Federal Criminal Defense

Sound Counsel for the Defense in Federal Criminal Cases

Unlike state and local prosecutions that generally begin shortly after a criminal arrest, federal criminal proceedings typically commence with a grand jury indictment. The grand jury hears evidence and reviews documentation provided by the U.S. Attorney's office over a period of time, which in highly complex cases can be more than a year. Then the grand jury's indictment defines the specific federal laws you're alleged to have violated, and that's when you officially become a defendant.

The federal grand jury process can give the defense a valuable opportunity to influence charging decisions and protect the target of the investigation from the worst risk of punishment. Because of the difficult nature of federal criminal defense, you should take advantage of every chance you have to protect yourself — the sooner the better. Contact the law firm of Seymour I. Amster, Attorney at Law, for the help you'll need to face federal criminal charges.

Call 866-428-4036 for a free consultation about federal criminal defense

While it's generally true that the sooner you get a lawyer's advice the better off you'll be, the federal criminal justice system puts an especially important premium on the importance of early counsel. Federal prosecutors rarely even seek an indictment unless they're virtually certain they can win a conviction.

The immense resources of the U.S. government mean that the corners we see the Los Angeles Police Department cut all the time in a criminal investigation will not likely be available to weaken the prosecution's case when you're facing federal charges. Federal sentencing guidelines and practices also make it very difficult to achieve a favorable outcome if you're convicted at trial, even on a lesser charge.

That means you owe it to yourself to take maximum advantage of every chance you have to reduce your exposure to punishment in the federal system. At the law firm of Seymour Amster, our experience and understanding of federal criminal practice means that you can count on us to work toward the following goals in a serious drug trafficking investigation or complex fraud conspiracy:

• Clarify your status as a witness, subject or target of the federal investigation
• Advise you about your grand jury testimony or production of documents if you're required to appear under a federal subpoena
• Advise you about the best ways to respond to contacts from the FBI, DEA, ATF or other federal law enforcement agencies
• Work with the prosecution to protect you from the risk of indictment on the most serious potential charges
• Negotiate the terms of a grant of immunity or significantly reduced charges in exchange for cooperation with a continuing investigation

As a certified criminal law specialist*, Seymour Amster has the experience and courtroom skill to protect your interests in a federal trial if necessary, but the best results for the defense usually follow effective early engagement and resolution of the charges. To learn more about the scope of our federal criminal defense practice, contact any of our offices in Van Nuys, Lancaster, West Covina, downtown L.A. or any of our other offices throughout Southern California.

*Seymour Amster is a certified criminal law specialist under standards established by the State Bar of California's Board of Legal Specialization.