Nevada Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
Are you being investigated for federal crimes? Or have you already been formally charged with federal offenses? If so, it is imperative that you have a federal criminal lawyer overseeing your defense.
If you have been charged with committing a federal crime in Nevada, then you are accused of violating a federal statute and will be prosecuted in a federal district court in Las Vegas or Reno. Federal charges will normally carry more severe penalties than a violation of a Nevada state law. This means it's critical that you retain an experienced federal criminal defense lawyer who is familiar with federal crimes and court procedures.
Procedure for Federal Charges in Nevada
The legal process involves many different steps after you have been charged for an alleged violation of federal law. The first step is the complaint, then there is an arrest warrant and the actual arrest. The federal prosecutor is responsible for issuing a complaint that will include the specific reasons for the charge – along with probable cause to arrest the defendant. The arrest warrant will contain the information in the complaint and a signed by a federal judge, and then used to make the arrest.
After the arrest, the defendant will have the first court appearance where they will appear before a judge who decides whether there is sufficient evidence to indict them. The judge will tell the defendant their legal rights and set a bond. A detention hearing could take place within 3 days after the arrest. The purpose of the hearing is to determine if the defendant should be released on bond, or if they are a flight risk, or a threat to public safety and should remain in custody.
Within ten days, a preliminary hearing will occur where the federal prosecutor will show evidence of probable cause that the defendant committed the crime. The defendant's criminal lawyer is also given an opportunity to present evidence that will challenge probable cause. If the judge decides there is sufficient probable cause, the case will proceed to the arraignment process.
The prosecutor can decide to file an indictment, rather than a complaint – then show probable cause to a grand jury, which will decide whether to prosecute a federal criminal case. If the grand jury decides there is enough evidence, they will return a True Bill, If not, they will return a No Bill and the case will be dropped. At the arraignment, the defendant will be informed of their rights and enter a plea of guilty or not guilty, and a date for trial will be set.
Next, the case will proceed to trail unless a plea bargain is reached. The federal prosecutor has to be able to prove all the elements of the crime in order to obtain a conviction, but it's the jury that will make the decision. If found guilty, the judge will sentence the defendant in the sentencing stage of the process. Finally, the last stage of the process is an appeal that has to be filed within 10 days.
Federal Law Enforcement Agencies
Different federal law enforcement agencies investigate various crimes. The most common agencies are the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). These agencies have the jurisdiction to investigate a variety of federal crimes, including:
- Wire fraud
- Mail fraud
- Kidnapping
- Bank fraud
- Cyber crimes
- Federal drug crimes
- Credit card fraud
- Federal loan fraud
- Mortgage fraud
- Child pornography
- Health care fraud
- White collar crimes
- Insider trading
- Public corruption
The DEA will primarily focus on felony drug crimes, including drug smuggling across state borders or into the United States. The ATF will focus on a variety of crimes that involve weapons, arson, explosives and violent crimes.
Retain an Experienced Federal Criminal Lawyer
You will want one that is experienced and knowledgeable in federal law and the federal judicial system. At Eisner Gorin LLP, our attorneys have more than 50 years of collective legal experience in the field of criminal defense at the federal level.
We know federal laws and regulations and how to effectively interpret those laws for our clients nationwide. Our firm has a successful track record in representing clients in federal cases in Nevada and throughout the country. We strongly urge you to consult a attorney from our firm who can provide an aggressive and thorough defense strategy for your case.
Our firm can give you the legal guidance you need in any federal investigation or case. A defense lawyer can help you at any phase in the legal process. Our services can be especially advantageous in a federal investigation and before a indictment has been made.
Our attorneys have the experience and legal skills to negotiate on your behalf with federal prosecutors, working to get your charges reduced or dismissed where possible and to minimize the harsh effects of a federal conviction. At all times, our firm will fight for your rights and work tirelessly to secure the most favorable case results possible.
Our federal criminal defense attorneys serve clients in all cities and counties throughout the state of Nevada, including Arden, Boulder City, Carson City, Churchill County, Clark County, Douglas County, Elko County, Ely, Enterprise, Esmeralda County, Eureka County, Fallon, Fernley, Henderson, Humboldt County, Lander County, Las Vegas, Lemmon Valley, Lincoln County, Lovelock, Lyon County, Mesquite, Mineral County, North Las Vegas, Nye County, Paradise, Pershing County, Reno, Sparks, Spring Valley, Summerlin South, Sun Valley, Sunrise Valley, Washoe County, West Wendover, White Pine County, Whitney, Winchester, Winnemucca, Yerrington.
Resources:
United States District Court of Nevada
333 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(702) 464-5400