St. Louis Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers
The St. Louis federal criminal defense attorneys at Bruntrager & Billings, P.C., understand the serious nature of federal investigations and criminal charges. Since 1954 we have been defending clients who are under criminal investigation or who have been charged with a crime. Our trial lawyers are former prosecutors and experienced criminal defense attorneys who can help you protect your rights.
The federal criminal defense lawyers at Bruntrager & Billings represent clients charged by the United States government in Missouri in a variety of cases, such as:
- Drug possession, distribution or sale
- Drug trafficking
- Drug conspiracy
- Drug manufacture
- Possession or distribution of child pornography
- Felon in possession of a firearm
- Public corruption
- Bank robbery
- Tax fraud
- Healthcare fraud
- Securities fraud
- Money laundering
- Racketeering charges under RICO
- Identity theft
- Grand jury proceedings
Investigations
Highly trained federal investigators use a wide variety of tools, including wiretaps, surveillance, search warrants and informants, to build a criminal case. A criminal investigation may be launched by any of a number of different federal law enforcement agencies, including:
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
- United States Secret Service
- United States Postal Inspection Service
- Internal Revenue Service
- U.S. Customs and Border Inspection
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Once an individual becomes aware that he or she is a target of a federal criminal investigation, it is imperative for that person to hire a lawyer immediately rather than wait to see whether a charge will be issued. An individual who waits may unwittingly open the door to additional charges. For example, an individual who provides inconsistent statements to a federal investigator may find himself or herself being charged with obstruction of justice and making false statements, even if no evidence is found to support the original allegation of wrongdoing.
Charges and Trial
Because federal prosecutors can take advantage of the extensive groundwork laid by federal investigators, the conviction rate for federal criminal cases is extremely high. If you are charged with a federal offense, you need an experienced criminal defense lawyer who knows how to protect your rights.
At Bruntrager & Billings, our federal criminal defense lawyers will examine the investigation carefully. Violation by federal officials of laws or criminal procedures—for instance, illegally seizing evidence or failing to advise a client of his or her rights—during the investigation could be grounds to have the charges thrown out of court.
While the case is pending, the prosecution must also follow certain procedures, such as disclosing evidence favorable to the client, to ensure that the client receives a fair trial. The federal criminal defense attorneys at Bruntrager & Billings will fight to ensure that the client receives all of the information from prosecutors that he or she is entitled to and will carefully review all evidence to help mount a strong defense.
At Bruntrager & Billings, our attorneys are experienced trial lawyers who know how to present a vigorous defense to a jury in a criminal case. Exhaustive review of the evidence sometimes indicates that a plea agreement is the prudent course of action for the defendant. In such cases our federal criminal defense lawyers, who are also skilled negotiators, can obtain the best plea agreement possible.
Sentencing
Although the U.S. Supreme Court has declared that the federal sentencing guidelines are just that, guidelines, they continue to be one of the most important factors in the determination of sentence length. The guidelines are complex, taking into account not only the nature of the offense the defendant is charged with but also the amount of money or drugs involved, the defendant’s role in the offense and the defendant’s criminal history. This information, which is sometimes inaccurate, is contained in a report provided to the judge.
The federal criminal defense attorneys at Bruntrager & Billings have experience challenging the information contained in such sentencing reports. As a result, we have been able to reduce clients’ recommended sentences—and in the federal system, in which defendants typically serve at least 85 percent of their sentences, obtaining the lowest possible guideline range is extremely important.
When clients contact our firm, we talk with them and take the time to learn about their situations. The relationships and contacts each of our lawyers has developed during his or her tenure are crucial to our firm. As former prosecutors, we can present the strengths of your case to the judge or jury in an effort to obtain the best possible results for your situation. Schedule a free initial consultation by contacting us online or by calling 314-646-0066.