misdemeanor

Federal law on possession of a controlled substance

December 22, 2010
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Possession of a controlled substance is a federal criminal offense under Title 21, United States Code, Section 844. Although most controlled substance offenses are prosecuted under state law, possession can become a federal charge in many circumstances. For example, it is a federal offense where either the defendant or the drug crossed state lines, or [...]

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Possession of a firearm by convicted felon: federal offense

December 15, 2010
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A charge in federal court for possessing  a firearm as a convicted felon carries extremely severe penalties. It does not matter that the firearm was unloaded. Nor does it matter that the weapon was never discharged. In fact, the firearm itself may not be operable. Nonetheless, a person can be found guilty of this crime [...]

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Probation under the federal sentencing guidelines

December 9, 2010
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The federal sentencing guidelines require a prison sentence in many circumstances. However, on occasion, the guidelines direct the court to sentence the defendant to a term of probation. In cases where probation is available, it is usually because the defendant has no prior convictions or criminal background, and the case was the defendant’s first arrest. [...]

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Summary of federal criminal charges relating to bankruptcy

November 28, 2010
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Bankruptcy is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of federal courts. A person cannot declare bankruptcy in state court. Federal law controls the procedure for filing bankruptcy, disclosing assets and liabilities, and reorganizing or discharging debts. During the course of a bankruptcy, certain misconduct can constitute a criminal offense. For example, hiding assets, signing a false [...]

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