Blue LLP represents clients facing federal criminal charges throughout North Carolina, including in Wilmington. Wilmington is one of several cities in the State where federal criminal cases are prosecuted. Our lawyers have extensive experience representing clients in federal district court in Wilmington, and will work tirelessly to help achieve the best outcome possible.
Our lawyers are very experienced and have represented clients at every stage of the federal criminal process, from initial appearance through trials and appeals. When so much is on the line, don’t take chances with an inexperienced lawyer. After all, your freedom, reputation, assets, and livelihood all are at stake. Call us today and speak with a federal criminal defense attorney, even if it is after hours or on the weekend.
As federal criminal defense attorneys, we have experience with a wide range of cases, including fraud, sex crimes, conspiracies, identity theft, and a variety of other white collar crimes. No matter the complexity, we have the skill and experience to handle even the most complex cases.
Informed by our deep experience in criminal law, we always critically examine the government’s evidence so that we can advise our clients to make decisions that are in their best interest.
If you need an experienced and skilled criminal defense attorney who handles federal criminal cases in Wilmington, contact one of our federal defense lawyers in today.
Investigation. Every federal criminal case begins with an investigation. The investigation phase is broad, and can begin with a tip (anonymous or otherwise), a co-conspirator’s confession, or even a seemingly unrelated arrest of a third party. Requests for interviews, often accompanied by a target letter, grand jury subpoenas, and reviews of business records are all part of an investigator and prosecutor’s toolbag to determine whether a crime has occurred and the suspect or target committed the crime.
Charging documents. After a law enforcement officer swears out a criminal complaint or a grand jury returns an indictment, the actual criminal prosecution begins. A charging document filed in the Eastern District of North Carolina will be adjudicated in federal court in Raleigh, Wilmington, New Bern, or Elizabeth City. Federal magistrate judges also hold court in those cities as well as Greenville.
Arraignment and Trial. The arraignment is the court proceeding at which the charged person will plead guilty (with or without a plea agreement) or not guilty. A guilty plea will result in a sentencing hearing after at least three months. A not guilty plea will result in a trial at which the government must prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If the jury returns a verdict of not guilty, the case is over. Otherwise, the case will proceed to the sentencing phase.
Sentencing hearing. At the sentencing hearing a federal judge will consider the evidence in light of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. The Guidelines, which are advisory and non-binding, provide a range of months that are presumptively appropriate for the offense.
Conspiracy to Commit an Offense Against or Defraud the United States
Mail / Wire fraud
Medicare / Medicaid fraud
Greensboro
New Bern
Sentencing mitigation is an extremely important tool for criminal defense attorneys. The sentencing phase of the federal criminal justice system can make convicted people feel like the system is stacked against them. The sentencing ranges under the guidelines are harsh, the law allows information that seems irrelevant to the underlying crime to be considered by […]
In the federal system, a felony is a crime that can be punished by a term of one year or more imprisonment. Federal felonies are classified, in large part, by the severity of the offense. Class A Felonies A Class A felony is the most severe type of federal felony. These offenses typically involve violent […]
Every federal criminal statute has a statutory sentencing range. Sometimes an offense may not have a minimum sentence. But in other cases, the minimum sentence could be two, five, or ten years imprisonment. Likewise, some federal criminal statutes have maximum sentences that can range from anywhere from two years all the way up to life […]