction rate is usually much higher than for state crimes. On average, over 90% of federal criminal cases end in a guilty verdict plea bargain and do not go to trial. Without a federal criminal defense lawyer, it is almost impossible to avoid a conviction or a lesser sentence.

To get a complete understanding of the difference between federal and state crimes in Illinois, contact a federal criminal defense attorney from our law firm today.

Types of Federal Criminal Charges in Illinois

Federal crimes are among the most serious types of criminal charges in Illinois. For the reasons discussed before, such as harsh sentencing guidelines, conviction rate, and investigative resources, being convicted of a crime under federal criminal law can have life-impacting consequences.

White-Collar Federal Crimes

White-collar crimes are non-violent crimes that are committed for the purposes of financial gain. In most cases, these financial crimes are committed by people with a significant level of wealth or in a position of power and involve sophisticated actions. Some examples of common white-collar federal crimes include:

  • Consumer fraud.
  • Bribery.
  • Counterfeiting.
  • Money laundering.
  • Extortion.
  • Tax evasion.
  • Corporate fraud.

Many white-collar crimes are criminalized under both state and federal law, such as identity theft, fraud, and money laundering. For white-collar crimes to be charged at the federal level, they must cross state lines, and involve federal agencies or the national banking system.

For example, if an employee or employer is money laundering using a small Illinois business that does not carry out transactions in other states, their crime will be charged under state law. On the other hand, if an individual is using a larger business to launder money, that crosses over state lines or has conducted interstate business, they will be charged with money laundering at the federal level.

Federal Sex Crimes

The federal court will take over the investigation and prosecution of a sex crime if it was committed across numerous states or state lines, occurred on state or federal property, was carried out on the internet, or involved telephone communication. Federal sex crimes are among the most serious of crimes charged in federal courts, particularly when they involve minors. As such, the sentencing guidelines for federal sex crimes are severe.

Some examples of federal sex crimes include:

  • Child pornography possession – Being found in possession of, in receipt of, distributing, transporting, or possessing with intent to sell child pornography in Illinois can result in up to 20 years in federal prison. This sentence increases to 15 years to life if you are found to be soliciting a minor to engage in sexual activity for child pornography production purposes.
  • Sexual exploitation of a child – Under 18. U.S. Code § 2252A, an individual can be charged with sexual exploitation of a child if they possess or distribute images of minors engaging in sexual acts, being coerced to engage in sexual acts, or being sexually exploited by another person. Those convicted of this crime can face from 15 to 30 years in prison, which can increase to 50 years if they have prior convictions.
  • Solicitation of child pornography – Section 2251 of U.S.C. 18. criminalizes trying to obtain, produce, distribute, or reproduce child pornography through advertisements or notices.
  • Sex trafficking of minors – Being convicted of transporting minors across state lines for sexual purposes can result in 10 years to life imprisonment.
  • Traveling across state lines to have sex with minors – A conviction for this crime can result in up to 30 years in prison.

Being convicted of a federal sex crime can result in not only serious penalties such as time in federal prison but also a permanent criminal conviction and your name added to the sex offender registry. It is important to fight these crimes with the backing of a federal criminal lawyer to try and avoid a conviction or to minimize your penalties.

Violent Crimes

In most cases, violent crimes are charged at the state level by local police officers and state prosecutors. However, if the crime was significantly serious in nature, was committed on federal or government property, or crossed state lines, such as an armed robbery, then it will be charged as a federal criminal case.

Some examples of violent crimes that can be tried by a federal court include:

  • Assault and battery on a federal officer – Conviction for this crime under federal law can result in up to eight years in prison.
  • Kidnapping – In the event that a kidnap victim is taken across state lines or a federal service was used to facilitate the kidnap, such as the mail service or the internet, then the crime will be charged by federal prosecutors.
  • Armed bank robbery – If you were caught using weapons, force, or intimidation to rob a bank or credit union, you will be charged under 18 U.S.C. § 2113 for felony robbery and sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

If you have been charged with a violent crime at the federal level, a federal criminal lawyer from our firm can help get your charges reduced to avoid spending time in prison or paying substantial fines. Getting a permanent criminal record for a federal felony charge can have a huge impact on your life, so it is imperative that you seek legal representation as soon as possible.

