Federal Criminal Defense

Swift & McDonald has more than thirteen years of federal criminal court experience, including the handling of complex national security cases, child pornography charges, financial, and environmental criminal cases. We are willing and able to handle federal cases in any federal district court in the nation.

Defendants in a federal court should know that, though limited in scope, federal penalties are often harsher than the equivalent crime in the state system. Federal rules and procedure are distinct from state courts and require the kind of specialized knowledge Swift & McDonald possesses. Moreover, federal criminal cases are often far more complex in their scope and disposition, requiring that the attorneys who deal with these cases have extensive criminal experience and an intimate understanding of the federal process.

Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction that hear criminal cases involving violations of the U.S. Code, or cases that occurred on federal property.

The U.S. Code covers a limited area of criminal activity, including commercial crimes (from corporate fraud to bank robbery), environmental crimes involving unauthorized shipment or discharge of hazardous waste, crimes involving transportation of people or items across state or international boarders (such as child pornography, kidnapping, human trafficking, and immigration violations), national security cases involving threats against the government (including terrorism and espionage), narcotics trafficking, mail fraud, counterfeiting, and organized crime.

Federal cases are brought by U.S. Attorneys with the assistance of the Department of Justice. Generally the cases are tried in the federal district where the crime occurred, but may be held anywhere in the U.S. when circumstances dictate.