Federal Criminal Investigations Defense Attorney

Who Handles Investigations of Federal Crimes?

Depending on the nature of the federal crime, the investigation may be handled by a different agency. It is not the role of every federal law enforcement agency to investigate every federal crime. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), for instance, is responsible for the investigation of things like terrorism, cybercrime, counterintelligence, and public corruption. Meanwhile, the Secret Service is in charge of investigating financial crimes such as counterfeiting and forgery and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) focuses on drug offenses. 

This division of responsibilities aids the development of expertise among the many agencies, but it also means that federal law enforcement agencies are not like local police departments in that they do not each address every federal crime that comes their way.

There are multiple federal agencies out there, and the type of crime committed determines which official government organization will take on the investigation of your case. Below are each of the U.S. investigative agencies and their respective focus, as well as links to their official websites:

• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) – The ATF heads federal investigations involving firearm trafficking, the usage and storage of illegal explosives, the unlawful diversion of alcohol and tobacco goods, and acts of terrorism, arson, and bombings.
• Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) – Individuals or corporations that illegally trade commodity futures and options, participate in deceptive schemes like Ponzi schemes, and engage in disruptive trading practices are all investigated and prosecuted by the CFTC.
• Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) – HHS agents are responsible for any criminal charges involving the federal healthcare system, typically focusing on healthcare fraud involving government programs like Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, or CHIPS.
• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – The DEA is in charge of enforcing the United States’ restricted drug laws and regulations. DEA law enforcement agents lead investigations involving many elements of our country’s drug regulations, including things like drug trafficking and the illicit distribution of prescription medications by physicians and pharmacists.
• Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) – Federal agents of the FBI handle a variety of criminal investigations, including civil rights, terrorism and threats to national security, drug distribution, federal theft crimes, white-collar offenses, and public corruption. 
• General Services Administration (GSA) – The GSA is in charge of all areas of federal property, ownership, and management and commonly investigates crimes involving procurement fraud, identity theft, credit card fraud, bribery, and others. 
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – ICE is the main investigative and law enforcement branch of the Department of Homeland Security, handling matters involving immigration, border control, customs violations, and more.
• Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – The internal revenue service is in charge of investigating federal tax offenses such as tax evasion, money laundering, and violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, among other related crimes. 
• Postal Inspection Service – Postal Inspectors are responsible for investigating any federal offense involving the use or misuse of the federal postal service, such as mail theft, postal fraud, tax evasion, health-care fraud, conspiracy, drug distribution, and many other types of postal-related criminal activity.
• Secret Service – Special agents of the Secret Service investigate all types of crimes involving the United States monetary and financial systems, including counterfeit currency, credit card fraud, money laundering, financial institution fraud, computer and technology fraud, identity theft, and more.
• Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) – The SEC regulates the major players in the securities industry, including brokers and dealers, investment advisors, exchanges, mutual funds, and hedge funds. Insider trading, accounting fraud, and incorrect or misleading information regarding securities are all among areas where the SEC takes civil enforcement proceedings against people and corporations.
• Social Security Administration (SSA) – The SSA conducts criminal investigations into fraud, waste, and abuse related to Social Security. This includes offenses such as identity theft, fraudulent claims made against the government, theft, and mail and bank fraud.