Federal Smuggling Defense Lawyer in Los Angeles

Certain federal smuggling charges apply to human trafficking, especially in the areas of the sex trade and slavery or involuntary servitude. Other federal smuggling charges apply to the smuggling of illegal goods.

If you have been accused of violating the following crimes, you should be assisted by federal and state defense attorney David M. Dudley who has an almost unparalleled degree of experience in federal crimes defense. Fill out our contact form for a free consultation with Los Angeles smuggling charges attorney David Dudley.

Human Trafficking

Human trafficking laws and regulations fall within the authority of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Prevention Act (TVPA) has been reauthorized three times since it was first passed in October 2000. The law was reauthorized in 2003, 2005 and 2008.

Other acts having to do with human trafficking include:

• Sections 307 and 308 of the Customs and Facilitations and Trade Enforcement Reauthorization Act of 2009. This act prohibits the importation of goods into the U.S. that are made by “the benefit of human trafficking or forced labor.”
• Section 7202 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 founded the Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center. The purpose of the center was to improve the “integration and overall effectiveness” in how the U.S. and foreign governments work together to deal with alien smuggling, human trafficking, and “criminal support of clandestine travel.”
• The Protect Act of 2003 protects children from abuse and sexual exploitation
• The Civil Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000, notifies property owners that their sites are being used for the smuggling or harboring of aliens. This is important because employers often ignore the crimes being committed on their property
• The Mann Act of 1910 makes it a felony to knowingly persuade or force someone to cross state lines for the purpose of prostitution.
• Smuggling of aliens into the U.S.

Smuggling Illegal Goods

Many other types of materials as well as animals fall within the category of illegal goods. A German man was arrested on charges of smuggling into the U.S. hundreds of tarantulas. “Operation Spiderman” was conducted by a number of U.S. agencies. The accused was charged with one count of illegally importing wildlife into the country. The sentence for this crime is a maximum of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Other illegal goods that often are smuggled are:

• Guns
• Ammunition
• Cash
• Protected animals
• Valued art
• Bulk cash
• Counterfeit goods
• Drugs

Who Would Benefit From Working With a Los Angeles Smuggling Defense Lawyer?

If you are involved in legal matters, we strongly recommend you work with an federal smuggling charges defense attorney and receive adequate support while navigating the court system. A federal smuggling defense lawyer can support you by completing and filing your paperwork, speaking on your behalf, managing your schedule and appointments, collecting and analyzing evidence, and more. Qualified and confident attorneys can also make legal cases close far more quickly and effectively, leveling the playing field against other parties and representatives.

Please avoid representing yourself during your legal matters, as you may make mistakes and risk further unnecessary penalties. By working with an attorney like David Dudley, you are likely to reduce or eliminate consequences after your case closes. We recommend you speak with us as soon as possible to improve your odds of legal success even further. This will help ensure your lawyer has sufficient time to understand your case, collect information, build arguments, and work toward your ideal circumstances.

Federal Smuggling Defense Attorney David M. Dudley Can Fight for Your Rights in Challenging Times

If you face charges for any crimes, including any of those associated with federal smuggling, you don’t need to manage legal matters and court hearings alone. Representing yourself can result in less-than-ideal results, but Los Angeles Attorney David M. Dudley can fight for your rights and reduce penalties post-conviction. He has a long track record of lowering consequences for many of his clients, and we can do the same for you.

When you get in contact with us, we can answer your questions, bring clarity to any concerns, and schedule your consultation with our Los Angeles federal smuggling charges defense lawyer. Don’t hesitate to connect with us and retain our services to improve your legal odds. You can complete our contact form at your earliest convenience to get started.

Selected Case Results

• U.S. v. J.T.: The defendant owned an international trading company which allegedly smuggled millions of dollars in illegal products into the United States from China and faced federal smuggling charges. The defense negotiated a settlement of the case which allowed the defendant to serve only six months in a prison camp.
• U.S. v. S.W.: Federal customs authorities arrested the defendant as the recipient of over $3,000,000 in counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes shipped in a container from China. After negotiating a plea to one count of a multi-count federal indictment, the defense persuaded the court to sentence the defendant below the applicable sentencing guideline range. Ultimately, the Mr. Dudley’s client served only eleven months for the offense.

Sources:

• U.S. Department of Homeland Security – http://www.dhs.gov/human-trafficking-laws-regulations
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement