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Federal law requires that transactions involving sizable amounts of cash, typically more than $10,000, must be reported to the government. This reporting requirement includes the physical moving of money into or out of the United States. If you attempt to bypass this...

Federal law is stringent regarding the practices of “loansharking,” i.e., lending money in a predatory manner at exorbitant interest rates, usually with violent consequences for non-repayment. Making extortionate extensions of credit, defined under Title 18 U.S. Code 892...

Let’s review suspicious activity reports (SARs), the United States Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), common triggers, and what you need to know about them. Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) are an essential tool under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) for combatting...

The U.S. Constitution guarantees U.S. citizens the right to a “speedy trial” when accused of a crime. This right exists for two reasons. First, since evidence and memory of events tend to fade over time, it is the best way to ensure that a trial is fair. Second, it prevents the government...

Since banks and similar financial lending institutions are regulated and insured by the federal government, they also fall under federal jurisdiction. To ensure that loans are fairly evaluated and issued based solely on a person's qualifications, it is a federal crime for officials...

As a general rule, the federal government tries to honor the legal sovereignty of Indian nations about crimes committed in their territories. This means that in many cases, crimes committed within the Indian country may be prosecuted in tribal courts. However, the federal...

According to Title 18 U.S. Code 1761, it is a federal crime to import or transport prison-made goods in interstate or foreign commerce, such as across state or international boundaries. This includes any product made in whole or part by convict labor. If you are convicted of...

While every state has laws that make vehicle theft a crime, it becomes the federal government's jurisdiction when stolen vehicles cross a state or international boundary. If you're accused of selling or receiving a stolen vehicle across those boundaries while knowing it was stolen, you could face severe...

Our transportation systems and facilities, otherwise known as "carrier facilities,” are critical to interstate and foreign commerce in the United States. Therefore, the federal government has enacted laws to protect these systems and facilities from vandalism, theft, and other crimes. In particular, Title...

If you face federal criminal charges, the law ensures you are given a fair trial and protect your rights. Part of that protection is to make sure any testimony against you comes from reliable sources. This is why, for the most part, hearsay is not admissible as evidence in federal trials, according to the Federal...

A subpoena duces tecum is a legal order requiring a person to produce documents or tangible evidence for use at a hearing or trial. The term “duces tecum” comes from the Latin phrase “you shall bring with you.”  A subpoena duces tecum may be issued by a court or another tribunal, such as a grand...

Most states have laws that make it a crime to impersonate someone else, mainly when conducting business or performing government functions. But when that impersonation extends to pretending to be a federal officer, agent, or employee, it becomes a federal crime. This is because people's trust...

The federal government treats it as a grave offense when someone in the United States possesses or uses any pathogen with the intent to harm others. Biological weapons are considered very dangerous, and the legal consequences are severe. Any involvement with biological weapons is strictly prohibited...

The U.S. Constitution provides explicit protections that citizens shouldn't be compelled to testify against themselves when charged with a crime. And yet, false and coerced confessions are an ongoing problem within our criminal justice system. According to one report, as many as 27 percent of people...

Depending on where you live, you may or may not realize that there are still states and localities in the United States where prohibition effectively still exists—that is, where alcohol sales are prohibited by law. You may still hear the term "dry county" or "dry town" in some of these places. The federal laws...

For all intents and purposes, piracy is an international crime—that is, it’s a crime to commit piracy anywhere in the world. That being said, the U.S. government has enacted specific laws about crimes of piracy and how these crimes are punished. These laws are codified in Title 18 U.S. Code Chapter 81...

The federal government considers participation in a criminal organization a severe offense. Regardless of your level of involvement within the group, prosecutors may attempt to charge you under one of the United States federal gang laws. In addition to facing charges for the underlying crime...

Any time a federal agent attempts to search or seize your property, it is a cause for concern. Luckily the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides some protection against such an event, enshrining “the right of the people…against unreasonable search and seizures, shall not be violated...

As a health care professional in the United States, it can often feel like you are operating under a microscope. Despite your best efforts to navigate the complicated regulations of health care compliance, you may still find yourself at the center of an investigation into perceived healthcare fraud...

Someone can commit identity theft by using someone else’s personal information for economic gain or pretending to be someone else. This is usually done through fraud, deception, false statements, or misrepresentations. In other words, it's when someone steals another person’s identifying information, uses stolen...

Bankruptcy is a provision in U.S. law that allows companies and individuals to obtain court protection from creditors and receive full or partial debt relief when they are overwhelmed and unable to pay their debts. In other words, they are designed to protect anyone struggling with a large debt...

If you conduct business outside the United States, you must be aware of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, which is a federal law that prohibits American businesses and individuals from paying bribes to foreign officials to secure business deals. It also mandates keeping accurate books so as not to...

Human trafficking, also known as Trafficking in Persons, or TIP, is a serious federal crime that may result in lengthy prison sentences upon conviction. Every state has laws penalizing human trafficking, including California under Penal Code 236.1 PC. However, when the act crosses state or international...

For many decades, the federal government has hired private businesses and contractors to work for them. Every year, thousands of companies receive revenue from government contracts. At the same time, the government strictly regulates this work and watches for inaccuracies in payment claims...

The federal government, specifically the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, is taking a hardline stance against instances of bribery, corruption, and similar corporate criminal activities, commonly called "corporate fraud.” Most federal corporate fraud cases are highly...