If You or Your Loved One Is Charged in Federal Court in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, Contact the Criminal Defense Lawyers at the Noll Law Office Today.
Any violation of federal law is considered a federal criminal offense. The seasoned Urbana, IL, federal criminal defense lawyers at the Noll Law Office have defended clients accused of federal crimes in Urbana, Illinois for years. The Noll Law Office represents clients in the Federal Central District of Illinois, including Peoria, Springfield, and Urbana. Drug conspiracy cases, death penalty murder cases, and fraud charges are some of the cases the lawyers at Noll Law Office have litigated.
Generally, federal cases tend to involve higher penalties than state cases because they tend to involve higher amounts of drugs, larger fraud amounts, or the individual has a significant criminal history. The attorneys at Noll Law Office have the experience needed to help clients through the federal justice system. They can advise the client on what they can expect while also fighting for them in the courtroom. Below are just a few of the federal offenses the Urbana, IL, federal criminal defense lawyers can successfully defend against.
Bank Fraud
Bank fraud occurs when a person, company, or other entity gains access to funds under the control of a bank or financial institution using fraudulent or false means. Those convicted of bank fraud will face penalties that include up to 30 years in the Bureau of Prison, a maximum $1 million fine, or both. Bank fraud cases are always complicated and involve an immense amount of paperwork. The experienced Urbana, IL federal criminal defense lawyers at Noll Law Office have a thorough knowledge of banking practices and will use that experience to defend their clients.
Federal Drug Crimes
Federal drug crimes are very commonly prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois. The majority of cases involve distributing drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. There are several reasons drug crimes are sometimes prosecuted at the federal level as opposed to in the state courts. Federal drug cases typically involve large quantities of drugs, crimes that cross state lines, or involve defendants who have a long criminal history. Federal drug offenses often have minimum mandatory sentences and these minimums can be significant.
fThe attorneys at Noll Law Office are well-versed in the federal sentencing guidelines and federal criminal procedure. They can determine if a search or seizure violated your rights. They can also provide advice on whether an individual is eligible for the safety valve.
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is almost always charged as a federal crime, and it occurs when someone steals or misappropriates funds or property that was entrusted to them. Embezzlement is punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison. Bank officers, bank directors, and bank employees accused of embezzlement face up to 30 years in prison if they are convicted. If you have been charged, or you believe you are under investigation, the Urbana federal criminal defense lawyers at the Noll Law Office will fight for you.
Child Pornography
In the Central District of Illinois, the United States Attorney’s Office has historically investigated and prosecuted more child pornography cases than any other district in the country. Sex crimes involving minors are taken extremely seriously, and so, the federal prosecution pursues child pornography charges aggressively.
The penalties for a child pornography conviction will depend on many factors, including the types of images shown, the ages of the children, and the number of images that were seized. The penalties, however, can be harsh. Depending on the specific offense the individual is convicted of, they could have a 5, 10 or 15-year mandatory minimum.
The Noll Law Office has earned a strong reputation as a law firm that can successfully defend against federal child pornography charges. The Urbana, IL, federal criminal defense lawyers there will collect and examine the evidence against the accused, such as videos, police reports, and other documentation. They will also thoroughly review whether your camera, computer, or cell phone was illegally searched or seized by law enforcement. These seasoned attorneys will also reach out to computer forensic experts who can determine how the material was stored on your device or whether someone else downloaded the images while using your IP address.
Fraud
Wire fraud, tax fraud, mail fraud, and bank fraud are just a few types of federal charges the attorneys at Noll Law Office have commonly defended. Charges of fraud fall into the classification of white-collar crimes. Noll Law Office can identify and analyze pending investigations, determine if a search and seizure violated your rights, and advise on the federal sentencing guidelines for specific cases of fraud.
Tax Fraud
Also known as tax evasion, tax fraud occurs when an individual, company, or other entity makes false statements on a tax return in order to lower the amount of taxes they are responsible for paying. While the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) usually investigates cases of tax fraud, they are still prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office.
Under the law, the maximum penalty for a tax fraud conviction is five years in federal prison or a maximum fine of $100,000. If a corporation is found guilty of tax fraud, the maximum fine increases to $500,000. The most common way tax fraud is committed is by failing to report income, using a business to cover personal costs, claiming false deductions, and failing to report cash earnings.
At the federal level, tax fraud is charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony. For felony charges to apply, the defendant must have engaged in an overt act to avoid paying the full taxes for which they are liable. While small mistakes, such as forgetting to file a tax return, can result in federal charges, these cases are usually prosecuted as misdemeanors.
