What You Should Do if Charged with Aiding and Abetting
If you are ever contacted or arrested by federal agents on suspicion of a crime, the first thing you need to do is contact a federal criminal lawyer immediately. The federal criminal justice system is very complex, and it can be overwhelming for a person accused of violating federal statute. Unfortunately, you could be charged with a crime even if you didn’t actually commit the act. If you helped someone else commit a crime in any way, you could be charged with aiding and abetting another person to commit a federal crime.
What is Aiding and Abetting?
Aiding and abetting at the federal level occurs when an individual intentionally performs an act or counsels another person in furtherance of the commission of a federal crime. Federal law states that all that is necessary in order to convict you of aiding and abetting a crime is to show you had some affirmative participation that at least encouraged the principal offender to commit the offense with all of its elements.
Essentially, this means that you could be convicted as a “principal” even if you were not personally involved in committing the acts constituting the elements of the substantive crime. If you are convicted of aiding and abetting a crime, you could face the same harsh penalties as the principal defendant and have the same sentence imposed. The punishment you face will depend on the crime you aided and abetted.
Are You an Accessory after the Fact?
Aiding and abetting is a serious crime, but there is a less severe charge you may face if you helped somebody else commit a crime. You could be considered an accessory after the fact as opposed to being charged for aiding and abetting. If you know that a crime was committed and you give some form of help to the person who committed the crime in order to delay or prevent that person from being caught and/or punished, you could be considered an accessory after the fact.
The punishment for this crime is much less severe than the penalties for aiding and abetting. That is why it is important to contact an experienced criminal defense attorney to help guide you through the criminal justice system and obtain the best possible result in your case.
Contact a Federal Defense Attorney Today
If you are being charged with a federal crime, you need to contact an experienced federal attorney immediately. At Wallin & Klarich, our skilled attorneys have been successfully defending our clients facing federal charges for over 40 years. Our team of attorneys and legal assistants have the knowledge necessary to help you get the best outcome in your case.
With offices in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Torrance, Tustin, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, West Covina and Victorville, our attorneys are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide you with the very best legal representation. We will work with you to develop the best strategy for your defense.
Call us today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free telephone consultation. We will get through this together.