Murder

A murder charge is regarded as the most serious criminal act a person can commit in Illinois. In most cases, murder will be tried in state courts, as murder is regarded as a criminal offense in all states. However, there are certain circumstances that will give rise to a federal offense of murder. You may be tried with federal murder charges if you are suspected of:

  • Killing a federal judge or officeholder.
  • Killing to impact a court case.
  • A murder that was related to sexual offenses such as rape or child sex offenses.
  • Drug trafficking killings.
  • Murder by mail or hire.
  • Killing the family member of a law enforcement agency.

First-degree murder

First-degree murder as a federal criminal charge involves “malice aforethought”, which is defined as “poison, lying in wait, or any other kind of willful, deliberate, malicious, and premeditated killing” by 18 U.S. Code § 1111. A first-degree murder conviction may also be handed down if the murder was committed during a kidnapping, arson, espionage, robbery, sexual abuse, or as part of a pattern or practice. A conviction of first-degree murder by a federal court can result in life imprisonment or death.

second-degree murder

Second-degree murder at the federal level is all other types of murder with “malice aforethought” that are not defined under the first-degree murder section.

A federal murder conviction is among the most serious convictions you can receive in Illinois. It is strongly advised that you enlist the help of an experienced federal criminal defense lawyer that has dealt with murder cases and has significant experience navigating the federal legal system.

Federal Drug Crimes

Federal drug crimes are governed by the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 or Title 21 of the United States Code. This act criminalizes drug crimes such as manufacturing, cultivation, trafficking, possession, conspiracy, and more. The act also divides controlled substances into categories or ‘Schedules’ based on the risk they pose to the public and their accepted medical use.

For the most part, minor drug crimes and crimes that do not cross state lines are charged at the state level, such as possession, manufacturing, and local distribution. However, if the drug crime is committed on government property, has any aggravating factors, crosses state lines, relates to gang activity, or is particularly serious in nature, it will be charged as a federal criminal case.

All federal drug crimes are investigated by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), which are known to be particularly stringent with investigating and charging drug crimes. They may use tactics such as wiretapping or undercover federal agents to aid their investigation.

Drug Trafficking

Drug trafficking is the most common drug crime investigated and charged under federal law, particularly if the trafficking occurred across state lines. If you are found transporting or illegally importing a controlled substance, such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, methamphetamines, or some prescription drugs, you can be charged with federal drug trafficking.

If convicted of a felony drug trafficking charge, the penalties you face will depend on a number of factors, including your criminal history, the type and amount of a controlled substance found in your possession, and where the drugs were trafficked to or through, such as federal property or a children’s school.

Federal sentencing guidelines on drug trafficking are extremely harsh and can result in life imprisonment. For example, if you are found trafficking 5 kilograms of cocaine, 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, or 1 kilogram of heroin, you can be sentenced to 10 years up to life in federal prison. Speak with one of our federal criminal lawyers if you have been charged with federal drug trafficking in Illinois. They will do everything in their power to reduce your sentence or get your charges thrown out.

Life After a Federal Drug Conviction

Moving on from a federal drug conviction can be particularly difficult. The federal court process is notoriously unfair for defendants due to the high conviction rate and the extensive government resources. If you are convicted of a drug crime, you will likely have to spend time in prison, go on probation, and pay huge fines. On top of this, you may face the following barriers:

  • Employment – With a criminal record, getting a job can be difficult. Often, employers perform background checks on potential employees and are reluctant to hire individuals with a federal conviction.
  • Education – Many universities and schools in Illinois and throughout the United States perform background checks on new students. If you have a criminal record, you may face difficulties getting accepted to some schools.
  • Child support – Family courts are often reluctant to grant child support to individuals that have been convicted of a drug crime. If you had primary custody of your child before a conviction, this may be revoked by a local court.
  • Housing – Accessing public housing is extremely difficult with a felony record. Housing agencies rarely accept individuals with drug convictions on their record and may restrict your access to your family’s public housing.

Federal felony records cannot be expunged, except for in circumstances where the conviction was obtained through misconduct, the statute that you violated has been deemed unconstitutional, or the conviction was illegal. Our law office deals with lots of clients that have had their lives impacted by federal felony records, and we can offer you legal advice on how to try and move to the next stage of your life after a conviction.

Do I Have To Go To Rehab After a Drug Conviction?

Often, the best way to get on a new chapter of life after a drug conviction is to attend some form of alcohol and drug program or rehabilitation. It is not required that you attend rehabilitation after a federal drug conviction however, we strongly recommend it. In some situations, attending rehabilitation can be beneficial to your case and can result in you getting a lighter sentence or getting your probation reduced.

