Being charged with a federal crime can be overwhelming for a criminal defendant and their family. Receiving a target letter, being indicted, or getting arrested by a federal agent is a scary experience. Federal crimes carry much more significant sentences than state criminal charges. This means it is absolutely essential to hire a lawyer that has significant experience with federal criminal cases to help.

Rist Law Office has handled thousands of criminal defense cases in the two decades since the firm opened. From arrest through final verdict, our office has an in-depth knowledge of the federal criminal defense system and we can help you and your family to understand the entire process and to set up a defense quickly.

Our office handles all types of federal criminal cases including drug crimes, alien smuggling, alien entry and reentry cases, white-collar crimes, fraud, and other violent crimes. As soon as we are hired to work on a case our firm quickly examines all aspects of a case and determines whether investigators or expert witnesses need to be retained to assist with the defense. In some cases, witness interviews that are taken shortly after an arrest can be the difference in a verdict, plea or dismissal of a case.

Experienced West Virginia Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Thomas Rist started out his career as an assistant prosecuting attorney where he learned the inside of the federal criminal system. After opening Rist Law Office, Tom has been appointed by federal courts in multiple jurisdictions (West Virginia and California) to be on the Federal Criminal Justice Act Panel (“CJA Panel”). This panel is made up of highly qualified attorneys that are vetted by sitting federal judges and are approved to serve on the CJA Panel. Attorneys on the CJA panel have to demonstrate experience with jury trials, federal sentencing knowledge, and the entire criminal defense process before being accepted to the CJA Panel. While on the federal CJA Panel in San Diego, Tom Rist handled hundreds of serious drug importation, conspiracy to distribute narcotics, and white collar fraud cases. 

A History of Winning Criminal Defense Cases

Rist Law Office has a history of fighting for defendants charged in a wide variety of cases. We have taken criminal defense cases to trial in both State and Federal Court and have successfully won the acquittal of clients in multiple jurisdictions. We have obtained not guilty verdicts and dismissals in drug cases, sexual assault matters, and other serious criminal cases where our clients were facing years in prison.

What Is the Difference Between a Federal Criminal Case and State Criminal Case?

There are several differences between a state and federal crime. Federal criminal cases are handled by the federal court system and involve violation of the laws of the United States of America. Federal criminal cases can be much more complicated to deal with than a state court case due to the applicability of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines as well as the immense resources of the United States to prosecute criminal defendants. It is extremely important to find an attorney that has significant experience in the federal criminal system, not just state court cases. Many attorneys that practice in state courts will not handle a federal court criminal case because they are much more complicated.

What Types of Federal Crimes Are Typical in West Virginia?

Many federal cases in West Virginia deal with conspiracy to distribute narcotics including methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl. Cases involving drug smuggling and even illegal reentry cases are becoming more common in every federal district due to the current administration. West Virginia also has a large number of white-collar crimes such as money laundering and fraud. 

Set Up a Consultation With a West Virginia Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer Today

Our office offers free consultations to clients or their families who are dealing with federal criminal charges. We typically start a case by talking through all charges with a family member if the defendant is still incarcerated or the defendant if they have posted bail. Then we can research the charges and provide our best assessment as to how serious the crime is and potential defenses. In many cases when we are retained, our office quickly has investigators start gathering additional evidence that can be useful to defend a client.

For more information, call us today at (304) 574-8912.