Mail Fraud
Mail fraud is defined as any scheme that involves defrauding or misrepresenting another person, business, or other entity using the United States Postal Service or any other commercial mail service, including FedEx and UPS. Property evaluations, credit applications, contracts, and checks are just a few of the most common pieces of documentation used in mail fraud schemes. Depending on the circumstances of a specific case, penalties can include up to 20 years in federal prison, a maximum fine of $1 million, or both. The attorneys at Noll Law Office can advise you of your rights if you have been charged, as well as the best defenses to use in your case.
Wire Fraud
Wire fraud occurs when a person, company, or entity obtains funds or property using an artifice or scheme to defraud using television, radio, or wire transmissions (including the internet). The federal offense carries penalties of up to 20 years in federal prison, a $1 million fine, or both for those convicted. The attorneys at Noll Law Office can aggressively defend against federal agents from Homeland Security, the FBI, DEA, the Secret Service, and the United States Attorney’s Office.
Weapons Offenses
Weapon offenses also accompany many other charges, and they are usually related to drug dealing or drug conspiracies. The FBI, ICE, DEA, and federal prosecutors are aggressive in their pursuit of filing charges and obtaining a conviction for weapons offenses. The Urbana federal criminal defense lawyers at the Noll Law Office know how to analyze these investigations and refute the evidence obtained so their clients have the best chance of beating the charges against them.
Money Laundering
The crime of money laundering occurs when a person or business obtains funds from illegal activity and engages in a scheme to make it appear as legitimate income. Most of the time, charges for money laundering typically accompany other charges such as bank fraud, wire fraud, or the distribution of drugs. If you have been charged with money laundering, it is critical that you speak to a lawyer at Noll Law Office who can advise you on the investigation methods employed by the DEA, FBI, Secret Services, and Homeland Security and help you prepare your defense.
Conspiracy
A conspiracy occurs when two or more people have an implied or express agreement to commit a criminal offense. Even if the ultimate goals of the conspiracy are not attained, the charge of conspiracy can still apply. The prosecution has a high burden of proof when pursuing a conviction for conspiracy. Federal prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a conspiracy was in place and that the accused became involved in the conspiracy in an attempt to further the illegal scheme.
I’ve Never Hired a Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer Before. How Do I Find the Best Urbana, Illinois Criminal Defense Attorney?
It is important to ask questions. You should be comfortable with the lawyer and have confidence that they will act in your best interest. Furthermore, you should specifically ask them how many federal criminal jury trials they have done. Many lawyers talk a good game about being trial lawyers – few are. Make sure that the lawyer you hire has the skills necessary to take your case all the way through a jury trial. You do not want a lawyer who will quit on your case because they are scared to go in front of a jury.
Some important questions to ask a federal criminal defense attorney are:
- How long have you been practicing law?
- How much of your practice is devoted to criminal law?
- How many federal criminal jury trials have you taken to a verdict?
- How long ago was your last federal trial?
- How many similar cases to mine have you handled?
- Do you practice regularly in federal court?
- What types of outcomes have you had on like cases mine?
- Are you a public defender?
- If so, what is the difference between your representation of clients as a public defender vs. a private attorney?
- When was the last time you had a case like mine?
- Have you ever appeared in front of the judge assigned to my case?
- Are you familiar with the federal sentencing guidelines?
- What are they and how will they apply to my case?
- What are they like?
- What is your fee?
- How is the fee structured (hourly v. flat fee)?
- Are there any other fees I should expect?
- How often is court?
- Will I need to be there?
- Will you represent me or will it be another attorney?
- How long will my case take to resolve?
- Will you review the discovery in my case with me?
- What legal issues do you see in my case?
- What factual issues do you see in my case?
- Do they guarantee any results? (If yes, RUN AWAY)
How Can the Noll Law Office Help Me on My Federal Case?
The Noll Law Office has earned a reputation in Central Illinois for providing aggressive advocacy, compassionate counsel, and real results. They vigorously defend each client they represent in federal court and provide them with honest, well-reasoned legal opinions. Their attorneys treat their clients and families with respect no matter the charges against them.
If you retain the Noll Law Office, they will:
- Speak to you about your case;
- Review the discovery for any factual defenses which may exist in your case;
- Review the discovery for any suppression issues or other legal defenses which may exist in your case;
- Calculate your advisory sentencing guideline range using the Federal Sentencing Guideline Manual;
- Help obtain favorable mitigating evidence which may exist;
- Speak to the prosecutor about any acceptable resolutions to your case prior to trial;
- Take the case to trial if needed; and
- Always act in your best interests.
If you or your loved one needs a federal criminal defense lawyer in Champaign-Urbana, contact the Noll Law Office today at (217) 414-8889
Call the Champaign-Urbana Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers at the Noll Law Office Now
If you have been charged with a federal offense, the Champaign-Urbana federal criminal defense lawyers at Noll Law Office can advise you of your rights, make sure they are upheld, and represent you in federal court. Call now at (217) 414-8889 or fill out our online form to schedule a free review of your case and to learn more about how they can prepare you for the process.