If you are charged with a non-violent federal drug crime, our lawyers can help do the following:

  • Petition federal judges to get part of your sentence replaced with a drug rehabilitation program rather than jail time.
  • Discuss a plea agreement with the federal prosecutors beforehand that minimizes your sentence and includes court-mandated rehab.

With court-ordered rehab, you are required to attend all classes or programs and follow the rules strictly. Failure to attend court-ordered rehab can result in extra penalties and time added to your sentence.

Getting federal prosecutors or federal judges to agree to rehab as opposed to jail time can be difficult, which is why you need an experienced federal criminal attorney to help you with your criminal case.

Federal Criminal Investigation Process

The federal criminal investigation process is complex and often progresses over a significant amount of time. From the moment you suspect you are the subject of federal prosecution, you should seek help from an experienced federal defense attorney. It is important that you have strong legal representation at all stages of the federal criminal process to ensure that your rights are protected and that you do not give away incriminating evidence.

Investigation and Arrest

Federal crimes are investigated by federal law enforcement agencies such as the DEA, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), U.S. Department of Homeland Security, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection. If these agencies can gather sufficient evidence against you during the federal investigation, they will get a search warrant or a subpoena by a federal judge.

If the federal agents can gather enough evidence, they will bring their case forward to the United States attorney’s office to suggest that charges be brought against you. A federal prosecutor will then normally grant an arrest warrant outlining your federal criminal charges.

Arraignment

After your arrest for a federal criminal case, you must be brought before a federal magistrate judge as soon as possible. It is important that you are not held in custody without an initial hearing for a prolonged period of time. At this stage, the magistrate judge will decide whether to remand you in custody for the duration of your trial or grant bail.

During your arraignment, it is important that you have a federal criminal lawyer arguing on your behalf for bail to be granted. Without legal representation, you may be remanded in federal prison for an indeterminate amount of time, pending the decision of your case.

Indictment

During an indictment, which can occur before or after an arrest, the case is brought before a federal grand jury, which must decide whether there is reasonable cause to bring charges against the defendant. If the jury decides to indict the defendant, they will be arraigned and required to enter a plea. At this stage, the defendant will usually enter a “not guilty” plea.

Discovery

The discovery, or evidence, stage of a case is arguably the most important part of all federal criminal investigations. During this stage, the prosecutor is required to submit all evidence they have against the defendant to federal criminal defense attorneys. Depending on the particular charges and circumstances, the amount of evidence submitted during this stage can be significant.

Evidence can include oral and written statements, physical evidence, photos, recordings, or anything that will be used in the case against the defendant. It is extremely important that you have a skilled federal criminal defense lawyer at this stage. They should, along with their legal team, thoroughly examine the evidence and build up a strong criminal defense based on the arguments the prosecution will put forward.

A quality federal criminal defense attorney may be able to discredit the evidence or make it inadmissible in court if it was achieved with an illegal search warrant, for example.

Plea Bargain

Federal crimes are notoriously difficult to fight against in court, and judges have a tendency to veer in favor of the federal prosecutor, due to the extensive investigations and other factors. As such, many federal defendants opt for a plea bargain to reduce their sentence, avoid spending significant time in federal prison, or avoid the death penalty.

Federal prosecutors will usually offer a plea bargain to avoid trial however it is rare that their first offer is favorable toward the defendant. With a skilled and experienced federal criminal lawyer, they will be able to negotiate a plea bargain that protects your rights and ensures that you do not have to spend a significant amount of time in prison.

With the right attorney, you may be able to significantly reduce your charges and plead guilty to a minor federal charge. At Hirsch Law Group, our criminal defense attorneys are highly experienced at negotiating and have helped our clients reduce their federal charges significantly during this stage of the trial.

Pre-Trial Motions

During the pre-trial stage of federal criminal trials, the prosecutor and defense attorney will put forward motions to suppress or respond to motions and evidence that will be used in the trial. Your criminal defense lawyer will be able to use the information they learned during the discovery stage to suppress evidence, suppress motions, and prevent witnesses from being called to the stand.

Both federal prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys will argue over motions and suppression requests, however, the judge has the final decision on all motions put forward.

Trial

In the event that you could not achieve a fair plea deal or did not want to plead guilty to federal criminal charges, the case will then proceed to trial in a federal court. The court will first decide on a jury to hear the case, and your federal criminal defense lawyer will work with you and their team to get jury members selected or removed from the panel.

