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Photo of Dean Stowers and James Nelsen
Your Best Defense

Experienced lawyers helping people in Des Moines just like you.

Photo of Dean Stowers and James Nelsen

Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

On Behalf of | Feb 20, 2020 | Firm News

A Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer Because Federal Criminal Cases Are Different

Federal Criminal Cases are complicated. Federal Criminal Cases require a skilled, Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer. Dean Stowers (https://www.stowerslaw.com/attorney/Stowers-dean/) and James Nelsen (https://www.stowerslaw.com/attorney/nelsen-james/) have over 50 years combined experience defending federal criminal cases. In fact, Dean Stowers is one of the few death penalty certified lawyers in Iowa. Rest assured, if you are charged with any federal drug crime, child pornography offense, gun or firearms crimes, sex trafficking, tax or Medicare fraud, or any other federal offense, Dean Stowers (https://www.stowerslaw.com/attorney/stowers-dean/) and James Nelsen (https://www.stowerslaw.com/attorney/nelsen-james/) will provide you quality representation.

 Federal Court Is Different Than Iowa State Court

There are monumental differences between Iowa State and Federal Court.

First, The United States Attorney’s Office prosecutes crimes in Federal District Court. These career, professional prosecutors are an extension of the United States Department of Justice. The resources available to federal prosecutors are enormous. The F.B.I., D.E.A. and A.T.F., as well as other federal agencies, can all assist in federal investigations and prosecutions. As a result, in Federal Criminal Cases, the quantity and quality of evidence is substantially better than in Iowa State Courts. In contrast, local County Attorneys prosecute state cases and only have the limited local resources available. The result is criminal prosecutions which are more complex and factually intense.

Additionally, Federal Court prison sentences are usually more severe. Probation as an option in a federal prosecution is rare. Sentence are driven in part by the Federal Sentencing Guidelines (https://www.ussc.gov/guidelines) which govern federal sentencing. The Federal Sentencing Commission (https://www.ussc.gov/guidelines) created the Federal Sentencing Guidelines in an attempt to create sentencing consistency. The net result is, the guidelines yield very harsh sentences even for even low-level offenders. When sentencing a person, Federal Judges must consider these harsh guidelines. Facts matter in guideline calculations. Even a minimal increase or decrease can rely upon proof of a single contested fact and result in a significant change in sentence.

Finally, Federal prosecutors don’t engage in soft plea negotiations.  The Attorney General of the United States has historically directed prosecutors to seek convictions for the most serious, readily provable offense. While it is not uncommon for a matter in State court to be resolved at a pretrial conference after a discussion of what lesser offense the facts may support, this does not happen in federal court. Thus, developing a strong defense is vital. Federal legal issues are more nuanced and complicated, and every fact matters. If a plea agreement is to be reached, the lawyer must use every tool, and consider every fact and legal position in reaching a .

A Skilled Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer Can Make All the Difference

In Federal Court, you need an experienced Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer to expertly attack the evidence and develop the facts. You need an experienced Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer who can expertly identify and attack the legal issues. You need an experienced Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer