Coral Gables False Statement Attorney
Almost everyone should know that it is a criminal offense to lie under oath in a courtroom or another type of legal proceeding. However, many people may not realize that it can also be a crime to lie to a government agent outside of the court. If you are under investigation or are being questioned by federal agents, you can face serious charges if they believe that you have lied because the United States Code sets out the offense of making false statements.
The federal criminal justice system is substantially different than the Florida state justice system and has its own set of criminal procedural rules and rules of evidence. Furthermore, penalties for convictions in federal court often tend to be harsher than those in state court. For these reasons and more, you should always have a defense attorney on your side who has a thorough understanding of federal laws and courts if you are facing any type of federal charges.
How false statement charges can arise
False statement charges often stem from federal investigations when agents believe that you have not been completely truthful. Because of these risks, you should always be represented by an experienced Coral Gables false statement attorney during all communications with federal agents or authorities. False statement charges may arise even in the following circumstances:
- You have not taken an oath to tell the truth;
- You are not in a legal hearing or courtroom;
- You did not make the false statement directly to the federal official;
- Your conversation was not transcribed or recorded;
- The false statement was contained in a document or writing you turned over to the authorities; and/or
- The falsehood involved concealing information instead of an affirmative statement.
As you can see, federal investigators and officials have a wide discretion when deciding when to accuse you of making false statements. The penalty for a conviction of making false statements is up to five years in federal prison or, in some cases depending on the content of the investigation, up to eight years.
At times, individuals are accused of making false statements even when they told the entire truth. Wrongful allegations can arise due to a mistake on the part of a federal agent or due to any other misrepresentation of your statements. The problem in these cases is that a jury is often more likely to believe federal authorities than a person who is accused of violating the law. In such situations, having the highest quality of criminal defense is imperative.
Call our experienced Coral Gables federal criminal defense attorney today
Being under investigation by federal authorities can be frightening and facing allegations of making false statements to a government agent can only intensify your situation and the possible penalties you may face. If you believe you are under suspicion of making false statements or have already been charged, you should not delay in calling the law office of federal defense lawyer Alfredo A. Izaguirre as soon as possible. Mr. Izaguirre has extensive experience helping clients facing a wide range of criminal charges and can help you achieve the best possible results in your case while protecting your rights. Call for help at 305-442-0425 today.
