Law Office Of CHRISTOPHER LEIBIG Criminal Defense
Law Office Of CHRISTOPHER LEIBIG Criminal Defense
Federal Crimes
Law Office Of CHRISTOPHER LEIBIG Criminal Defense
Law Office Of CHRISTOPHER LEIBIG Criminal Defense
Federal Crimes Defense
Facing federal charges can be daunting, complex, and carry significant consequences. At The Law Office of Christopher Leibig, we provide experienced and aggressive defense representation for individuals charged with federal crimes. Attorney Chris Leibig understands the intricacies of federal prosecution and possesses the skills needed to protect your rights effectively.
Appeals are an academic proposition. When seeking an appellate attorney, one should be considering intellect, sophistication, and patience. One phone call with most firms is enough to tell an educated consumer to move along. If the lawyer mentions the fee, or how to pay, within the first hour, or over the phone, they do not care about winning the case or helping you. It takes many hours to even understand what is involved with each individual appellate case. If the firm is too busy to meet with you to discuss details without being paid, the firm should not be taken seriously for an appeal. Anyone who goes to trial and loses a criminal case is forced to face the reality that his or her freedom, reputation, or both rests on the success of their criminal appeal. Appeals rarely win. Creativity is everything, It’s important that attorneys tell clients the truth about that. Importantly, when we take on an appeal the client will understand the strategy and why it is worth employing before moving forward.
Chris has regularly handled appeals in the Virginia Court of Appeals, the Virginia Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond. In 2023 he and Meghan Shapiro won reversal of a 25 year Arlington sentence in a child sex abuse case. (Alberto-Rodriguez v. Commonwealth). Some of his other appellate cases include Foltz v. Commonwealth, the first warrantless GPS tracking case in Virginia history, Rogers v. Commonwealth, a death penalty case that resulted in a life sentence; Commonwealth v. Pannell, a case that heightened protections for juveniles charged with probation violations and provoked the General Assembly to change the Juvenile Code; Brown v. Commonwealth, a DWI case reversed by the Virginia Court of Appeals because of faulty breath test procedures; Hernandez v. United States, a case that challenged the federal rule not requiring a jury trial in DWI cases; and, United States v. Jeffery, an appeal of a conviction for a multi-million dollar oil theft scam in Iraq and Commonwealth v. Bjerke, a case challenging the government use of DNA evidence in a genetic genealogy case. The firm handles appeals by charging an initial fee for an extensive review of the record to determine whether the case contains issue meritorious enough to warrant expenditure of the costs for the whole appeal. After such a review,and once a client decides to appeal, the fee can be structured over time.
How Are Federal Crimes Different From State Crimes?
From Chris' interview on ReelLawyers.com
Many things could be a federal or a state crime. For example, any drug case or almost any fraud case. It’s just a matter of which court it ends up in.
The vast majority of cases in America are prosecuted in state court. If there’s any sort of pattern, it’s generally that the more serious cases are picked up by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Not always, but that’s typically the trend. Larger money amounts, more drugs, bigger organizations—that kind of thing. That pattern doesn’t always hold, but that’s roughly how it works.
Any kind of internet-related crime could be federal if they choose to prosecute it that way. Generally, murder and rape—these kinds of violent crimes—are not federal unless they occurred on federal property.
A lot of the same kinds of crimes are prosecuted in both courts. They operate under the same basic structure, but there are important differences. The laws are different, the rules are different, and federal court tends to be more formal. The way cases are negotiated is different, and often the penalties are higher in federal court. Not always, but they can be.
One of the biggest differences is the risk involved in going to trial in a federal case. If you plead guilty, the penalties are substantially lower. Sometimes that’s true in state court as well, if you turn down a plea agreement or for other reasons, but it isn’t as stark of a difference.
The leverage that federal courts, prosecutors, and the FBI have against someone is much greater. First, they usually don’t bring a case unless it has been thoroughly investigated. They’ve had time to look into it and brought it because they believe they have what they need to win. That’s often not true in state court, where people are sometimes arrested right on the street with much less investigation. There are many cases in state court that are simply not very strong. That’s not often the case in federal court.
