Individuals often wait until it is too late to hire an experienced criminal defense lawyer with expertise in federal court. If you find that you are being investigated by a federal agency such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration or the Secret Service, you need to have an experienced attorney on your defense immediately.
Witnesses may be willing to speak freely prior to charges being brought but are not willing to talk to the defense once charges are pending. Having Mr. Dranove on your side prior to indictment, may mean meeting with the government's agents in order to assess the government's case prior to charges being brought. He can also make a presentation to the United States Attorney's Office in an effort to persuade prosecutors not to bring charges.
When a person is represented by a lawyer prior to indictment, the government will allow the person to self-surrender if an indictment is returned in order to save the person from the embarrassment of being arrested in front of his family or coworkers.
The penalties facing persons charged with drug offenses in federal court are severe. Unlike state prison, persons serving time in federal prison must serve eighty-five percent of their sentences.
It is important for those charged with drug offenses to hire an attorney with expertise in federal court and the federal sentencing guidelines immediately. Mr Dranove has been at the cutting edge in Federal Sentence Guideline practice All too often persons plead guilty in federal court to a drug offense without any explanation by their attorney as to how the Sentencing Guidelines operate only to receive a horrible shock at their sentencing.
A conspiracy occurs when two or more people agree to commit a crime. In federal court, defendants are often charged with committing the crime itself and conspiring to commit the crime. The penalties under the sentencing guidelines for conspiracy are identical to the penalties for the crime itself. Conspiracy charges many times involve intricate areas of the law and Mr. Dranove is skilled in the practice of criminal defense in federal court.
Important rights in federal court:
You have a right to refuse to make any statements. If you have a lawyer, never make a statement to anybody without talking to your lawyer first.
If you are charged with a felony, you have a right to have your case presented to a grand jury where a group of citizens vote as to whether there is probable cause to believe you committed the crime charged. If you are arrested for a felony offense before an indictment is returned, you have a right to a "preliminary hearing" where a magistrate judge determines if probable cause exists to believe you committed the crime charged.
You have a right to be represented by an attorney and to have an attorney appointed by the court if you can show that you are unable to hire an attorney.
You have a right to a detention hearing if the government seeks to keep you in jail pending your trial.
You have a right to discover the evidence against you.
You have a right to have the government prove any charge against you "beyond a reasonable doubt." The "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard is the highest standard of proof that exists in the American justice system.
You have a right to a speedy jury trial. Unlike in state court, a jury in federal court only decides the issue of guilt and innocence, not the sentence.
If there is a trial, you have a right to testify at the trial. On the other hand, you cannot be forced to testify and, if you chose not to testify, that fact cannot be used against you.
You have a right to use subpoenas to make witnesses come to court and testify on your behalf at any trial.
You have a right, if there is a trial, to have your lawyer cross examine the government's witnesses.
You have a right to appeal your case and, if you cannot afford a lawyer, you have a right to an appointed lawyer on appeal.
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