Federal felony lawyers St. Louis, MO. Being accused of a federal felony puts you in an extremely serious and high-stakes legal position. Federal prosecutors have broad authority, you have the force of the full United States government working against you, and convictions can carry life-altering consequences. Whether you have already been charged or believe you may be under federal investigation, working with experienced St. Louis, MO federal felony lawyers is essential to protecting your rights, your freedom, and your future.
Combs Waterkotte represents individuals accused of federal felony offenses in U.S. District Courts. Our St. Louis, MO federal criminal defense lawyers recognize how federal cases take shape, how aggressively prosecutors pursue convictions, and the gravity of these charges. We pair high-level legal strategy with a compassionate awareness of the emotional and personal challenges federal felony cases create.
When you hire our St. Louis, MO federal felony lawyers, you hire a firm that treats you as a person, not a case number. Call us at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to schedule a free and confidential consultation.
Learn more by reading our Guide to Federal Felony Charges.
This page explains:
- What federal felony charges are and how they differ from state offenses
- How federal felony cases are investigated and prosecuted
- Common types of federal felony charges
- How federal felony lawyers develop strategic defense approaches
- What penalties and future impacts may result from federal felony convictions
- How experienced legal counsel can impact outcomes in federal court
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Facing Federal Criminal Charges? Why They’re Different and How to Win
Combs Waterkotte, Missouri and Southern Illinois’s leading federal criminal defense law firm, has handled over 10,000 cases successfully. This ebook guides you through the federal criminal defense process, how federal charges are different, and how to win.
What Is a Federal Felony?
A federal felony is a criminal offense prosecuted under United States federal law rather than state law. These cases arise when alleged crimes fall under federal jurisdiction, such as crimes involving interstate commerce, federal agencies, federal property, or violations of specific statutes enacted by the U.S. Congress.
What separates federal felonies from many state offenses is both the prosecuting authority and the severity of punishment. Many federal felony statutes carry mandatory minimum prison sentences, significant fines, and long-term consequences that extend well beyond incarceration. Unlike many state cases, federal judges often have limited discretion at sentencing once a conviction occurs.
How Federal Felony Cases Differ From State Charges in St. Louis, MO
While state and federal charges may arise from similar conduct, they function very differently in real-world practice. In practice, federal felony cases usually involve more complexity, heavier documentation, and stricter procedures than state cases.
Federal felony cases commonly involve:
- Prolonged investigations that can take months or even years before charges are issued
- Charges initiated through grand jury indictments instead of standard charging instruments
- Investigations conducted by federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS, or Homeland Security
- Strict rules that control how evidence is gathered, shared, and challenged in court
- Sentencing governed by federal guidelines and mandatory minimum penalties
Federal felony cases are commonly built using financial records, electronic data, surveillance, and testimony from cooperating witnesses. This makes early, detailed analysis of evidence collection, constitutional rights, and legal strategy critical, often long before a case reaches trial.
Federal Felony Charges Our St. Louis, MO Defense Attorneys Handle
The scope of federal felony charges is broad, with each charge influencing how investigations, prosecutions, and sentencing unfold. Federal statutes provide the framework prosecutors use to define charges, negotiate pleas, and seek sentencing penalties.
Clients in St. Louis, MO rely on our federal felony lawyers for defense against a broad array of federal charges, including the following:
White Collar & Financial Crimes
Many federal white collar cases are built around alleged fraud or financial misconduct uncovered through documents, financial review, and electronic communications.
- Wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343) — electronic communications alleged in a fraudulent scheme
- Mail fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1341) — postal service alleged as part of a fraud case
- Bank fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344) — alleged fraud involving a financial institution
- Money laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1956, § 1957) — financial transactions tied to alleged unlawful proceeds
- Securities and investment fraud — alleged misrepresentations made to investors or financial markets
These cases often hinge on intent, context, and how prosecutors interpret complex transactions.
Federal Drug Offenses
Many federal drug cases center on claims involving interstate conduct, significant quantities, organized operations, or conspiracy allegations.
