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Committed Criminal Defense Team Focused On Your Freedom

Salinas Federal Crimes Attorney

Aggressively Defending You against Serious Charges in Monterey & the Surrounding Counties

Committing any crime which violates United States federal law can be considered and prosecuted as a federal crime. Federal crimes are among the most serious and carry severe penalties for a conviction. Person arrested for a federal crime

While most crimes, such as rape, assault, and theft, are state crimes, federal crimes are usually tied to a national issue, such as interstate drug trafficking, federal tax fraud, child pornography, and others.

Call Law Offices of William V. Pernik today at (831) 273-3152 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our federal crime defense attorneys in Salinas.

We proudly serve clients throughout Monterey County from our office in Salinas. We accept cases in Santa Cruz, San Benito, Carmel, and select cases from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

Types of Federal Crimes

Federal crimes that we have extensive experience with include:

  • Forgery
  • Tax evasion
  • RICO charges
  • Identity theft
  • Drug trafficking
  • All types of fraud
  • Money laundering
  • Child pornography

Since federal crimes directly affect topics of national concern, they are, naturally, prosecuted more harshly and taken more seriously than state crimes. As such, the maximum punishments for federal crimes are much higher than the maximum punishments for state crimes. Also, federal prosecutors and judges have far less discretion to negotiate plea bargains and exercise lenient sentencing than their state counterparts. Therefore, it is in your best interests to retain an experienced federal criminal defense attorney in Salinas to protect your rights and fight for your freedom.

What are the Federal Sentencing Guidelines?

The United States Federal Sentencing Guidelines were established with the intention of providing federal judges with set sentencing ranges for criminal offenders. Based on numerous factors – such as the nature and circumstances of the crime, as well as the criminal history and characteristics of the alleged offender – the judge will use the guidelines to help determine the alleged offender’s punishment. There are 43 levels of offenses laid out in the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and 6 categories of criminal history, which are based on the number and recency of past offenses. A higher level of offense indicates more severe penalties.

Once a base level of offense is determined, the end offense level will be reached by taking into account numerous factors such as if a weapon was used in the commission of the crime, if great bodily harm was inflicted, or if pictures or videos were used in a child pornography case. However, a judge may lower the final offense level if the alleged offender accepts their responsibility. For example, if the defendant made restitution prior to a guilty verdict, pled guilty, or truthfully admitted their role in the crime, their offense may be decreased by two levels, thereby receiving more lenient penalties. A skilled federal defense attorney in Salinas will have a comprehensive understanding of these sentencing guidelines and use this knowledge to their clients’ benefit.

Call our experienced federal criminal defense lawyers in Salinas today at (831) 273-3152 and schedule a free consultation.

The Opinions That Matter

See What Our Client Have To Say
  • “I can't express enough gratitude and appreciation for his exceptional skills as an attorney.”

    A C.

  • “Mr. Pernik has so much compassion for his clients, his integrity is beyond approach.”

    Jacqueline W.

  • “If you want solid representation from someone who is non-judgmental and has your back, look no further.”

    Annia R.

  • “Mr. Pernik really took the time to know me personally he understood my situation. He genuinely wanted to help me during a difficult time in my life. He fought for me in court to modify my sentence.”

    Avvo Reviewer

  • “I found myself in a very tough situation and Mr. Pernik first of all was straight forward with me he was honest and all around very knowledgeable on what to do in regards to my case. He offered me peace of mind and got me through a very tough stage”

    Luis

  • “I was fighting a DUI prison case. Those cases are usually very black and white for judges. Mr. Pernik guided me in the right direction so my case turned out very beneficial for me. His statements are very well put together.”

    Avvo Reviewer

  • “He is an active listener, dedicated to his profession and his community.”

    J TD T.

  • “You will not regret hiring him as your legal counsel. I honestly, cannot thank him enough for his dedication, hard work, and patience with my case that lasted over 18 months”

    Rob M.

  • “They took care of me all the way through my conviction, he was even able to extend my surrender date without any hesitations.”

    Yolanda L.

  • “Roland listened to me, asked appropriate questions and provided me with the information that I needed in order to make an informed decision.”

    Chris m.

  • “Not only did he fight for the best outcome for me, but he also was available to answer my questions 24-7. I felt very protected and calm when Mr. Pernik would enter the court room”

    Avvo Reviewer

  • “I highly recommend Mr. Pernick. He is extremely knowledgeable about complex criminal defense issues. He is very hard-working and provides excellent representation for his clients. No one will work harder to achieve the best result.”

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  • “I must say Mr. William Pernik is an exemplary exception to this rule. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Mr. Pernik and his professionalism as an attorney and his compassion for his client's rights.”

    Yelp Reviewer

  • “Mr. William Pernik is extremely intelligent and caring with his clients. Not a very easy combination to find in a lawyer. He looks at all the options for the best possible fair and just outcome in a case.”

    NR

  • “I felt like he understood the stress me and my family were going through and held our hand through the process”

    Alex F.