Theft of government property is designated as a federal offense under both 18 U.S.C. § 641 and 18 U.S.C. § 666 of the United States statutes, and can result in some serious consequences, even for a seemingly harmless or minor act of theft. In fact, the charges are set out in 18 U.S.C. § 641 stating that “Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; but if the value of such property in the aggregate, combining amounts from all the counts for which the defendant is convicted in a single case, does not exceed the sum of $1,000, he shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.”
Therefore, it is extremely important that you partner with an experienced federal crime attorney who will be able to help you navigate the upcoming legal process to ensure that your rights are upheld, that your side of the case is clearly heard, and that you are taking the right steps towards a fair outcome.
Read more below to get a better idea of how a federal crime attorney is an important ally throughout the process of dealing with federal charges, whether they are related to the theft of government property or not. Contact us as soon as possible for an initial consultation where you can speak directly with an experienced member of our team in order to understand how we can help you with your specific case. This initial consultation is an important step in our process together, because it is essential that you have trust in the team that you hire in order to help you through your case. During our consultation, we can discuss how we can work together, give you a better idea of our practice, and determine whether or not we are a good fit for your needs.
What Is a Federal Crime?
The United States federal legislation lays out a variety of crimes under federal criminal law that are not addressed by state criminal law, meaning that the crime is expressly a violation of the federal law. In many cases, a crime may be addressed by both state criminal law and federal criminal law, and because of the dual sovereignty doctrine in the United States, the prosecution can occur at both levels and not be considered a violation of a citizen’s “double jeopardy” clause under the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution.
When you are charged with a federal crime, you face a trial in a federal court, heard by a federal judge, and will face federal penalties if you are convicted of the crimes with which you have been charged.
Why Is Theft of Government Property a Federal Crime?
Theft laws have a lot of overlap between both state and federal laws, but there are a variety of situations where theft is not prosecuted on the federal level. For example, a pair of earrings from a souvenir store is technically a violation of both state and federal law, but will only be charged on the state level due to the relative insignificance of the crime. However, when the item stolen is government property, or if the theft takes places on federal property, then it is likely that the theft will be charged as a federal crime.
This is especially true when the charge is specifically about the theft of government property, regardless of the size or value of the item(s) that were allegedly stolen. We will work with you in order to build your case, understand the potential penalties that you are facing, and build a strong case towards the best possible outcomes depending on the circumstances that we are working trhough. Facing a federal prosecutor can be an extremely overwhelming experience, but if you are supported by an experienced federal theft defense attorney then you can be confident in your case and your legal support.
Contact Us Today
As with any criminal charges, federal charges are time-sensitive and require that you take swift action. The sooner you contact our firm, the sooner we will be able to begin focusing on your case and building a defense intended to help you towards a favorable outcome and designed to protect your rights every step of the way.
