20333 State Highway 249, Suite 200, Houston, Texas 77070

Texas Criminal Defense Lawyer Wayne Goralski

 An experienced criminal lawyer fighting for your rights

Federal Crime

Have you been accused of a federal crime? If you are being investigated, arrested or charged with a crime by federal authorities, you need an experienced investigator and criminal defense lawyer on your side. If you want justice, then you will have to fight for it and present your case in the best possible light. The other side wants to win, if you have been charged with a crime in a Texas Federal District Court, you need an experienced investigator and criminal defense lawyer on your side.  As a criminal defense lawyer Wayne Goralski understands how to deconstruct a criminal case, and build your defense case, so that you can assert the best criminal defense.

Attorney Wayne Goralski  will fight to defend the rights of his clients. He has built his reputation on getting results. Lawyer Wayne “Roger” Goralski has achieved multiple pre-trial dismissals in criminal cases. He is intimately familiar with all facets of the criminal justice system, and has the criminal defense knowledge and skill to make sure you understand your legal options and to guide you through the criminal legal process. Criminal Defense Lawyer Wayne Goralski is based in Harris County, Chasewood Center,  20333 State Highway 249,Ste 200, Houston, TX 77070.

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Federal Crimes Overview

What is a federal crime? The federal government exercises jurisdiction over criminal matters when the states lack jurisdiction, including areas reserved to the federal government by the U.S. Constitution, and over criminal offenses that occur on federal property. Federal authorities may also prosecute certain crimes that, while normally handled by the states, become federal offenses by crossing state lines from one state to another. In these types of cases, federal and state prosecutors may be able to pursue separate actions against a defendant, despite the Fifth Amendment’s protection against “double jeopardy.” Police Officers in particular may be charged in both state and federal court.

Federal Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution grants the federal government, through Congress, exclusive authority over certain issues, such as bankruptcy, immigration, patents, the Postal Service, and coining and regulating money. Federal courts therefore have the exclusive authority, known as “subject matter jurisdiction,” to consider criminal cases involving these matters, which might include fraud offenses relating to bankruptcy, mail fraud using the U.S. Mail, criminal immigration cases, and money counterfeiting.

Congress has constitutional authority over taxation under the Taxing and Spending Clause of Article I, Section 8 and the Sixteenth Amendment, which enables federal prosecutions for tax evasion and tax fraud. The Fourteenth Amendment gives the federal government jurisdiction over prosecutions for civil rights violations.

Crimes Committed on Federal Property

The federal Criminal Code includes provisions for many offenses normally handled at the state level. These include violent offenses like assault, kidnapping, and homicide, as well as non-violent financial crimes.

These federal statutes apply to offenses that occur in areas owned or administered directly by the federal government, or under direct federal authority. This includes geographic locations like U.S. National Parks, federal courthouses, federal prisons, the District of Columbia, and Indian reservations. It also includes locations over which the federal government has temporary authority, such as airplanes in flight and ocean-going vessels at sea.

Crimes Committed Across State Lines

A vast array of federal statutes are based on Congress’ authority under the Commerce Clause, including laws regarding drugs and firearms. Many federal criminal statutes expressly limit their application to acts that affect interstate commerce or that cross state lines. The mail and wire fraud statutes give the federal government jurisdiction over many offenses that might otherwise fall under state authority.

Concurrent Jurisdiction

Federal and state law may be joint in some criminal cases, particularly if the federal statute relies on Commerce Clause powers. This is known as “concurrent jurisdiction,” and it can have serious consequences for some defendants. The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects any person from being “subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” Known as “double jeopardy,” this means that if the government fails to convict a person of an offense, it cannot prosecute the person again for the same offense. Because of concurrent jurisdiction, state and federal statutes are considered different “offenses,” meaning that if a person is acquitted of a state charge, federal prosecutors could still bring charges.

