The most common forms of counterfeiting at the federal level involve counterfeiting money on a large scale. The feds aren't going to get involved with a tiny case or counterfeiting products and goods, especially with some of these big companies — whether it be a big purse company or a big company that's selling less expensive products.
Someone is knocking off the products, making the same thing, and then selling them. I don't usually see the feds getting involved in small things. For example, people knock off purses and items in downtown Los Angeles. The feds typically aren't going to get involved in that.
However, when talking about oversized dollar items, the feds will get involved, where thousands of dollars and many products put a dent in whatever company's product. This dent can lead to significant financial losses for the company, potentially affecting its employees and the economy at large.
These companies have ties in the federal government because they pay a lot of taxes to the federal government. Just like the Mafia, the federal government is inclined to protect those individuals and ensure they're not losing money because they pay taxes to them. This protection can make it more challenging for individuals facing counterfeiting charges to defend themselves.
So, once somebody starts stealing a percentage of their money by knocking off their products, Big Brother will take that person out — take all their products away, freeze their bank accounts, and prosecute them federally. Anybody involved is going to be prosecuted. They'll throw a wide net and grab everybody they can in these federal counterfeiting cases.
So, if you're charged with counterfeiting, in my experience, it's more than meets the eye. Sometimes, your side of the story is not gotten across to the investigators, FBI, Homeland Security, or whoever is involved with the investigation.
When you're facing federal counterfeiting charges, it's essential to have a skilled attorney by your side. Your attorney can help you communicate your side of the story to the federal government and navigate the complexities of your case.
Developing a Defense Strategy
Could you pick up the phone? We'll sit down in the cloak of the attorney/client privilege and talk about the counterfeiting case, see if they've got the goods on you, so to speak, or whether it's a situation where you can fight the case. Your attorney will guide you through the process: either file a motion because they violated your rights or take the case to jury trial and prove that you're not guilty.
Before you take any steps, it's crucial to understand the gravity of federal counterfeiting charges. The federal government takes counterfeiting very seriously, and if you're found guilty, you could be facing significant time in custody, hefty fines, and other severe penalties.
For instance, a federal counterfeiting charge can lead to a prison sentence of up to 20 years and fines of up to $ 250,000. So you're going to want to make sure that you and your federal criminal defense attorney have a meeting of the minds and believe there is a defense to the counterfeiting case that you could be successful on; otherwise, your best bet is to work some resolution with the government.
This could potentially lead to a reduced sentence or other benefits, such as avoiding a trial and the associated stress and costs. If you decide to fight the case, lose, and then see what happens to you, you could face the full extent of the law.
That's usually not a good strategy for federal criminal defense, especially in these counterfeiting cases where there could be thousands of dollars on the line and a lot of money in fines. Another big issue in these counterfeiting cases is determining the restitution to the company that you're knocking off.
So, pick up the phone. Make the phone call today, and we will do everything we can to turn the tide in your federal counterfeiting case, get you the best resolution, and get you out of the federal criminal system as fast as possible.
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