During the trial, both the federal prosecutors and your federal criminal defense attorney will put forward evidence to argue the case. Your attorney should have a strong criminal defense built up on your behalf, fight for your innocence, cross-examine witnesses, and thoroughly rebut the evidence brought against you.

After careful deliberation, which can often take a significant amount of time, the jury must come to a decision regarding your innocence. In the event that you are found not guilty, you will be free to leave the court. If you are found guilty, you will face another hearing regarding your sentencing. If you want to appeal your decision, your federal criminal defense attorney will assist you with this.

Sentencing

In federal criminal cases, the judge must take into account minimum mandatory sentencing guidelines, and ensure that all federal laws are respected. The prosecution and the defense attorney will usually put forward a recommendation to the judge regarding your sentencing however your sentence will be ultimately up to the judge’s discretion.

Appeal

In order to appeal a decision in federal criminal cases, your defense attorney must find some legal error that happened during the trial or investigation stage. Based on this legal error, your federal criminal defense lawyer will submit a motion to the federal court for an appeal.

Appeals can be extremely complex and lengthy, as they are focused on aspects of law rather than evidence or facts of the case. As such, it is important that you hire a criminal defense lawyer that has significant experience with appeals and in particular, federal criminal appeals.

Tools Used by Federal Investigators in Illinois

During the course of a federal investigation, agencies such as the DEA and FBI will use a wide range of tactics to gather evidence and to try and bring federal charges against a suspect. Because federal crimes are investigated by the government, these agencies have access to much more tools than local state police have. Some tools commonly used in federal investigations include:

  • Undercover agents – It is common for organized crime investigations, particularly drug trafficking investigations, for federal agencies to deploy undercover agents. These agents usually infiltrate themselves within a group, build relationships to gain trust, and gather evidence against alleged criminals in the organization. Once the agent has gathered sufficient evidence or stages an incriminating operation, charges will be brought against those involved in committing the crimes.
  • Informants – When there is more than one individual involved in the commission of a crime, federal agents may try to get one person to inform on the other person, and offer them witness protection or a lesser sentence. It is particularly common in organized crime or drug cases for federal agents to use lower-level members as informants on those higher up in the organization.
  • Surveillance and wiretapping – Surveillance is one of the most commonly used tactics by federal investigators. If a person is suspected to be involved in the commission of crimes or a member of a criminal group, agents may wiretap their phones, add tracking devices to their vehicles, and stage a lookout on their property or business.

Because the federal government has the resources and power to use these tools in investigations, they are usually able to gather significant amounts of evidence, which can create a strong case for prosecution. However, in some cases, these tools are used in violation of an individual’s rights and can encroach on people’s privacy. It is important to ensure that any evidence gathered against you was done so lawfully and did not breach your individual rights.

Issues in Federal Criminal Cases

As federal criminal cases are often quite complex, many different issues can arise for defendants. These issues can range from breaches of the law to multiple different charges, or testimony from informants. All of these issues can have a huge bearing on your case and can impact whether you are convicted or not.

Evidence Obtained Illegally

In all federal investigations, agencies and investigators are required to conduct all investigating through legal means and ensure that all evidence is obtained legally and with a valid search warrant. In some cases, however, particularly with undercover operations and surveillance methods, agents obtain evidence or testimony by using illegal or improper means.

In this situation, if the evidence in your federal case was obtained illegally, a federal criminal attorney can argue to get the evidence thrown out and ensure that it is not used against you to secure a conviction.

Conspiracy

Under federal law, a person does not have to commit a crime to face criminal prosecution. As per 18 U.S. Code § 371 and other statutes of the Federal Code, a person can be investigated for and charged with conspiracy to commit a crime. This means that if a federal agency suspects that you conspired to commit a serious felony, and did not actually commit the act, they can charge you with a crime.

Conspiracy convictions can result in major fines and time imprisonment, once it can be proved that you were party to committing a crime or conspired to commit one. It is important to seek help from a federal criminal defense lawyer if you have been charged with conspiracy to commit a federal offense.

Co-Conspirator Testimony

In cases that involve more than one person, such as gang-related activities or white-collar crimes within an organization, there will often be attempts to get those involved to give testimony against each other. In these cases, the person giving testimony will usually get either their charges dropped or a lighter sentence.

In the event that another person involved in committing a crime gives testimony against you, your lawyer will need to demonstrate that they have a bias against your case.