List of Federal Matters Investigated By The FBI

General Crimes:
Antiracketeering
Antitrust
Assassination, Kidnapping, or Assaulting the President, Vice-President, Presidential Staff Member, or Vice-Presidential Staff Member
Assassination, Kidnapping, or Assaulting a Member of Congress
Assassination, Kidnapping, or Assaulting an Executive Department Head or Director, CIA
Assassination, Kidnapping, or Assaulting a Supreme Court Justice
Assaulting or Killing a Federal Officer
Bank Burglary
Bank Fraud and Embezzlement
Bank Larceny
Bank Robbery
Bombing Matters
Bond Default
Bribery
Civil Rights
Congressional Assassination Statute
Conspiracy (in matters under FBI jurisdiction)
Conspiracy to Impede or Injure an Officer
Contempt of Court
Copyright Matters
Credit and/or Debt Card and Related Fraud
Crime Aboard Aircraft
Crimes on Government Reservations
Crimes on Indian Reservations
Crimes within the Maritime Jurisdiction
Destruction of Aircraft or Motor Vehicles Used in Interstate or Foreign Commerce
Domestic Security
Election Laws
Employee Retirement Income Security Act
Escaped Federal Prisoners, Escape and Rescue
Espionage
Ethics in Government Act of 1978
Extortion
Extortionate Credit Transactions
Falsely Claiming Citizenship
False Entries in Records of Interstate Carriers
Federal Aviation Act
Federal Housing Administration Matters
Federal Regulation of Lobbying Act
Federal Tort Claims Act
Federal Train Wreck Statute
Foreign Agents Registration Act
Fraud Against the Government
Fraud by Wire
Fraudulent Practices Concerning Certain Military and Naval Documents and Seals of Department or Agencies of theUnited States
Government Property – Theft, Robbery, Embezzlement, Illegal Possession, and Destruction
Harboring
Hobbs Act
Illegal Gambling Business
Illegal Manufacture, Use, Possession, or Sale of Emblems and Insignia
Illegal Use of Government Transportation Requests
Illegal Wearing of the Uniform and Related Statutes
Impersonation
Interception of Communications
Interference with Discrimination in Housing, Civil Rights Act of 1964, and federally protected activities
Interstate Gambling Activities
Interstate Obscene or Harassing Telephone Calls
Interstate Transportation in Aid of Racketeering
Interstate Transportation of Gambling Devices
Interstate Transportation of Lottery Tickets
Interstate Transportation of Obscene Matter
Interstate Transportation of Prison-made Goods
Interstate Transportation of Stolen Cattle
Interstate Transportation of Stolen Motor Vehicle or Aircraft
Interstate Transportation of Stolen Property
Interstate Transmission of Wagering Information
Interstate Transportation of Wagering Paraphernalia
Involuntary Servitude and Slavery
Irregularities in Federal Penal Institutions
Kickback Racket Act
Kidnapping
Labor Management Relations Act, 1974
Mann Act
Migratory Bird Act
Narcotics Violations
National Bankruptcy Act
Obstruction of Justice
Perjury
Protection of Foreign Officials
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations
Railway Labor Act
Sabotage
Security Matters
Selective Service Matters
Sexual Exploitation of Children
Sports Bribery
Theft from Interstate Shipment
Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution, Custody, Confinement, and Giving testimony
Veterans Administration Matters

Accounting Matters and Civil Cases:
Admiralty Matters
Alien Property Custodian Matters
Ascertaining Financial Ability to Pay Claims, Fines, and Judgments
Civil Rights Act of 1964, public accommodations, public education, public facilities, employment (involving only governmental agencies, state, county, municipal, and in the private sector only where the employee is under contract to the United States), discrimination in housing
Contract Settlement Act
Federal Reserve Act
Federal Tort Claims Act
Mail Fraud (accounting phases)
National Bankruptcy Act
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act of 1974
False Claims (civil)

When you have been charged with a federal crime, choose a based in Houston criminal defense attorney with the experience and dedication to make a difference. Call 832-834-4656 or contact the office online to schedule your initial consultation regarding your criminal case. Hire a criminal lawyer with offices conveniently located in Houston, Texas. Mr. Wayne Goralski is a Houston Criminal Defense Lawyer who stands ready to represent you in your criminal matter.

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