Second, as I mentioned, the penalty imposed for going to trial is high. The courts refer to it as a benefit for pleading guilty rather than a penalty for going to trial, but it amounts to the same thing. As a result, there are fewer trials in federal court.
But the work involved is still intense in terms of getting the right result and trying to get the person where they need to be.
What Constitutes a Federal Crime?
Appeals are an academic proposition. When seeking an appellate attorney, one should be considering intellect, sophistication, and patience. One phone call with most firms is enough to tell an educated consumer to move along. If the lawyer mentions the fee, or how to pay, within the first hour, or over the phone, they do not care about winning the case or helping you. It takes many hours to even understand what is involved with each individual appellate case. If the firm is too busy to meet with you to discuss details without being paid, the firm should not be taken seriously for an appeal. Anyone who goes to trial and loses a criminal case is forced to face the reality that his or her freedom, reputation, or both rests on the success of their criminal appeal. Appeals rarely win. Creativity is everything, It’s important that attorneys tell clients the truth about that. Importantly, when we take on an appeal the client will understand the strategy and why it is worth employing before moving forward.
Chris has regularly handled appeals in the Virginia Court of Appeals, the Virginia Supreme Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond. In 2023 he and Meghan Shapiro won reversal of a 25 year Arlington sentence in a child sex abuse case. (Alberto-Rodriguez v. Commonwealth). Some of his other appellate cases include Foltz v. Commonwealth, the first warrantless GPS tracking case in Virginia history, Rogers v. Commonwealth, a death penalty case that resulted in a life sentence; Commonwealth v. Pannell, a case that heightened protections for juveniles charged with probation violations and provoked the General Assembly to change the Juvenile Code; Brown v. Commonwealth, a DWI case reversed by the Virginia Court of Appeals because of faulty breath test procedures; Hernandez v. United States, a case that challenged the federal rule not requiring a jury trial in DWI cases; and, United States v. Jeffery, an appeal of a conviction for a multi-million dollar oil theft scam in Iraq and Commonwealth v. Bjerke, a case challenging the government use of DNA evidence in a genetic genealogy case. The firm handles appeals by charging an initial fee for an extensive review of the record to determine whether the case contains issue meritorious enough to warrant expenditure of the costs for the whole appeal. After such a review,and once a client decides to appeal, the fee can be structured over time.
Key Differences Between Federal and State Charges
Federal court cases differ significantly from state cases in various ways:
Higher Stakes
Federal charges often come with harsher penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and substantial fines. Federal sentencing guidelines are stringent, and prosecutors typically pursue maximum penalties.
Thorough Investigation
Federal prosecutors and agencies, such as the FBI, typically conduct comprehensive investigations before charging an individual. As a result, federal cases are generally strong and thoroughly prepared, placing defendants at significant risk.
Formal Procedures
The federal court system is known for its formal rules and procedures. This formality requires attorneys experienced in navigating federal regulations, evidentiary rules, and courtroom protocol.
Risks and Consequences
Criminal offenses can be prosecuted either at the state or federal level. Federal crimes typically involve offenses that cross state lines, large-scale drug trafficking, significant financial fraud, or crimes against federal property or institutions. Common examples include:
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Drug Trafficking
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Fraud (mail fraud, wire fraud, bank fraud)
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Internet and Cyber Crimes
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Money Laundering
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Organized Crime (RICO charges)
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Weapons Offenses
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Crimes committed on federal property
While violent crimes such as murder and rape are generally state offenses, they become federal crimes when committed on federal property or involving federal officials.
Choosing to fight federal charges at trial carries considerable risks. Federal prosecutors frequently incentivize guilty pleas by offering significantly reduced sentences compared to those imposed after a trial conviction. Consequently, fewer federal cases proceed to trial.
It's crucial to have seasoned legal counsel capable of evaluating the strength of the prosecution’s case, advising on plea agreements, and aggressively defending you in court if necessary.
CHRISTOPHER LEIBIG
CHRISTOPHER LEIBIG