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People who are arrested in Camden for certain crimes can face charges for a wide variety of federal offenses, including fraud offenses, drug crimes, firearm-related offenses, public corruption crimes, cybercrimes, and many other federal offenses that are prosecuted in federal court. It is important to know what to do immediately after a federal crime arrest in Camden, NJ, to begin protecting your future. Tim Anderson Law can help.
Understanding Federal Crimes
If you have been arrested for a federal crime in Camden, you might think that it is the same as being arrested for a criminal offense by local police. Federal crimes are different and are often more serious. Federal prosecutors usually only file charges after they have spent months or even years working on a case. Federal prosecutors often have a high conviction rate in federal court compared to local and state courts.
In Camden, most federal crimes are prosecuted in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, the Mitchell H. Cohen U.S. Courthouse, which is located at 4th & Cooper Streets in Camden. Federal Crimes are governed by the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure and federal law, not New Jersey law.
Exercise Your Right to Remain Silent
If you are arrested, you want to remember to remain calm. You have the right to remain silent, and it is highly recommended that you exercise that right until you have a lawyer present. The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution permits you to refuse to answer questions that might force you to incriminate yourself. Investigators may try to get you to make statements that they can use against you.
Simply telling the investigator that you choose to remain silent and wish to speak with an attorney can avoid potential misunderstandings and protect your rights.
Hire a Federal Crime Lawyer
Federal prosecutors typically gather a lot of evidence in their investigations, such as bank statements, witness statements, and physical evidence gathered during the execution of search warrants. An experienced federal crime attorney can explain the government’s findings, highlight any violations of constitutional law, uncover investigative errors, and determine if the prosecution can establish all necessary elements of the alleged crime.
When you hire a federal crime lawyer, they can speak with federal prosecutors on your behalf. Your attorney can negotiate with prosecutors about the charges, file motions to suppress evidence, work on your behalf at a detention hearing, analyze potential sentencing issues, advise you about whether to accept a plea offer, and vigorously prepare for and defend you at trial.
Learn About the Federal Court Process
According to the United States Sentencing Commission, there were 830 federal crime cases reported in New Jersey in fiscal year 2024. Of these crimes, 39.3% were for drugs, and 19.6% were for firearms. Many others were for federal fraud offenses. Most federal defendants appear before a magistrate judge shortly after being arrested. At the initial appearance, the judge usually addresses the following:
- The charges filed
- Whether the person should be released (Risk of flight? Danger to the community?)
- If released, determine the conditions of release
- Future hearings schedule
Federal courts have the authority to order pretrial detention under specific conditions, in contrast to many state cases. When deciding whether to grant pretrial release, the court considers a number of criteria, including community links, criminal history, flight risk, and public safety issues.
Do Not Discuss the Case with Others
While it is common for defendants to know that they should exercise their right to remain silent with investigators, some are unaware that they should also refrain from discussing the case with others. Even side conversations with others can be used against you in court.
Calls from jail are almost always recorded. Text messages, emails, social media postings, and even statements to friends or coworkers could become evidence in an investigation. If a statement relates to the crimes charged, the prosecution is likely to introduce it at trial. As a general rule, after you have been arrested for a federal crime, you shouldn’t discuss the allegations with anyone except your attorney.
Why Choose Tim Anderson Law
Tim Anderson Law is a boutique federal criminal defense law firm representing individuals and businesses involved in federal investigations and prosecutions. Tim Anderson is an attorney who has been practicing complex federal criminal defense law for over 30 years.
The firm handles case matters including the investigative stage, preparation of trial and trial, plea negotiations,, sentencing proceedings, and appeals. Tim Anderson Law has significant experience representing individuals who are targets or subjects of federal investigations prior to any charges being filed and working toward keeping charges from being filed.