- Drug distribution/trafficking (21 U.S.C. § 841) — accusations related to producing, distributing, or intending to distribute drugs
- Drug conspiracy (21 U.S.C. § 846) — claims of participating in an organized plan to violate drug laws
- Importation-related drug offenses (21 U.S.C. § 952, § 960) — allegations involving cross-border drug importation activity
Investigations may involve informants, monitoring, intercepted communications, and multi-party indictments.
Firearms & Weapons Charges
Federal firearms offenses may be charged independently or in combination with other federal felony allegations, frequently carrying sentence enhancements.
- Unlawful possession of a firearm (18 U.S.C. § 922) — claims that a person possessed a firearm in violation of federal law
- Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a felony (18 U.S.C. § 924) — claims that a firearm was possessed or used to advance another felony offense
- Straw purchase-related allegations (18 U.S.C. § 922) — accusations of buying or transferring a firearm on behalf of someone else
The outcome of these cases often depends on possession issues, intent or knowledge, and the government’s theory of connection to criminal conduct.
Sex Crimes & Internet Offenses
Federal sex crime cases are pursued aggressively by prosecutors and commonly depend on digital data, internet activity, and forensic review.
- Sexual exploitation of a minor (18 U.S.C. § 2251) — accusations involving the creation or production of illegal sexual material
- Possession of child pornography (18 U.S.C. § 2252) — claims involving possession of unlawful images or video files
- Distribution of child pornography (18 U.S.C. § 2252) — claims involving the distribution or transmission of illegal sexual material
- Online enticement or exploitation offenses — claims centered on online communications allegedly directed at minors
These cases often require detailed review of digital searches, device examinations, and prosecutorial interpretations of online activity.
Conspiracy & Multi-Defendant Federal Cases
Federal conspiracy charges are often used to bring multiple people into the same case, even when prosecutors cannot show that each person personally committed every alleged act. In these cases, the government claims that someone became legally responsible by knowingly working with others toward an illegal goal.
- Federal conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 371) — accusations of intentional involvement in a coordinated plan to violate federal law
- Drug conspiracy (21 U.S.C. § 846) — accusations of working with others in a drug-related conspiracy
- RICO offenses (18 U.S.C. §§ 1961–1968) — claims that a person participated in an ongoing criminal organization or pattern of illegal activity
Prosecutors often rely on inference, recorded conversations, and witness cooperation to pursue conspiracy charges. Given that conspiracy cases may rest on inference rather than direct evidence, defense efforts often focus on credibility, intent, and the limits of alleged participation.
Cybercrime, Identity Theft & Computer Offenses
Federal cybercrime cases often involve allegations related to computer use, online activity, or digital information that crosses state lines or involves protected systems.
- Computer fraud or unauthorized access (18 U.S.C. § 1030) — allegations that a person accessed protected computers without permission
- Identity theft (18 U.S.C. § 1028) — allegations of using someone else’s personal or identifying information without permission
- Aggravated identity theft (18 U.S.C. § 1028A) — additional identity theft allegations attached to another federal charge
Defense strategies frequently focus on how digital evidence was gathered, analyzed, and interpreted by investigators.
Federal Tax Crimes
Federal tax felony prosecutions typically focus on claims of intentional violations of tax laws rather than honest mistakes or good-faith disputes with the IRS.
- Tax evasion (26 U.S.C. § 7201) — claims that a person intentionally attempted to evade taxes due
- Filing false returns or statements (26 U.S.C. § 7206) — allegations of knowingly providing false or misleading information on tax documents
Federal tax cases frequently include extended IRS investigations, intensive examination of financial records, and efforts to reconstruct financial activity over long periods.
- Health care fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1347) — claims involving improper billing practices or unlawful receipt of Medicare or Medicaid funds
- False statements to the government (18 U.S.C. § 1001) — claims that false or misleading statements were made to government officials
- Kickback-related allegations (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b) — allegations that improper financial incentives were exchanged for referrals
Effective defense typically involves detailed review of records, careful analysis of intent, and navigation of complex federal regulatory frameworks.
Federal Violent Crimes & Interstate Offenses
Violent or serious offenses may be prosecuted federally when they involve interstate commerce, cross state boundaries, or fall under federal statutes.
