You have just found out you are the subject of a federal criminal investigation. You will need the help of a skilled Alabama criminal attorney to help expertly navigate the road ahead.
Now is not the time to hesitate and see what happens. You likely will be arrested, then indicted. Your attorney will help with the early development of your defense strategy, geared to getting you the best outcome possible.
There are several stages that you should be prepared to endure.
Stages of a Federal Criminal Investigation
What may have happened behind the scenes that you may not be aware of is that a law enforcement agency has credible information about your alleged involvement in a federal crime. Someone you know might have become a government witness and turned you in, or a victim has accused you of a crime.
Federal agencies that may be involved in investigating your alleged crime include the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), among others who are responsible for the investigation of criminal and civil offenses.
White-collar crimes, fraud, drug offenses, and child pornography are also federal crimes.
Have you been contacted by one of these federal agencies? Have they requested an interview? If not, that could happen soon.
The investigators looking into a violation of federal law report to the United States Justice Department, or DOJ, which is ultimately responsible for filing federal charges. In some cases, multiple agencies are involved in a federal criminal investigation.
Your Criminal Defense
Attorney Jason Darley has decades of experience defending those facing federal charges. Mr. Darley will want to discuss in detail your alleged involvement, if any, the other individuals allegedly involved, and whatever you know about the facts of the case. He will thoroughly investigate the charges you face to understand your best defense options.
You must be honest and forthcoming with your criminal defense attorney. All the information you share with your counsel is confidential, so every detail, even those you don’t think are significant, should be revealed.
Once Mr. Darley understands the charges and your alleged involvement, he will form the best defense strategy to minimize the impact of these serious charges on your life. Mr. Darley never loses sight of your legal rights and advocates for you within the parameters of the law.
If federal agents visit your home or work and begin questioning you, Mr. Darley reminds you that you have a right against self-incrimination, otherwise known as the Fifth Amendment rights.
Your Alabama Criminal Defense Attorney
You may believe you didn’t do anything wrong therefore you do not need to be represented. But this could be a crucial mistake. Hiring an attorney, and doing so as early in the process as possible, will likely lead to a better outcome and provide you with options rather than waiting to see what comes next.
Federal agents are experts at interviewing and interrogating to elicit the response they need to make their case. Even though they act like they are on your side, they are not.
Almost anything you say to agents in your defense can and will be used against you. It is highly recommended that you remain silent, and never make a false statement to federal agents. It is also highly recommended that you do nothing to destroy evidence, including documents. Doing so will compound the charges against you.
Additionally, do not speak with any suspected witness about your case. That is a violation of federal law. You could also face charges of witness tampering and obstruction of justice (18 U.S. C. 1519), which could see you imprisoned for up to 20 years.
Attorney Jason Darley will not only present you with the best defense options, but he is also highly skilled at negotiating with prosecutors to have any charges reduced or eliminated, if possible.
Criminal charges can have a lasting effect on your life, and we will aggressively advocate on your behalf. Contact Darley Law LLC to take the first steps to establish an effective legal defense for your criminal matter.
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