Miami Lakes Federal Defense Lawyer

How state crimes become federal cases

Most crimes are state offenses. However, there are certain situations that automatically implicate federal jurisdiction. The federal government may exercise jurisdiction if any of the following factors are present:

• an offense that somehow involves multiple states or another country
• a federal employee or official
• a federal government agency
• activity that occurs on federal property
• activity that takes place in a U.S. territory

If the federal government has jurisdiction over your case, you may still also be charged in state court. Defendants who are charged in federal and state court may potentially have to prepare for two separate trials–one in each venue–and possibly be convicted and sentenced based on both sets of charges. Conviction in state and federal court for charges that arise from the same criminal activity does not violate the double jeopardy clause in the Constitution.

Federal offenses in Miami Lakes

We represent defendants who are accused of a variety of different federal offenses. Some of the cases we handle involve:

• drug trafficking
• white collar crime
• child pornography
• human trafficking
• federal appeals

Our Miami Lakes federal defense attorney represents criminal defendants at every step in the criminal court process. Contact us if you have been accused of a serious federal offense.

Drug trafficking in South Florida

South Florida is a major hub in the international drug trade. Illegal drug organizations work with a network of people to manufacture, transport, distribute, and sell illegal controlled substances in Florida and throughout the United States. We are well-versed in the federal drug laws that often send people to federal prison for decades. Having a formidable drug trafficking defense attorney in Miami Lakes on your case will ensure your rights are protected and help you achieve the best possible outcome in your case. We represent defendants who have been accused of:

• drug trafficking
• drug manufacturing
• drug distribution
• drug possession

Miami Lakes white collar crime defense

Although South Florida is not a major financial center, criminals illegally receive billions of dollars every year through white collar crime. Some of the common white collar offenses we see in Miami Lakes and surrounding areas include:

• fraud
• Ponzi schemes
• bribery
• embezzlement
• money laundering

White collar criminal investigations often involve people who are in close proximity to the members of criminal organizations. In many cases, people who are associates of the criminals may not have knowledge of the criminal activity. Unfortunately, law enforcement agencies sometimes make arrests first and ask questions later. If you believe you may have unknowingly been involved in a white collar criminal scheme, protect yourself by retaining a Miami Lakes white collar crimes defense lawyer before speaking to law enforcement.

Child pornography defense in Florida

The federal government intensely investigates and prosecutes crimes that commercially exploit children. Compared to other offenses, child pornography cases can become federal matters quite easily. Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases in which there is activity that takes place within the stream of interstate or international commerce. Today, most child pornography is created and transmitted by using digital technology. Child pornography is commonly distributed through digital files on peer-to-peer file-sharing sites, social media platforms, web forums, chat rooms, and through online classified sites. People who visit the online spaces in which child pornography is commonly exchanged can and do access the sites from virtually anywhere in the world.

An accusation of involvement with child pornography should never be taken lightly. Even if you are proven not to have been involved in the crime, the damage an accusation may cause can remain for years as people may still wonder why you were accused in the first place. Retaining an attorney as soon as you become aware of the accusation may help you avoid much of the reputational damage a wrongful child pornography accusation may otherwise cause. We defendant Florida residents against the following charges:

• receiving child pornography
• transmitting child pornography
• production of child pornography
• distributing child pornography
• promotion of child pornography

Even a base level child pornography charge like possession can quickly add up to decades in federal prison. Prosecutors charge one count of possession for every pornography image of a child the defendant is accused of possessing. If the defendant is convicted on all charges, the judge may charge the defendant separately for each count. Count on your child pornography attorney in Miami Lakes for guidance on these tough cases.

Federal human trafficking charges

South Florida ranks among the nation’s top geographical regions for human trafficking. There are two main types of human trafficking: labor trafficking and sex trafficking. Labor trafficking schemes often begin in other countries as fraudulent job advertisements. The advertisements target people who are looking to seek a better life and work opportunities in the United States. Traffickers take advantage of potential victims’ needs by promising a legitimate job in the U.S. When the traffickers arrive in the U.S., oftentimes through transportation that may be illegally arranged by the trafficker, the victims are brought to a location at which they are housed in subpar conditions and forced into involuntary labor. The traffickers prevent the victims from leaving by taking their identification documents and placing them under the fear that U.S. government agencies will take action against them for being in the country without authorization. Labor traffickers also create a false sense that the victim is required to pay an enormous debt to the traffickers before they can leave the trafficking situation.

Sex trafficking is similar in the sense that victims are intimidated and often have their money and identity documents taken from them. Instead of working on farms and in factories, as hotel cleaning staff, and in nail salons, victims of sex trafficking are more likely to work in adult entertainment venues, illegitimate massage parlors, and in hotels and motels as escorts. Traffickers also advertise victims in online spaces such as on classified websites and social media platforms. To prevent the victims from leaving, sex traffickers behave violently and threaten harm against the victims’ family members.

Because human trafficking in Florida usually involves transporting people across state lines and into the U.S. from other countries, the cases easily involve factors that implicate federal jurisdiction. When the federal government investigates human trafficking cases, there are often people and businesses who may appear to be knowingly assisting the trafficking organization. However, the parties may be unaware of the illegal operation. Human traffickers rely on individuals and businesses to provide the following services:

• hotel rooms
• housing
• transportation
• security
• medical care

If you believe you may have been in close proximity to a human trafficking operation, immediately contact a Miami Lakes sex crime defense attorney who specializes in defending human trafficking cases. Your attorney can help you prove you were not intentionally involved in the event of a criminal investigation.

Miami Lakes defense lawyer for federal appeals

Sometimes the criminal justice system makes mistakes. Fortunately, every convicted defendant has the right to file a direct appeal. Criminal court defendants may file an appeal based on legal errors that occurred when their case was at trial. Common legal errors include:

• evidentiary issues
• investigative issues
• problems with the jury
• procedural errors
• constitutional rights violations

The average defendant in federal criminal court is unlikely to notice many of the technical errors that occur when a case goes to trial. If you have an experienced Miami Lakes federal appeal attorney on the case, your attorney will raise an objection to anything that may be unfairly used against you. However, sometimes trial courts erroneously fail to prevent actions that are unfair to the defense attorney. In other cases, a defense attorney may not raise timely objections and otherwise protect his or her client as he or she should during a federal criminal case. If you believe you may have had ineffective counsel during your trial, you may retain a new attorney and file an appeal. Joffe Law will review your case and determine whether ineffective counsel or a legal error may have led to your wrongful conviction.

Miami Lakes criminal defense attorney for federal crimes

Joffe Law is South Florida’s trusted defense firm for federal crimes. We represent defendants in Miami Lakes and throughout South Florida. It is never too early to contact a federal defense attorney. Whether you are under investigation or if you have been charged with a federal offense, contact us to receive a case evaluation.