Criminal charges can be filed against you by a local county prosecutor or by a federal prosecutor. Federal charges apply when the alleged criminal activity crossed state lines and they are typically investigated by federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA, Secret Service or Homeland Security.

Learn more about what to expect when facing federal criminal charges in the video below, including how the severity of punishment differs between state and federal crimes.

The most important thing you can do when under investigation for a federal offense is to contact a criminal defense attorney before saying anything to investigators. This simple action (and inaction) could end up saving you.