What Can a Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Do For Me in Illinois?

If you are facing federal criminal charges in Illinois, it is extremely important that you have strong legal counsel by your side. The federal authorities are renowned for carrying out in-depth investigations which secure convictions in most cases. Additionally, federal criminal trials are a lot more complex than state criminal trials, and you will need a federal lawyer with experience negotiating criminal cases and fighting aggressively at trial.

Some things federal criminal defense attorneys can do for you include:

Discovery

As discussed previously, the discovery stage is one of the most important stages of the federal criminal process. During this stage, your federal criminal attorney should use their investigation skills to know what evidence to look for. Often, federal prosecutors hand over mountains of evidence built up during the investigation as a way to distract the criminal defense lawyer.

An experienced federal criminal defense attorney will sift through this evidence, discover what is most important, find issues relating to the evidence, and build a strong criminal defense based on this evidence. During the discovery stage, your attorney will offer advice on whether you should accept a plea deal or proceed with the case, based on the evidence that the federal authorities have against you

Build a Criminal Defense Strategy

Once your federal lawyer has read through the evidence against you and listened to your story, they will be able to suggest a strong criminal defense strategy to be used for your case. The federal criminal defense strategy they use will likely be based on facts and physical evidence, expert and third-party testimony, witness testimony, police reports and errors, and the strategy of prosecution.

Examples of criminal defense strategies they could use include:

  • Alibi – If you were not present at the time the crime was committed, your defense attorney can argue that you have an alibi.
  • Illegal search warrant – In some cases, federal criminal defense lawyers can challenge the legality of the search warrant. If most of the evidence gathered against you was based on this search warrant, they could then get the case thrown out.
  • Police misconduct – If the federal agents responsible for investigating the crime engaged in misconduct, such as improperly handling evidence, coercing witnesses, lying about a case, or using unnecessary force, this can be used by your criminal defense attorney to get evidence thrown out.
  • Entrapment – Federal agents often engage in entrapment during police operations, which is when they use coercion or intimidation to push a person to commit a crime. In the event that you were coerced to commit a crime by a federal agent, this can be used as a criminal defense for your case.
  • Reasonable doubt – In order to win a criminal case, the prosecutor must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This means that if there is any factor of doubt in the jury’s minds regarding your guilt, they are required to find you not guilty. A typical federal criminal defense strategy is to introduce reasonable doubt into the jury’s mind regarding the evidence or your innocence.

If you are facing criminal charges, it is important to have a federal criminal defense attorney that is highly experienced in building defense strategies and using the evidence to argue in favor of defendants. At Hirsch Law Group, our team of federal defense attorneys has worked as former prosecutors and they know how the minds of the prosecution work. They will use this knowledge to build a strong fool-proof criminal defense on your behalf.

File Motions

Quality federal criminal defense lawyers will file motions in order to improve your criminal defense and your chances of winning the case. Examples of some motions they could submit to the court could include:

  • Motions to suppress witnesses that are biased or unreliable.
  • Motions to suppress evidence that is not relevant to the trial.
  • Requests to view prosecution witness lists.
  • Motion to dismiss evidence or testimony on factual grounds.
  • Motions to dismiss the case based on self-defense.

Schedule a free consultation with our law firm today to discuss what motions could potentially be submitted in your case.

Negotiate

In federal criminal cases, negotiating is one of the most crucial aspects. From the moment you are arrested until your trial, your criminal defense lawyer will negotiate with the prosecutor to try and get a fair deal, negotiate on the facts and evidence of the case, or with the judge on the case regarding the admissibility of evidence or witnesses.

Federal criminal cases have a very high conviction rate. However, this does not mean that your chances to win are in any way limited. An experienced federal defense attorney with strong negotiation skills and who knows the federal court system will be able to successfully advocate on your behalf to prevent a criminal conviction or to reduce your federal criminal penalties substantially.

Do I Need to Hire a Federal Criminal Defense Attorney?

If you are facing federal criminal charges in Illinois, it is strongly recommended that you seek help from an experienced federal defense attorney. As discussed previously, federal cases are extremely complex and involve much more than state criminal cases. Trying to come up against the federal court without the backing of an experienced federal criminal defense attorney could be detrimental to your case.

