A federal crime is a criminal offense that is prosecuted under federal law rather than state law. These crimes may be investigated by federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA, ATF, and more. So, what exactly makes a crime a federal crime? If you are ever charged with a federal crime, understand that you are in serious legal jeopardy. To ensure your rights are respected and that you know your legal options, contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

Everything You Need to Know About Federal Crimes

As stated at the outset, a federal crime is a crime that violates federal law. Federal law is created by congress and covers a wide range of crimes, including but not limited to drug trafficking, money laundering, bank fraud, terrorism, and more. These crimes are prosecuted in federal court and are subject to federal sentencing guidelines, which can result in harsher penalties than those under state law.

Secondly, a crime can be considered a federal crime if it occurs on federal property. This can include crimes on military bases, national parks, or other federal property. Furthermore, crimes committed on airlines registered in the United States are also considered federal crimes, regardless of where they occur.

Mortgage fraud is an extremely serious federal crime that is a growing problem in Illinois and many other states across the country. It refers to a wide range of illegal activities that involve making false or misleading statements on mortgage applications to obtain a loan or a larger loan than would otherwise be possible. Some common types of mortgage fraud include loan flipping, property flipping, straw buyers, and appraisal fraud. This type of fraud can result in significant financial losses for both borrowers and lenders and damage the overall housing market. 

Today, we will look deeper into mortgage fraud in Illinois and address everything you need to know about this serious offense. Your freedom may be at risk if you have been charged with mortgage fraud. Consider contacting an experienced federal crimes defense attorney who will ensure your rights remain protected and that a positive outcome can be pursued  in your favor. 

The Inner Workings of Mortgage Fraud

Mortgage fraud is a crime that involves providing false information to a lender to obtain a mortgage loan or to manipulate the loan process for personal gain. This can include falsifying income or employment information, misrepresenting the property's value, or using straw buyers to obtain a loan. Mortgage fraud is a federal crime and is, therefore, subject to the jurisdiction of the United States government. In Illinois, mortgage fraud can have serious consequences, including exorbitant fines and decades in prison.

For many of us, we have accepted telemarketing scams as an annoying part of life and nothing more. While certainly annoying, you may be surprised to know that such scams are sometimes more serious than they may initially appear. In reality, many telemarketing scams may actually constitute wire fraud, a serious federal crime. If convicted of wire fraud charges, an offender may be subject to extended time in federal prison. 

It is important to understand what constitutes mail and wire fraud, as well as the associated penalties. If you have been charged with telemarketing fraud, do not hesitate to contact an experienced federal crimes defense attorney who will work to ensure your rights remain protected and that a positive outcome in your favor can be pursued in the case.

Understanding Federal Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud Charges

Many tactics used in scam calls are well-known, while others may be less well-known and, thus, more difficult to see through. Regardless of the complexity involved in a scam, these scams are illegal under federal law, no matter if they are perpetrated via the phone, mail, text, or email. In many cases, telemarketing scams are extensively planned with different goals. For example, goals may include trying to lure someone into buying something, participating in a phony business opportunity or investment, or even donating to a bogus charity. In other cases, a telemarketer may pretend they are a family member in dire need of assistance.

Unfortunately, in recent years, it seems as though hate crimes are becoming more and more common in America. Hate crimes are often motivated by race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity, and it is not uncommon for a hate crime to be prosecuted as a federal crime. As a result, a conviction may result in extended prison sentences and fines, the destruction of someone's reputation, and the dissolving of personal relationships. 

Today, we will explore what a hate crime is and give some examples of what a hate crime may entail. If you have been accused of a hate crime, do not hesitate to contact a seasoned hate crimes attorney who will ensure your rights remain protected and that you understand your options moving forward. 

What Exactly Is a Hate Crime? 

In essence, a hate crime is a traditional criminal offense like vandalism, assault, or even murder, motivated by prejudice against a protected group. It is not uncommon for the term "hate crime" to be used interchangeably with "bias-motivated crime." Federal laws surrounding hate crimes may involve individuals with religious, sexual, race-related, or various other prejudices. It is likely that when someone commits a hate crime, they will also be charged with an underlying offense, like vandalism or murder, and then on top of those charges, they will be charged with a hate crime. 

Many of us may have heard of the terms "lying under oath" and "perjury" on TV or maybe in a movie. But only some people truly understand what these terms mean and what they entail. While lying under oath and perjury are unlawful, did you know they also constitute a federal crime? Lying under oath is strictly prohibited by federal law statutes. Suppose you have been accused of lying under oath or another federal offense; in such a case, you will need an aggressive legal defense to ensure your rights remain protected as a positive outcome is pursued in your case. 

What to Know When on the Witness Stand

When you provide testimony on the witness stand, you are legally bound to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. This means that if you knowingly make false statements, you have thus placed yourself in serious legal jeopardy. Lying under oath is taken so seriously because it is considered an attempt to undermine the United States' legal system. As a result, lying under oath often leads to federal perjury charges. However, perjury does not involve refusing to answer a question or remaining silent while on the witness stand. A perjury charge cannot be brought upon someone for something they did not say. However, if you choose to remain silent on the witness stand or refuse to provide information, this may result in contempt of court charges and other negative legal consequences. 

Understanding the Intent of Perjury 

It is possible that someone entering a court proceeding only knows their side of whatever happened. Furthermore, it is also possible that they are unaware of certain information that the court may be interested in. Thankfully, unintentionally making false statements does not rise to perjury. As stated previously, perjury means that you intentionally provided incorrect information in an attempt to deceive the court. Please understand that lying under oath, even about information that may seem irrelevant, is never a wise idea.