Crime Definitions in Connecticut

The majority of criminal charges get prosecuted on the state and local levels. But, any crimes charged by the federal government are tried in federal court in Connecticut. The Connecticut federal courthouses are in Hartford, New Haven, and Bridgeport. These federal crimes are sometimes referred to as “white collar” offenses. They face prosecution with the full backing of very powerful government agencies. This includes agencies such as the FBI, the IRS, the DEA, and many more. If charged with a federal crime, it is important to retain an attorney. Find an attorney that has experience at this level and understands how to deal with the government. They should also know how to deal with the various agencies involved in your case. The following crime definitions can help you.

Grand Jury Testimony

If summoned to appear before a grand jury in Connecticut, you have the right to an attorney. The attorney can assist you with the proceedings. A lawyer cannot go inside the grand jury courtroom while you testify. But, you can exit the room and receive counsel from your federal criminal lawyer.

Conspiracy or RICO

If a group of people has collectively made plans in an effort to commit a crime or crimes, the individuals of that group can face conspiracy charges. Note that the charge of conspiracy can get issued in addition to a charge for the specific crime that was the objective of the plan. Sometimes, the conspiracy gets charged under the RICO law. The RICO law started to attack organized crime. But, the law can get applied to any formal or informal organization.

Perjury

If you go under oath by a grand jury or in court, or even by a federal agency at a hearing and they can prove that you lied during that time, you could eventually face charges for perjury. As with charges of conspiracy, if you have lied to the government while under oath in an effort to cover up a separate crime, you may face charges for both perjury and the crime that you attempted to cover up. Some major businessmen in Connecticut have faced this charged. Also, they’ve gotten charged with lying to a federal official. It is our suggestion that you speak with a federal official only with the consultation of your attorney.

Money Laundering

Money laundering is an effort to disguise funds or profits acquired in an illegal manner. Because it is so closely tied to an illegal crime, money laundering can often be charged in addition to the original crime. Other crimes, such as conspiracy, can also be attached. This happens if the state can prove that an individual did not act alone. One common instance involves IRS fraud, as money laundering often involves deceiving the IRS about income that goes untaxed.

Identity Theft

With the constant proliferation of technology in our lives, identity theft has become a much more serious threat in recent years. Knowingly assuming the identity of another person in an effort to use their personal information is considered identity theft, and some of the most common instances occur online, where so much of our personal information is shared and stored. The penalties for committing identity theft depend upon the amount of money defrauded or the damage done to the person’s credibility.

Healthcare Fraud

Healthcare is a multibillion dollar industry, and much of that money is either going to or coming from the government. If an individual or a corporation has misrepresented itself in an effort to collect additional money from either the government or an insurance company, they have committed healthcare fraud. Oftentimes, this involves fraudulent billing for procedures not done or adding charges to invoices to the government sponsored health care of elderly or poor people. In some instances, everyone in the office can get charged with the crime as a conspiracy, and it becomes important for you to show that you are not involved. Having a lawyer assist you in these situations is important.

Drug Manufacturing

Make sure to note the distinction between drug manufacturing and other drug charges prosecuted by lower level courts. Simple possession typically is handled on the state level, depending on the volume and type of drug in question. But if found as the manufacturer of a particularly dangerous drug, or you have been closely involved with the sale and spread of that drug, your case could go to federal court. Oftentimes, these drug charges go hand in hand with gang charges.

Gang Charges

In Connecticut, every few months we hear of a new raid by federal law enforcement. These raids happen against a drug gang in one or more towns. Federal agents use laws like RICO to prosecute and dismantle organizations they believe have illegal or illicit activities. You could face charges in a gang indictment and not have any relationship with other members also indicted. This is one reason why it is important to have the assistance of a federal defense lawyer in Connecticut. We can assist in your defense by negotiating with authorities and advocating for you in court. This will separate you from other people charged with you.

Tax Fraud

When you sign your taxes, you attest to the accuracy of the information contained in them. If you have filed an inaccurate tax return, and you failed to include money you have earned, you could face the charges of tax fraud. Tax fraud can get resolved civilly or criminally. Also, it is possible for a person to go to federal prison for not declaring and paying proper taxes.

Gambling

Every few years, we see the FBI in Connecticut execute a sting operation that targets a gambling operation. There are casinos in Connecticut and in nearby states. But, the government does not want private individuals running sports or card gambling operations. This is illegal without proper licensing. These operations are different from the office NCAA pool, which has a bona fide social relationship and usually the organizer doesn’t take a percentage of the profit. In gambling cases, the FBI is looking at large scale, mainly sports betting operations, that do not declare earnings to anyone (and usually involve some sort of tax evasion).

Wire Fraud

In the United States, mail and wire fraud is any scheme to intentionally deprive another of property or services by use of mail or electronic communications. With the rise of smartphones and digital communications, the FBI has specialists who are deeply involved in the tracking and detection of fraudulent activity online. Also included in these sections are events wherein a person may claim to have certain funds from a buyer in a real estate transaction and file forms electronically that say they do, but the really do not. This type of activity routinely targets lawyers and real estate developers.