What Penalties Do Federal Convictions Carry? Chris Combs, managing partner of Combs Waterkotte criminal defense firm, discusses the potential prison sentences of a federal criminal conviction.
Interview Transcript
Scott Michael Dunn: What kind of penalties do federal convictions carry in?
Chris Combs: I mean, there’s a wide array. The federal courts, unlike state courts, they’re bound by sentencing guidelines, and this is all laid out in the United States criminal code.
It looks like– you know, they say lawyers don’t like math; well, if you’re going to be a federal defense attorney, you better be good at math because you’re looking at a sentencing guideline chart. And you’re looking for ways to get under some of these mandatory minimums. There’s safety valves, there’s K1s to get downward departures, all kinds of different things you can do to try to get under these mandatory minimums and things like that.
But again, I just can’t emphasize enough: It is a whole other world in federal court than it is in state court.
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.
