Frequently Asked Questions

Los Angeles Federal Criminal Defense Attorney

Are federal offenses different than state crimes?
State crimes are prosecuted after a violation of law passed by a state legislature or local authority is committed.  Federal criminal charges are brought against someone who has allegedly violated a law passed by the United States Congress.  Although there are many crimes that may be prosecuted in both federal and state courts, they are at their essence different.  Federal crimes generally focus on matters of a broader national concern.  There are separate criminal codes, court systems and differing sentences and punishments for state crimes and federal crimes, with a federal conviction many times carrying harsher repercussions.

Is it important to have a criminal defense lawyer well-versed in federal law?
If you have been charged with a federal offense,  the knowledge and experience of your attorney can be crucial to your case.  Since the state and federal court systems are quite different from each other, as is the criminal code, you will need the counsel of a Los Angeles federal criminal defense lawyer who is not only knowledgeable of federal statutes, but also licensed to practice in federal courts.

What sort of criminal activity is prosecuted under federal law?
While this list is quite extensive, federal law is most often geared towards matters of national security and concern as well as crimes that cross state lines, such as white-collar crimes, espionage, kidnapping, hate crimes, counterfeiting, drug crimes, and other serious charges.  If you are accused of such an offense, the attorneys at Kaye, McLane & Bednarski, LLP are well-prepared to mount a strong defense against them.

Are federal crimes investigated and prosecuted by local authorities?
No. Agencies such as the FBI, ATF and DEA act as the police arms of the federal government and focus on investigating certain federal offenses.  Crimes are prosecuted not by state or district attorneys but by representatives of the U.S. Attorney's Office or Department of Justice.