Federal Explosives Charge Lawyer
Helping Individuals Facing Federal Explosives Charges with Defending their Criminal Cases in the Federal Court System
When individuals are caught with explosives in their possession, they could face a number of criminal charges – particularly at the federal level. If you are convicted of an explosives charge in federal court, you could be looking at some significant penalties, including jail time, pursuant to the United States Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
Litigating a federal case requires a special legal skill set. If you are facing a federal explosives charge, you need a lawyer in your corner who knows his way around the federal courtroom and who regularly litigates federal cases and takes them to trial. Attorney Brian Joslyn and the federal criminal defense attorneys at the Joslyn Law Firm have experience defending against federal criminal charges. We can look at all of your legal options and help you select the best option for your federal case. Give us a call today at (614) 444-1900 or contact us online to see how we could assist you with defending your criminal charge.
Types of Federal Explosives Charges
Explosives are heavily regulated under federal law, primarily because they are extremely dangerous when they come into the wrong hands. Although explosives and other firearms are permitted to be exported, imported, manufactured, and received by individuals who possess the necessary license, individuals who have not met the licensing requirements are not permitted access to explosives. Failing to follow the law in this regard could result in a federal conviction with harsh penalties.
Who Regulates the Possession of Explosives in the United States?
The United States Attorney General is responsible for regulating the storage, manufacture, and shipment of explosive materials across the country. Individuals who deal in explosives are required to report any loss or theft of explosives within the 24-hour period following their discovery of the loss or theft. When a dealer fails to timely notify the attorney general, he or she could be imprisoned for a maximum of five years and could be required to pay a maximum monetary fine of $10,000.
Individuals Who May not Possess Explosives
Given the extremely dangerous nature of explosive materials, federal law prohibits certain classes of individuals from possessing these materials altogether. Those individuals include the following:
- Individuals who have previously been convicted of a criminal offense that carries at least a one-year prison sentence – or individuals who are waiting to be convicted of such an offense
- All individuals who are under 21 years of age
- Aliens who have not acquired permanent resident status in the United States or who are currently in the United States illegally
- Individuals who habitually use drugs or who are addicted to certain substances
- Individuals who have been discharged from the United States military dishonorably
- Individuals who have previously been convicted of domestic assault or who are the subject of a restraining order relating to an alleged incident of domestic assault
- Individuals whom a court has determined to suffer from a mental illness
- Individuals who currently reside in a mental institution or another facility for persons suffering from a mental illness
- Individuals who reside in a state that has a law on the books prohibiting possession of explosives
- Individuals who are fugitives from justice
If you or someone you love fits into one or more of these categories and is facing an explosives charge at the federal level, call an experienced federal explosives charge attorney today for assistance developing a strong legal defense to your criminal charges.
Potential Penalties for a Conviction
It is no secret that the federal government treats explosives charges very seriously. If you are convicted of illegally selling, possessing, or distributing explosives in the United States, you could be backing up jail time, serious penalties, and other consequences. Moreover, a federal explosives conviction on your record could make it extremely difficult for you to continue living your current life in the same way. A federal conviction of this magnitude could make it hard for you to keep your current job or obtain a new job, find a place to live, or gain admission to an educational institution to further your education. Potential penalties for a federal explosives conviction could include the following:
- Ten years of incarceration for an individual who carries or uses an explosive device for purposes of committing a felony (in addition to the penalties that the individual incurs for the actual felony charge). A second-time conviction could lead to 20 years of jail time, plus the penalties incurred for the felony charge.
- A maximum of 20 years in jail for individuals convicted of conspiring to commit a felony offense using a firearm
- Five to 20 years in jail for an individual who uses an explosive device for purposes of destroying, damaging, or attempting to destroy/damage personal property or real property that is used in foreign commerce or interstate commerce. If another individual is injured as a result of the accused’s use of an explosive device, the accused could receive between seven and 40 years of incarceration upon conviction. If someone is killed in the incident, the accused could be sentenced to life in prison or death.
- Individuals who distribute one or more explosive materials with the knowledge or belief that the explosive devices would be used to commit a drug trafficking crime or violent crime, upon conviction, could receive the same criminal penalties as the individual who actually carried the explosive devices to commit the felony.
- Up to ten years in jail for an individual who steals one or more explosive materials from an individual or entity that manufactures explosives as part of foreign or interstate commerce – or who is a licensed explosives dealer
Call a Federal Explosives Charge Attorney Today
If you are caught selling or possessing explosives, the experienced criminal defense lawyers at the Joslyn Law Firm can review your legal matter and begin working on a defense for your case today. To schedule a free legal consultation and case evaluation with an experienced federal explosives charge lawyer, call us today at (614) 444-1900 or contact us online to learn how we could help.
