Bribery and related cases are not new to Birmingham. There are many high-profile corruption cases involving prominent politicians. Routinely, government officials are accused of corruption for seeking or receiving monetary gains or something of value in exchange for their influence. Though bribery allegations are common, public corruption encompasses a whole spectrum of wrongdoing alleged by law enforcement. Kickbacks, extortion, misuse of government money, and fraud are just some of the allegations. If you are accused or charged with public corruption, it is important to obtain an experienced Birmingham federal bribery lawyer.
A dedicated defense attorney could examine your case and help evaluate legal options that could be effective. Accusations of public corruption may have a long-lasting impact on your life and career besides causing embarrassment.
Classes of OffensesUnder federal statutes, there typically are two classes of offenses: bribery and graft. Bribery often refers to the practice of giving, receiving, offering, or soliciting something valuable with an aim to influence an official’s action with regard to their discharge of public or legal duty.
Graft generally refers to the obtainment of public money fraudulently by the corruption of a public officer. Graft is typically the advantage that one individual by virtue of their influence, trust, or superiority extracts from another.
PunishmentThe offense of bribery under the federal bribery statute is a punishable offense. The law generally says that anyone who directly or indirectly offers, promises, or gives anything of value to a public official with the intention to influence their official action may be fined or imprisoned (or both) for the offense of bribery.
The law often prescribes a punishment in the form of fine of an amount up to three times the value of the bribe, or imprisonment of up to 15 years, or both. Furthermore, a person who is convicted may be disqualified from holding an office of profit, trust, or honor in the US government. Federal bribery penalties are severe, which is why a defendant should obtain the services of a skilled defense lawyer.
What It Means to Be Charged With Federal Bribery in BirminghamMany times, for people accused of bribery, it is their first brush with the criminal justice system. This is why a number of individuals who are the subject of such scrutiny or prosecution may not be aware of the typical procedures and rules involved. Those under federal bribery investigation are usually aware that they are under scrutiny (unlike in case of other types of federal crimes). As a result, when a person discovers they are under investigation for such an offense they may greatly benefit from a Birmingham federal bribery lawyer. Someone with a risk of facing federal bribery charges typically does not need to wait for a federal indictment to take place.
Advantages of a Birmingham Federal Bribery AttorneySpecialized knowledge is commonly required to respond to a federal grand jury subpoena. However, a well-versed Birmingham federal bribery lawyer could help intervene and advocate on your behalf. There are massive resources at the disposal of the federal government, and this may include resources to pursue bribery prosecutions and investigations. Federal prosecutors are likely to pursue such cases vigorously especially as such cases often generate plenty of media and public interest. Schedule an appointment with an adept defense attorney who could start researching legally valid defenses today.