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Handling
Cases Pre-Indictment or Post Indictment in Federal
Court
PRIOR EXPERIENCE
IN FEDERAL COURT IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST!
TALK TO Los Angeles ATTORNEY KENNETH H. LEWIS BEFORE
YOU PROCEED
An investigation or indictment
by the Federal Government is a terrifying experience.
The entire might of the government is arrayed against
you and the consequences are almost always serious.
You need an attorney experienced in dealing with the
Federal Government – state court experience
is simply not enough. The skillfulness of your attorney
can make the difference between failure or success.
Los Angeles attorney Kenneth H. Lewis has over
30 years experience in successfully handling Federal
cases.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM EVEN
BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
You may never know in advance of
arrest or indictment. Sometimes you’ll be questioned
by the FBI, DEA or other federal agents. Sometimes you
might be called before the Grand Jury. Sometimes you
might get a letter from a federal agency, such as the
FDIC, indicating that an investigation has been opened
up. If you think that you may be under investigation,
immediately call a Los Angeles federal attorney with
experience like Kenneth H. Lewis to confidentially discuss
the situation.
ARE FEDERAL
CASES USUALLY SERIOUS?
Yes! The Federal government
concentrates on cases that have a wide impact on society
since they are the national government. They try to
set an example for as wide a group as possible. Tax
evasion would be a perfect example. The Federal government
wants all U.S. taxpayers to fear the IRS and Federal
prosecutions set that example. The Federal government
does not have unlimited resources, but they can concentrate
a huge amount of legal resources in obtaining a conviction,
whether it is the resources of the FBI, DEA or ICE
(customs), for examples. The United States Attorney’s
Office typically handles prosecutions for the Federal
government, and they are located throughout the United
States in all major cities.
WHAT EXACTLY IS THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN A STATE AND FEDERAL CASE?
There are two distinct and interrelated
levels of government in the United States, the Federal
and state systems. Each of the fifty states has its
own state government, while the national government
is the Federal government. Federal law often “trumps”
state law, is sometimes separate from state law and
sometimes interacts with state law. An example of
a purely federal crime would be a crime committed
in a National Park. These parks are under the jurisdiction
of the Federal government and are patrolled by United
States Park Rangers. An attack on the President would
also be a federal crime. So-called “ordinary”
crimes like domestic violence or battery, for example,
are usually dealt with through laws of the individual
states.
DO STATE COURTS DIFFER FROM
FEDERAL COURTS?
Yes. Federal Court is formal
and daunting. Federal judges are appointed by the
President, require Senate approval and serve for life,
unless impeached for bad behavior by the Senate. Procedures
and rules are very different from state courts and
a lawyer must be very knowledgeable in Federal procedure
to adequately represent a client in Federal Court.
Don’t rely on an attorney who does not have
extensive Federal Court experience.
DOES THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
PROCEED DIFFERENTLY WITH ITS’ CASES?
Yes. Depending on the complexity
of a case, the Federal government can take years to
investigate, indict and arrest a defendant. A “grand
jury”, a group of ordinary citizens which sits
to hear whether there is enough evidence to indict,
is often used by the U.S. Attorney to answer investigative
questions under oath, and to help put together its
case. Always consult a knowledgeable attorney if called
before a grand jury, even if you believe you are innocent
or only a witness to a crime. One misspoken word and
you could end up being a target of the investigation
even though you are innocent. A skilled attorney is
vital in these serious situations!
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY I AM
BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR AM
INDICTED?
- Politely decline to speak
to any agent, until counsel is present
- Request to consult a veteran
attorney like Kenneth H. Lewis(in Los Angeles) before
continuing any interview with an agent
- Do not sign anything unless
your signature has been okayed by counsel after
reviewing the document
- Constantly check your mail
for any letters from the government that might pertain
to you and your case
- If it turns out that you
are under investigation, or have been called before
the grand jury, or are facing indictment, be certain
to retain a qualified attorney to help you
AN EXPERIENCED, SKILLFULL,
QUALIFIED FEDERAL LAWYER IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST!
Los Angeles attorney Kenneth
H. Lewis has the knowledge and skill to handle your
Federal case. He is admitted to practice before the
United States District Court for the Central District
of California, the United States Ninth Circuit Court
of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States,
where he appeared at counsel’s table in the
case of California vs. Rooney. He is also admitted
to practice before all the courts in the State of
California.
Free consultations are
available. He will make clear how the Federal
criminal process operates and discuss in detail all
of your legal options, from negotiating with the United
States Attorney’s Office to trial. If retained,
he will stay in constant contact and do everything
possible to make certain that you obtain the best
possible results.
LAW OFFICES
OF KENNETH H. LEWIS & ASSOCIATES
633 West Fifth Street, 26th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
TELEPHONE:
213-624-4904
E-MAIL: Kenhlewis@losangeleslegaldefense.com
FAX: 213-623-7301
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