Banks and other federally insured monetary institutions are regulated by federal laws; therefore, the federal government has jurisdiction, or authority, over banking crimes. Banking crimes deal with fraud – stealing money from the bank – whether by employees or third parties who have access.

• Any Crime That Violates a Federal Law or Regulation – for example, U.S. Post Office fraud.
• Crimes that involve interstate and international commerce – airlines, shipping, railroad, transportation.
• Admiralty cases – water rights, boating, property lines, travel, and bridges.
• International trade law matters – disputes between U.S. and foreign trade and business.
• Patent, copyright, intellectual property – this broad area governs and protects patent and copyright holders. Examples include books, works of art, computer software, ideas, designs, inventions, etc.
• Cases involving rights under treaties, foreign states and foreign nationals.
• State law disputes – when two or more states disagree on an issue, the federal government is the final decision maker.
• Bankruptcy matters – bankruptcy falls under the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, a federal program and therefore federal violations. Federal Constitutional Issues – Constitutional issues are decided by federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Class actions – Class action suits affect a group and disputes are filed, heard and settled in federal court.
• Environmental regulations – Regulations that protect the environment; an example is protecting lakes from toxic chemical dumps by corporations.
• Computer Fraud – Any computer fraud affecting a federally governed entity such as a bank.
• Counterfeiting Crimes – The creation and circulation of counterfeited currency is a federal crime.
• Credit Card Fraud – Credit cards are protected under federal laws.
• Currency-related Fraud – Similar to counterfeiting, any violation of a law pertaining to currency is a federal crime. This may include Ponzi schemes and other monetary scams.
• Embezzlement – When money is stolen from within a bank, insurance company, corporation or other entity it falls within federal jurisdiction.
• Health Care – Health care is often federally subsidized; Medicare, Medicaid, other.
• Insider Trading – Illegally profiting in the stock market as a result of access to confidential information.
• Larceny – Fraudulent actions violating a federal statute.
• Money Laundering – Illegally concealing the source of money – often, but not always illegally obtained - and ultimately transmuting it into “legitimate” cash, property or holdings.
• Racketeering – Illegally obtaining or extorting money through illegal business activities
• Securities Fraud –Inducing investors to purchase securities based upon fraudulent information with the goal of profiting.
• Tax Crimes – Tax crimes including evasion, avoidance and manipulation are federal crimes.
• Computer or Cyber Crimes – A virtually endless category using computers and the internet to violate federal law. Often includes monetary scams.
• Extortion – Unlawfully obtaining money, services, property through coercion, often by organized crime.
• Hate Crimes – Victimizing a member of a race, group, religion, sexual orientation, nationality or class.
• Immigration – Violating any law pertaining to immigration in the U.S, including false entry, false documentation and frauds upon the government.
• Mann Act: This law prohibits males from transporting females across state lines for the purpose of sexual intercourse. Often the females are underage.
• Weapons Crimes – May range from possession of a firearm in a federal building, interstate transport of weapons, illegal sales of weapons, drug-related charges.
• Smuggling – Defrauding the U.S. government by violating customs laws; not reporting merchandise to customs.
• Organized Crime – Organized crime groups use force, extortion, blackmail, corruption and other means to profit, violating criminal laws.
• Public Corruption – Often called political corruption, government officials use their power for illegitimate private gain, violating federal law.
• White Collar Crimes – The full range of frauds committed by persons within the government. The term “white collar” refers to those in an office who do not use force to commit the offenses.
• Mail and Wire Fraud – A federal crime since the late 1800’s, it fraudulently deprives others of their property using the U.S. mail and wire communication.
• Drug Trafficking – Trafficking or moving drugs, often across state lines. Large amounts of drugs and cash often involved.
• Music and Movie Violations – With modern technology, this may involve downloading music and movie files and sharing them with millions or billions of others.
• RICO – RICO stands for, “Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act,” this allows prosecution of leaders of crime syndicates to be prosecuted for ordering others to commit crimes.

USC: Title 18 – Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Federal Court Structure – Understanding the Three Federal Courts
Federal Jurisdiction – Jurisdiction of Federal Courts and Crimes

The court may impose an extended sentence if it finds that:

• The defendant has previously been convicted of any combination of two or more felonies in this state or other qualified offenses.
• The felony for which the defendant is to be sentenced was committed:
• While the defendant was serving a prison sentence…that is imposed as a result of a prior conviction for a felony…
• Within 5 years of the date of the conviction ….

Three Time Violent Felony Offender

• A defendant for whom the court must impose a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment…

Violent Career Criminal

• A defendant for whom the court must impose imprisonment … if it finds that:

The defendant has previously been convicted as an adult three or more times for an offense in this state or other qualified offense that is:

• Any forcible felony
• Aggravated stalking
• Aggravated child abuse
• Aggravated abuse of an elder person or disabled adult
• Lewd or lascivious battery, molestation, conduct, exhibition
• Escape
• Felony involving the use or possession of a firearm