Federal weapons charges can result in years behind bars and hefty fines if you are convicted. There are several ways that a simple state weapons charge can be elevated to a federal weapons charge, including:
Felon In Possession Weapons Charges
If a person has been convicted of a felony, they cannot legally possess a firearm. Additionally, under 18 USC 922(g), various other individuals are prohibited from possessing a firearm, including:
- Undocumented immigrants
- A veteran who was dishonorably discharged
- A person convicted of a misdemeanor involving domestic violence
- Fugitives
- Individuals who qualify as drug addicts under the Controlled Substances Act
- Individuals who have been committed to a mental institution or have been determined by a court to be mentally defective
If any of these individuals are found to be in possession of a firearm, they can face up to ten years in federal prison.
Illegal Possession of a Firearm
In addition to certain people not being permitted to possess a firearm, there are also federal weapons charges related to when a person is in possession of a firearm when they should not be. Certain weapons, such as machine guns, cannot legally be possessed. There are also certain places where it is illegal to bring a firearm, such as a school zone.
Using Or Possessing A Gun During A Crime
A person may face federal weapons charges if they use or possess a gun during a drug trafficking or violent crime. Under 18 USC 924(c), a person will face a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for a first-time offender who possesses a gun while committing a drug trafficking offense or other violent crime.
Making False Statements When Purchasing a Gun
You can also face federal weapons charges if you make a false statement on your firearm application or use someone else to purchase a firearm on your behalf. This offense alone carries up to ten years in federal prison.
Sale of Firearms Without a License
To lawfully sell a firearm, you must usually have a license issued by the government. If you sell a gun across state lines without a license, you can face serious federal weapons charges.
Sale of Illegal Firearms
Even if you possess a valid license to sell firearms, you can still face charges if you sell certain weapons that are prohibited by law, such as machine guns or weapons of mass destruction. You can also face charges if you sell weapons to a minor or a convicted felon.
Contact An Experienced Federal Defense Lawyer For Help
If you are facing federal weapons charges, reach out to an experienced federal criminal defense lawyer for help. Federal weapons charges can result in years behind bars. You need an aggressive defense to help combat the weight of the federal government’s case against you.
An experienced criminal defense lawyer will understand the range of weapons charges a prosecutor may file against you and how to build a strong defense against these charges. Contact our proven advocates today to begin mounting your defense. You can also follow us on Facebook to get to know us better.
