Defending your reputation from damaging sexual allegations
Few crimes are subject to more stigma than sexually motivated offenses. In addition to lengthy criminal penalties, conviction of such a crime can include the life-long burden of sex offender registration. Even mere allegations can be devastating to your professional and social life. While sex charges at the state level in are still very serious, the handful of sex crimes that fall under federal jurisdiction can bring about even more aggressive investigation and even more serious penalties. If you are being investigated by the FBI or have been charged for this type of conduct, a federal criminal lawyer from Alliant Law Chicago can begin helping you immediately.
Types of federal sex crimes
The vast majority of sex crimes fall under state jurisdiction, and unlike in the case of drug crimes, federal jurisdiction is fairly limited for sex crimes. Generally, only sex crimes that cross state lines, involve instrumentalities of interstate commerce or occur on federal property fall under federal jurisdiction:
- Transporting an individual across state lines for the purposes of prostitution or other illegal sexual conduct (the Mann Act)
- Distributing child pornography over the Internet
- Luring children over the Internet
- Committing sex crimes, including aggravated sexual abuse, in a federal detention facility
- Committing sex crimes in areas under direct federal maritime or territorial jurisdiction
- Failing to register as a sex offender
These crimes carry serious penalties. For instance, a violation of the Mann Act involving the sex trafficking of an adult across state lines for prostitution carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Crossing state lines with a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity can carry a life sentence. Failure to register as a sex offender can carry a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. Crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children can carry sentences of between 15 and 30 years in federal prison.
Moreover, these penalties are in addition to, not in lieu of, concurrent state crimes and the penalties they carry under law. While not every case is charged in both state and federal court, it is a possibility. When the stakes are this high, you cannot afford to forego consulting a federal criminal defense lawyer at the first sign that you are under suspicion.
Let us defend your reputation
To seek representation by an experienced federal defense attorney, contact the Chicago law office of the Alliant Law Group by calling (708) 366-9900. Consultations are free and confidential.