Federal Criminal Investigation Process Lawyers
Assisting Individuals during Federal Investigations and Safeguarding their Rights
A criminal investigation that takes place at the federal level can be a long, tedious, and drawn-out affair. In some instances, federal investigators single out and target individuals or groups whom they believe might have committed a federal criminal offense or who are planning to do so. At other times, individuals who work as confidential informants end up becoming the target of a federal investigation themselves and are subsequently arrested and charged.
If you believe that you are under investigation by the federal authorities, there is no time to lose. It is essential that you have an experienced federal criminal defense lawyer on your side, advocating for your legal interests. Waiting too long to seek legal representation can have an extremely negative impact on a subsequent criminal case. Lawyer Brian Joslyn of the Joslyn Law Firm can help guide you through the process, assist you throughout every aspect of your case, and ensure that all of your legal rights are safeguarded throughout the investigation. Please be sure to give us a call today at (614) 444-1900 or contact us online to discover how we could assist you throughout your federal criminal case today.
Beginning the Federal Criminal Investigative Process
There are several ways in which federal investigators can begin the investigative process. In many instances, individuals who are under investigation are not even aware that they are being investigated. Federal criminal investigations against you could begin in any of the following ways:
- A criminal informant (CI) or third party names you — Working as a criminal informant or as a third party typically involves wearing a wire or otherwise taking an active role in an ongoing criminal investigation, in exchange for leniency in the informant’s own criminal case. A CI could name you as a party to the ongoing criminal investigation. Alternatively, the investigation could lead to the discovery of new evidence which could end up being used against you later on.
- Anonymous tips — A person could provide an anonymous tip about you to a federal investigator, or a victim could offer a tip that results in your arrest or charges being brought against you by a federal prosecutor.
- Suspicious financial records — Suspicious financial records that suggest shady financial transactions or questionable corporate dealings could result in federal charges being levied against you.
Tactics that Federal Investigators might Use during a Criminal Investigation
There are several different tactics that federal investigators might use when they are undertaking a criminal investigation. Those common tactics include all of the following:
- Use of undercover agents to investigate a crime, including online crimes
- Interviewing individuals who are suspected of committing a federal crime
- Reviewing surveillance films for evidence of a suspected criminal transaction
- Interviewing witnesses who may have information about a crime spree
- Obtaining documents which could later be used as evidence of the fact that you committed a crime
- Surveilling suspects in person
At some point during the criminal investigation, a police officer or investigator might ask permission to question you. Even though you might be tempted to speak to investigators immediately, you should never do so without first having an experienced lawyer present with you. If an officer or investigator asks to question you, you should be polite but decline to answer those questions until your experienced legal counsel can be present. Anything that you say to a police officer or investigator outside the presence of your attorney – no matter how seemingly innocent or minor – could be used against you later.
The main purpose of a criminal investigation at the federal level is for investigators and prosecutors to gather enough evidence to make an arrest or obtain a conviction for a federal crime. However, during the criminal investigation process, you still have important legal rights. A federal criminal investigation process lawyer can ensure that all of your legal rights remain protected throughout the entire process. If your rights are violated at some point along the line, such as by an illegal search, your lawyer could raise that violation as a potential defense to your criminal charge or charges.
What Happens after being Arrested for a Federal Crime?
Being arrested for a federal crime is already a serious issue, and federal prosecutors will continue to try and gather evidence against you from various sources. However, just because you have been arrested does not necessarily mean that federal investigators have (or will have) sufficient evidence to convict you.
As soon as you contact a federal criminal investigation attorney, he or she can begin learning about the possible evidence against you and formulating a strong legal defense on your behalf. In some instances, federal investigators may have violated your constitutional rights, including your Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable searches and seizures or your Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. The investigators might also be missing one or more crucial pieces of evidence that would be sufficient to result in a dismissal of your criminal case, eliminating the possibility of jail time and other serious penalties. Let the federal criminal defense attorneys at the Joslyn Law Firm help you by asserting a strong legal defense on your behalf in a federal criminal case today.
Call an Experienced Federal Criminal Investigation Process Lawyer Today About Your Legal Matter
Any federal criminal investigation is serious business and should never be taken lightly. Regardless of the precise charges you are facing, the sooner an experienced criminal defense lawyer gets involved in your case, generally speaking, the better off you will be.
Criminal defense attorney Brian Joslyn and the Joslyn Law Firm can help you by making sure that your legal, constitutional, and civil rights remain protected throughout your case while representing you during all federal legal proceedings. Depending on your charge and prior to trial, our lawyers can also work with federal prosecutors and attempt to negotiate a favorable charge reduction or plea deal for you.
For more information or to schedule a free legal consultation and case evaluation with a skilled federal criminal investigation process lawyer, please give us a call at (614) 444-1900 or contact us online today.
