Federal crimes are criminal offenses based on legislation (laws or statutes) enacted by the United States Congress and published in the United States Code (U.S.C.). Most crimes (murder, rape, assault, burglary, etc.) are prosecuted under state law (statutes) and are known as state law crimes. In contrast, crimes prosecuted under federal law are known as federal crimes.
Federal crimes generally involve a subject over which the United States Constitution gives the federal government—and more specifically, the U.S. Congress—the power or authority to legislate or make laws. This power or authority is also known as jurisdiction.
For example, the federal government (and not the states ) has the exclusive authority to print money and regulate its value. And because bank deposits are guaranteed (insured) by the federal government (FDIC) up to $250,000 per depositor, per FDIC-insured bank, and per ownership category, bank robbery is a federal crime (18 U.S.C. §2113). Examples of other federal crimes include tax evasion, wire fraud, mail fraud, immigration offenses, voting or electoral fraud, counterfeiting money, espionage (spying), and damaging or destroying mailboxes.
In Texas, as in other states, federal crimes are offenses that fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government, as outlined by the United States Constitution and federal statutes found in the United States Code (U.S.C.). These crimes typically involve matters that transcend state boundaries or impact federal interests, such as counterfeiting currency, bank robbery due to FDIC insurance, tax evasion, and immigration offenses. Federal crimes are prosecuted by the United States government, often by attorneys from the Department of Justice, including the U.S. Attorney's Office, rather than by state prosecutors. The federal court system handles the trial and appeals process for federal crimes, separate from the state court system. It's important for individuals in Texas to recognize that while most common crimes are prosecuted under state law, certain actions may trigger federal jurisdiction and result in federal charges, which can carry different penalties and legal procedures compared to state charges.
