What Makes A Charge Federal Instead Of State? Andrew Russek, criminal defense attorney at the leading Combs Waterkotte law firm, talks about the overlap and differences between federal and state criminal charges.
Interview Transcript
Scott Michael Dunn: Well, and that’s where it gets kind of confusing. What makes it a federal charge versus a state charge?
Andrew Russek: I mean, inherently, it’s the federal statute, United States criminal code. Again, there’s some overlap there: There’s homicides, sex crimes, and there are some things that are specific to federal code, like Medicare/Medicaid fraud. I mean, there may be an equivalent of that in state statutes, but you don’t really see it charged much.
But ultimately, it’s what agency investigated you. ATF, DEA – their cases are going to go to a United States prosecutor in some federal jurisdiction, some federal district. And then it’s that federal prosecutor running you through a federal grand jury and putting you in front of a federal magistrate.
If you’re facing federal charges and need an expert criminal defense lawyer, contact Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a free, confidential case review. We will fight for your rights and freedom.
