Hiring a local attorney for federal charges can be a major help in your legal defense. Federal charges are handled in the federal court system rather than state court, but the courtrooms are local. The United States District Court for the District of Maine sits in Portland and Bangor, and a Maine criminal defense lawyer who practices locally can represent you from the first interview request through trial.
A knock at the door from federal agents or a letter requesting an interview tends to raise more questions than answers. Many people assume an attorney for federal charges has to come from a large out-of-state firm. A Maine-based team with federal criminal defense experience can handle these cases from start to finish.
Can a local lawyer handle a federal case?
A local lawyer can defend a federal case as long as they are admitted to the federal court where the case is filed. Maine’s federal courthouses belong to the District of Maine, which hears every federal criminal case filed in the state.
Cases prosecuted at the federal level follow their own procedural rules and sentencing framework. So when you choose a lawyer for federal crime cases, be sure to ask how much of their practice involves federal work and which federal courts they have appeared in.
What makes a case federal instead of state?
A criminal case can be prosecuted federally when the alleged conduct violates a federal criminal statute. Depending on the offense, federal jurisdiction might involve conduct that crosses state lines, use of the U.S. mail or interstate communications, federal property or employees, or another connection specifically required by federal law.
Matters that fall under federal jurisdiction are investigated by federal agencies (the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the DEA, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations) and then prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office.
Some conduct breaks both sets of laws at once. When that happens, you could be charged with federal and state crimes arising from the same events, and each system decides separately whether or not to proceed.
Which federal offenses come up most in Maine?
Charges we see in Maine’s federal court include:
- Mail fraud and wire fraud, including schemes involving the postal service or electronic communications
- Drug trafficking and conspiracy, especially cases involving distribution networks that cross state lines. In 2024, drug trafficking made up 41 of the 132 federal sentences in the District of Maine, about 31%,
- Firearms offenses, such as unlawful possession or interstate sales
- Internet crimes, including hacking, identity theft, and online fraud
- White-collar crimes like embezzlement, tax offenses, bank fraud, and healthcare fraud
- Crimes involving federal property, including offenses committed on federal land like Acadia National Park
Some cases begin with state police, then shift to federal court once investigators find interstate activity or an applicable federal statute.
How is a federal case different in practice?
Much of a federal case happens before charges are even filed. Investigators can spend months on surveillance, grand jury subpoenas, records demands, and interview requests before you ever see a courtroom. By the time you learn you’re a target, federal prosecutors can already hold substantial evidence. That head start is important. Speaking with investigators without a lawyer can create problems that are difficult to fix later.
The stakes differ too. Many federal offenses carry mandatory minimum sentences, and federal courts apply sentencing guidelines that work differently from Maine’s state system. A sentence can also include significant fines or restitution and a long period of supervised release. There is no general expungement process for a federal conviction, so a guilty finding can affect employment, professional licensing, housing, and travel for years.
How does a local attorney help with federal charges?
When you’re facing federal charges, working with a local attorney can help because they know the district where your case will be heard, including how matters tend to move through the Maine courthouses and how prosecutors in this district approach charging decisions. Local counsel can also meet with you in person quickly and defend related state charges if your case touches both systems.
At Shaheen & Gordon, our team of experienced attorneys includes former prosecutors, and that perspective helps the team anticipate how the government builds cases. Our firm also works with scientific and mental-health professionals when needed to analyze digital evidence or forensic reports that may strengthen your defense.
What should you do if federal agents contact you?
If federal agents contact you or serve you with a subpoena, avoid answering substantive questions or voluntarily turning over information before speaking with a criminal defense attorney. A lawyer can determine what you are legally required to provide and how and when to respond.
If you believe you’re under federal investigation, early guidance can keep the situation from escalating, and those who reach out at that stage can have more options to resolve or challenge the government’s case.
Talk to a Maine criminal defense attorney about federal charges
If you’re facing federal charges or believe an investigation is underway, the criminal defense team at Shaheen & Gordon can step in at any stage. The firm has represented individuals across Maine and New Hampshire since 1981 and defends clients in both federal and state court.
To speak with a lawyer for federal charges in Maine, call us at (800) 451-1002 or contact us online.