- Hobbs Act robbery (18 U.S.C. § 1951) — accusations of robbery or extortion that allegedly affected interstate business or commerce
- Federal kidnapping (18 U.S.C. § 1201) — claims that a kidnapping involved interstate travel or federal authority
These prosecutions often expose defendants to significant penalties, with sentencing influenced by mandatory minimums and enhancement provisions.
Obstruction, False Statements & “Process Crimes”
Prosecutors frequently pursue process-related charges based on conduct during an investigation, separate from the underlying accusations. Such charges can dramatically increase sentencing exposure.
- Obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503, § 1512) — accusations of interfering with an investigation, court case, or witness
- False statements (18 U.S.C. § 1001) — allegations of giving incorrect or misleading information to federal investigators
These allegations often emerge quickly in federal cases, underscoring the importance of early legal representation.
How St. Louis, MO Federal Felony Lawyers Build a Defense
Federal felony cases require a methodical and strategic defense process. Our approach begins with a thorough review of the government’s case by our federal felony defense lawyers in St. Louis, MO.
Defense strategy development frequently includes:
- Analyzing the charging documents and relevant statutes
- Analyzing investigative techniques for constitutional violations
- Filing challenges to evidence gathered in violation of the law
- Reviewing guideline-based sentencing exposure
- Preparing for litigation, negotiations, or trial proceedings
Each federal felony case presents unique facts and challenges. Our objective is to create a defense approach that aligns with the unique facts, relevant law, and future considerations of the client.
Federal Felony Classifications Under Federal Law
Federal law classifies felony offenses into specific categories according to the maximum penalties allowed by statute. This system, outlined in Title 18 of the United States Code, ranks federal crimes according to their seriousness.
Federal law divides felony offenses into five classes, from Class A, the most severe, to Class E, the least severe felony category.
- Class A felonies — crimes carrying potential sentences of life imprisonment or, in extreme cases, capital punishment
- Class B felonies — offenses punishable by a maximum sentence of twenty-five years or more
- Class C felonies — offenses punishable by a maximum sentence of ten years or more, but less than twenty-five years
- Class D felonies — crimes carrying maximum penalties between five and under ten years
- Class E felonies — offenses subject to sentences of more than one year and less than five years
Although felony classifications establish maximum penalties, they do not alone determine federal sentencing outcomes. Sentencing decisions are based on the underlying statute, mandatory minimum penalties, and guideline factors such as offense behavior and criminal record.
Potential Penalties for Federal Felony Convictions in St. Louis, MO
The consequences of a federal felony conviction often extend well beyond prison time. The penalties imposed vary by charge and circumstances, but may include the following:
- Significant federal prison sentences
- Significant fines and mandatory repayment of funds
- Continued supervision after completion of a prison term
- Losing the right to own firearms and other legal rights
- Lasting consequences for employment, professional licensing, and personal reputation
Because federal sentencing is highly structured, working with an experienced St. Louis, MO federal felony lawyer early can be essential to minimizing or avoiding long-term penalties.
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How to Choose a Criminal Defense Lawyer
Charged with a crime? The lawyer you hire matters. Combs Waterkotte, recognized for top-tier criminal defense in Missouri and Southern Illinois, created this guide to help you find the right attorney. Learn what to look for, key questions to ask, and red flags to avoid.
Why Clients Trust Combs Waterkotte’s St. Louis, MO Federal Felony Lawyers
When facing federal felony charges, you need attorneys who understand federal law, federal procedure, the realities of federal prosecution, and who can fight back against the full strength of the U.S. government.
Clients choose Combs Waterkotte because we provide:
- Extensive experience in federal felony defense matters
- Individualized and strategic case planning
- Consistent, honest communication during the legal process
- Availability at all hours to discuss your case
- Dedicated advocacy that balances empathy with determination
- A firm committed to treating clients as people, not statistics
Because the consequences are severe, we handle every federal felony case with focused care and urgency.
Speak With Our St. Louis, MO Federal Felony Lawyers Today
Anyone facing federal felony allegations should act quickly to secure legal representation. The sooner you understand your legal options, the better positioned you are to protect your future.
You can call (314) 900-HELP or contact Combs Waterkotte online to speak privately with federal felony lawyers ready to advocate for you.
