Any criminal charges alleging that you unlawfully used, possessed, or sold a firearm can have exceptionally severe consequences, even for a first-time offender. Unfortunately, those consequences tend to be even greater if your charge is categorized as a federal offense, possibly including steeper fines, longer sentences inside federal prison rather than state-level facilities, and the permanent loss of certain civil privileges.
If you are facing prosecution under federal law for gun-related criminal charges, you should make it a priority to speak with a federal defense attorney. Our award-winning team at Rossen Law Firm can help you understand how best to approach your situation and build the strongest possible defense strategy. With the best South Florida federal gun lawyer on your side, your chances of mitigating or even completely avoiding long-term consequences from your charges will be much higher than if you tried to fight your charge alone.
Common Federal Gun Charges in Fort Lauderdale
For the most part, gun-related criminal charges in South Florida are handled at the state level, including most situations where the
possession of a firearm enhances the severity of another criminal offense like robbery. In the same vein, though, having or using a firearm during the commission of a federal offense can result in enhanced penalties upon conviction in federal court, as can obtaining or using a fake permit to make a firearm purchase across state lines.
Likewise, transporting firearms or ammunition over state or international borders will almost always result in charges at the federal state for
firearms trafficking rather than at the state level. Finally, possession of certain types of illegal firearms like machine guns or sawed-off shotguns is often prosecuted as a federal crime, as is possession of any firearm as a convicted felon. A federal gun attorney can go over in detail how state and federal laws may apply to your particular situation.
What Consequences Could a Federal Gun Conviction Have?
The penalties attached to one gun-related federal criminal charge may vary significantly from those attached to another charge of the same nature, or even from the penalties someone else accused of the same offense may face. Federal judges have significant leeway during sentencing to factor your criminal history and the circumstances of your situation into their decision regarding appropriate sanctions.
What can be expected from virtually every federal gun charge, though, is the loss of both state and federal gun rights upon conviction. Even if you have no prior criminal record, you could lose the right to purchase or lawfully possess any firearm for life.
In certain cases, a federal court may also or alternatively order you to pay financial restitution to people negatively impacted and may impose a term of probation to be served after your sentence. A federal gun lawyer in South Florida can work to protect your future and minimize the potential sanctions associated with your charge.
Get in Touch with a Skilled South Florida Federal Gun Attorney
United States law allows federal law enforcement agencies and court authorities to crack down especially harshly on offenses involving firearms, especially their trafficking across state or international borders. If you are facing federal charges for unlawful gun possession, representation from experienced legal counsel from
Rossen Law Firm is vital to proactively fighting back against your charges and protecting your future prospects.
Once retained, your Fort Lauderdale federal gun lawyer will work tenaciously to get the most favorable result possible from your case. To set up your
free strategy session with an expert attorney at Rossen Law Firm,
reach out to our office today.