Firstly, federal investigations are often lengthy and in-depth, which means that agencies and investigators have time to gather substantial evidence. If a federal criminal charge has been brought against an individual, it is likely because the government has substantial evidence against them. Unless you are able to provide testimony that could be beneficial to federal agencies, it is unlikely that they will offer you any leeway regarding your case.

If you want to take your case to trial to prove your innocence, you will need to have a federal criminal attorney that has an in-depth knowledge of how the federal criminal system works. This means your attorney should have requisite experience fighting cases in a federal court and building up criminal defenses for federal charges.

Most federal cases however end up in a plea deal, which is negotiated between prosecutors and federal criminal attorneys. Without a lawyer, a prosecutor will be unlikely to bargain much to reduce your sentence. If their case is weak, an Illinois federal defense lawyer will be able to negotiate a fair deal that reduces your sentence substantially and ensures that you do not face harsh penalties.

Throughout the process of a federal criminal investigation, a defense attorney will investigate on your behalf, build up strong legal arguments, and ensure your rights are protected at all costs. Trying to understand and navigate through the federal criminal system without legal experience will be extremely difficult, which is why it is important that you seek legal counsel.

Federal Criminal Attorneys at Hirsch Law Group

The federal criminal attorneys at Hirsch Law Group have what it takes to take on your case and fight aggressively on your behalf. In our law firm, we have a team of former prosecutors that now work as aggressive criminal defense attorneys. As such, we have a unique experience when it comes to fighting criminal cases, and we will use our experience as former prosecutors to think of robust, unique criminal defenses.

We know how important it is to have a strong legal representative that will fight tooth and nail to ensure you get the best outcome for your case. From the moment you schedule a consultation with our Illinois law firm, we will discuss your legal options, advise you on your case, investigate all avenues possible, and come up with a strong criminal defense on your behalf.

Federal criminal penalties are among the most severe that an individual can face, which is why we give the highest importance to all federal cases. In federal cases, the lawyers in our law firm will work together to come up with a robust defense strategy that will ensure you get the lowest sentence possible.

All of the attorneys in our firm have received high recognition and awards for their hard work and dedication to criminal justice. Our managing attorney, Gordon H. Hirsch has an AVVO score of 10.0, which is based on independent reviews, experience, and peer evaluations. He has been rated among the Best Criminal Defense Attorneys in Chicago 2022 by Expertise.com and in America’s Top 100 attorneys.

With our law firm, you are guaranteed the highest standard of legal care and aggressive representation throughout all stages of your case, from the investigation to the trial.

Resources and Support Groups For Ex-Felons in Illinois

Life with a federal felony record can be extremely difficult. Often, ex-felons struggle to get a job, housing, education, and much more. Luckily, however, there are many different support groups in Illinois that can help get you on track and begin a new chapter of your life.

  • Reentry Illinois – This initiative offers assistance to ex-felons for re-entering back into society in Illinois. Here, you can get assistance with housing, education, and employment after prison.
  • Safer Foundation – Through partnerships and donors, this mission offers support for ex-felons to reenter back into society after a conviction. This organization teams up with companies and groups to help get individuals with a criminal record stable jobs and education opportunities.
  • Help For Felons – This state-run organization provides comprehensive support for felons, ex-offenders, and current inmates. This service offers financial help, assistance with education and employment, and much more.

The lawyers from our firm are happy to guide you towards these resources and provide legal assistance for re-entering society after a federal felony conviction.

Contact a Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer at Hirsch Law Group Today

The federal court system is significantly different from the state criminal system. If you have been charged with a federal crime, you can face severe consequences and will have to fight against a complex and difficult legal system. Most federal criminal charges are brought against individuals after extensive investigations and with a lot of evidence.

Fighting a federal criminal offense can be extremely stressful for the accused and a conviction will have a major impact on your life. As such, it is important that you seek help from a federal defense attorney with your case as soon as possible. From the minute you suspect that you are being investigated in a federal case, you should contact one of our federal defense lawyers.

From the get-go, an experienced federal criminal attorney from Hirsch Law Group will offer you strong legal advice on your case, discuss the options that you have, carry out an independent investigation, examine the evidence against you, negotiate with the prosecutor, and fight aggressively on your behalf.

Our federal defense lawyers have significant experience helping clients win federal cases and securing fair plea deals. With our experience as former prosecutors and as aggressive criminal defense attorneys, we will do everything in our power to ensure that you get the best possible outcome for your case. We offer a free consultation for you to come in and discuss your federal case with no strings attached.

Call us today to schedule a free consultation at 815-880-1134.