Columbia Federal Sex Crimes Lawyer

The most common situation that leads to federal sex crime charges is child pornography. There is a network of people who are sharing child pornography with each other across the United States or across the world, internationally. Sex trafficking and human trafficking are also common. People are being brought in either internationally or within the United States and placed as prostitutes and strippers against their will.

Federal sex crime cases and state sex crime cases are completely different from each other. Federal court is much more orderly with strict deadlines and the law is strictly enforced. What makes federal sex crime cases unique is that the cases are well-investigated. For this reason, it is best to seek help from a knowledgeable Columbia federal sex crimes lawyer. They could review your case, collect evidence, and help you build a defense. Speak to a tenacious sex crimes attorney to learn about how you could protect your rights in and out of court.

Federal Laws That Govern Sex Offenses Against Children

Some sex crimes that can be prosecuted in federal court include child pornography and human trafficking. If someone leaves the country to have sex with someone, those cases often come up as sex charges. Federal charges can also be brought against the person for sexual activity outside the United States. It is based on something that a person did in the United States. An experienced Columbia federal sex crimes lawyer could help build a defense to help individuals avoid the consequences of a conviction.

The Transportation of Minors

These federal laws can be found in United States Code Sections 2251 under the sexual exploitation of children or Sections 2423, which discusses the transportation of minors, and this mainly goes into human or sex trafficking. They can also be charged under the federal crime of what they consider sex tourism, which falls under 18 USC Section 2423.

Under that Code Section 2423, it is illegal to travel with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. U.S. citizens and residents are prohibited from traveling to a foreign country to try to engage in some sexual conduct with a child. That is illegal in the United States and is punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

If they are a person who tried to coordinate these activities with a “sex tour operator,” this is illegal, and they could face up to 30 years in prison.

Pornography

Producing child pornography outside of the United States is illegal under Sections 2251 and 2260. It is illegal to produce pornographic images outside the United States with the intent to either import them to the U.S. A person could face a minimum of 15-30 years in prison.

Sex Trafficking

Sex trafficking of children by force or fraud outside of the United States is under Section 1591. It makes it illegal to knowingly obtain a child and force them to engage in any sexual activity for money, goods or value or any type of benefit. It carries a minimum of 15 years to life imprisonment if the child is under the age of 14 and 10 years to life in prison if the child was over the age of 14 but under the age of 18.

What Does The Prosecution Need to Prove in Court?

What the prosecution needs to prove depends on the specific charge. If it is a child pornography charge, the elements of that offense are much different than a sex tourism or human trafficking case. One of the things a person needs to do is sit down with their Columbia federal sex crimes lawyer, and they will walk them through each element that the government would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt before they would be convicted.

Collecting Evidence in Other Countries

The government collects evidence in other countries by trying to work with those other countries in obtaining any of the evidence they need to pursue a conviction. In addition to that, they also try to build their case as much as they can and give the information to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) or they can be dependent on which agency gets involved, even Homeland Security. Generally, they try to do a shared cooperation with other the country.

Challenges of Defending a Sex Crimes Case

One of the most challenging components of defending these types of cases is when a defendant does not provide their sex crimes attorney with all of the information they need to successfully defend the accused individual. If the defendant does not give them the who, what, when, where, how, and why, the lawyer cannot be expected to know how to successfully navigate all the pitfalls and landmines that come up in how to build the best defense possible.

Seek Help From a Columbia Federal Sex Crimes Attorney Today

Since sex crimes are prosecuted vigorously and aggressively, individuals should reach out to a seasoned attorney as soon as possible. A Columbia federal sex crimes lawyer could assess your situation and immediately work to help you build the best possible defense.

If you have been charged with a federal sex crime, you do not need to fight your case alone. A diligent defense attorney may be able to help. Call today to schedule a consultation.