RI Federal Defense Attorney

Federal courts have different procedures than many state courts, and federal crimes often carry more severe sentences. For this reason, if you’ve been charged with a federal crime, it’s important to have a federal defense lawyer on your side.

Attorney Terence Livingston represents those who have been charged with federal crimes such as:

• Embezzlement
• Drug charges
• Bank fraud
• Mail fraud
• Tax evasion
• Counterfeiting
• Securities fraud
• Kidnapping
• Terrorism

If you’ve been arrested for or charged with a federal crime, Attorney Terence Livingston can help you by:

• Thoroughly investigating your case
• Determining whether any evidence against you may have been obtained illegally
• Interviewing all parties involved
• Negotiating reduced charges or penalties with the prosecution, if possible.

Having a lawyer who can handle federal criminal defense can make the difference between successfully fighting your charges and spending years in jail. Call today to speak to RI Federal Defense Lawyer Terence Livingston about your case.

Are federal criminal cases different than state criminal cases? Yes!

Federal criminal investigations and prosecutions are handled very differently than similar criminal cases in state courts. First of all, the law enforcement agencies that investigate federal crimes are generally well-funded and staffed by the most experienced agents and investigators. The federal prosecutors who conduct federal criminal trials and sentencing hearings have virtually unlimited resources at their disposal.

Federal crimes generally carry stiffer sentences than state crimes, especially in the areas of drug trafficking and conspiracy. Federal criminal penalties are also more severe in cases involving child pornography and other sexual offenses prosecuted in federal court. Interestingly, white collar cases (like fraud, embezzlement and corruption) have different sentences, if prosecuted for the same offense in state court. For the most part, mandatory minimum penalties and federal sentencing guidelines usually result in very lengthy sentences for people convicted of federal crimes. That’s one of the main reasons it is so important to retain a federal defense lawyer with a record of success in federal court if the case is being prosecuted by the federal government.

Of course, not all crimes can be prosecuted in federal court. The federal government has limited jurisdiction over criminal offenses and can only prosecute those crimes that are specifically defined in the federal criminal code. In order to have jurisdiction over a crime, the alleged criminal activity must somehow involve the federal government or some instrumentality of interstate commerce. As a result, the federal government now prosecutes many crimes that were traditionally prosecuted only in state court. And this trend is likely to continue.

Given the severity and complexity of federal criminal investigations and prosecutions, anyone charged with a federal crime should retain a lawyer who has extensive experience in federal criminal defense. If you need a RI federal defense lawyer with decades of successful results, contact our firm and discuss your case with Terence Livingston. Attorney Terence Livingston has a deep commitment to pursuing justice for people who need help in federal court.