How Long Can The Federal Government Investigate You?

Federal investigations are usually stressful. With agents watching your every move, bothering you at unpredictable hours for questioning and searches, and trying to get you to say or do things that help their case, it is normal to wonder when the investigation will end. Everyone under investigation wonders if they are going to be charged with a crime, or if they will eventually get to return to a normal life, and oftentimes this stage of uncertainty can last for a long period. There are limits, however, on most federal investigations in the form of a statute of limitations, which governs how long after an alleged offense the government can wait to bring charges. Oftentimes, however, the statute of limitations is quite long, and if you don’t want to wait years to go back to leading a normal life, there may be other ways to end an investigation. Working with a federal criminal attorney as early on as possible shows investigators that you are prepared to defend yourself, and trying to build a case against you when you have a lawyer protecting you could prove too difficult for investigators, and cause them to abandon the investigation. Our team is always available to begin fighting for you, and will do whatever it takes to ensure your best interests are protected. Call our toll free hotline now or contact our firm online to learn more.

The Grabel & Associates team knows the toll that a criminal investigation can take on a person, and we work to not only end the process by providing effective defense, but also minimize the effects by advising you throughout an investigation. We know what you need to say and do if you want to be successful in your case, and are prepared to put in the work needed to get you the results you deserve in your case.

As soon as you are questioned or even if you suspect you are involved in a criminal investigation, call or contact our federal defense team from anywhere in Michigan. We are available 24/7 to provide you with a free initial case analysis.

Statute of Limitations in Federal Crime Cases

A statute of limitations says how long after an offense a person can be indicted, an indictment being a document that officially charges a person with a crime. So if you have still not been charged after the time set by the statute of limitations, the investigation is effectively over.

For most federal crimes, the statute of limitations is five years. Bank fraud has a statute of limitations of ten years. Immigration violations and arson are also subject to a ten year limit. Kidnapping also has a limit of ten years, or the child’s lifetime, whichever is longer. Art theft has a longer statute of limitations, twenty years. For capital offenses, aka offenses where you can get the death penalty, there is no limit.

Additionally, some offenses happen over an extended period of time, like federal conspiracy offenses. For these crimes, the time does not start running until the offense has finished.

Our lawyers can help you evaluate what you may be under investigation for and when the statute of limitations expires. We will also help you understand how state law charges could come into play, and how the state and federal statutes could interact. For more information, contact our team by phone or email us through our online form. We are always ready to begin working with you, no matter what stage of your case you are currently facing. Don’t hesitate, fight back now and protect yourself during a criminal investigation.

Federal Government Statute of Limitations

Our lawyers will help you sort through the many complex issues involved in a federal case, including how to best approach federal investigators after taking the statute of limitations into account. We will help you build a defense strategy that will allow you to battle back against investigators and the U.S. attorney or AUSA handling your case, and will always keep your best interests at the forefront as our licensed federal attorneys work through your complex case. Contact us now and let us begin advising you on the next steps you need to take.

Contact Grabel & Associates for 24/7 Federal Investigation Defense

To learn more about how long the government can investigate you and how to defend yourself during an investigation, call us toll free at 1-800-342-7896 or contact our firm online now. We are always available for clients and concerned loved ones statewide.