If you've never been in legal trouble before, you may not realize that we are actually subject to two sets of criminal laws. Florida state law handles most crimes, but crimes that are more serious, or cross state and federal borders, are likely to be charged as federal crimes. That could be bad news for defendants, because people accused of federal crimes have all the resources of the federal government against them. In addition to hurting your chances in court, this can lead to high-profile media coverage and negative public sentiment. To stop these negative consequences before they start, you should contact a Miami-Dade federal criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.

Balliro defends Floridians against all kinds of federal charges, including:

• Child pornography charges
• Drug trafficking
• Mortgage fraud
• White-collar crime, including securities fraud, tax evasion and tax fraud
• Medicare fraud
• Racketeering and gang or organized crime prosecutions
• Asset forfeiture
• Bribery and corruption
• Immigration violations
• Defense of military servicemembers (including Coast Guard and Key West NAS personnel)

There are important differences between state and federal criminal cases. Of course, federal cases are handled by the U.S. Attorney's office rather than the State's Attorney's office and tried in federal court. They are also sentenced according to federal guidelines, which can be harsher than the state sentencing for the same crimes. And a federal case is more likely to start with a voluntary interview by investigators (such as the FBI). Beware of this interview -- your questioners may try to lead you into making statements that incriminate you. It's always best to have a Fort Lauderdale federal criminal defense attorney by your side when you speak with investigators.

Balliro aggressively defends clients accused of federal crimes in South Florida. Because federal charges can be so serious, we prefer to step in as early in the case as possible. If we can represent you during interviews and federal grand jury proceedings, we can work to have charges reduced or never filed in the first place, sparing you an indictment. If that's not possible, we will defend you vigorously -- in a court of law, if necessary. Our Miami federal criminal defense lawyers are experienced former public defenders and prosecutors who have tried hundreds of cases to a verdict, so we are not afraid to go to trial if it's in our clients' best interests. And because we know criminal charges can happen anytime, not just during business hours, we are committed to maintaining 24-hour, seven-day availability for all our clients and potential clients.

If you or a loved one is facing federal criminal charges, you need the help of an experienced attorney right away. To set up a free, confidential consultation with the West Palm Beach federal criminal defense lawyers at Balliro, please contact us online or call toll-free from anywhere in Florida at 1-866-ARRESTED.