What is the definition of a federal crime?

A federal crime is any crime that violates the laws of the United States. Federal crimes are prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in federal court. In North Dakota, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the state is responsible for investigating and prosecuting federal crimes. Federal crimes include offenses such as money laundering, fraud, counterfeiting, and smuggling. A federal crime is also any crime that crosses state boundaries, such as drug trafficking or kidnapping. Other activities, such as civil rights violations and tax evasion, are federal crimes as well. There are also certain offenses, such as cybercrime, that can be prosecuted as either a state or federal crime, depending on the circumstances. In other cases, both federal and state authorities can prosecute the same offense, such as murder or kidnapping. Federal crimes carry heavier penalties than state crimes. Depending on the nature of the offense, a person may face a maximum sentence of life in prison and hefty fines, or even the death penalty. Federal crimes also carry the additional risk of being denied federal benefits, such as student loans or government contracts, if convicted.

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What is the definition of a federal crime?

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