Criminal Activity And The Federal Law Enforcement Agencies
Last updated on August 18, 2023
The federal government has several investigative agencies who investigate federal criminal activity. I am a criminal defense attorney and I have more than 29 years of experience with the criminal court system. I founded the Law Offices of Peter Katz, with offices in New York and New Jersey, after serving as a state and federal prosecutor.
Federal Law Enforcement Investigative Agencies
There are a number of different government agencies tasked with enforcing the laws of the United States. These agencies have investigatory power and the authority to arrest and detain those found to be in violation of the criminal code. Together with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, these agencies investigate and prepare criminal cases, including:
- The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) handles all types of criminal investigation, including white collar criminal offense, and drug trafficking and distribution.
- The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigates federal crimes that use or abuse the U.S. Postal Service.
- The U.S. Secret Service investigates criminal activity related to the financial institutions and systems in the United States, including credit card fraud, cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering.
- The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is responsible for investigating federal tax crimes like tax evasion and certain types of fraud, like health care fraud.
- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is responsible for enforcing the laws regarding controlled substances, including the illegal distribution of controlled substances.
- The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the enforcement agency of the Department of Homeland Security and investigates and enforces the U.S. immigration laws.
- The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigates criminal activity related to arms trafficking and bombings.
- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) oversees security trade and investigates crimes of insider trading and fraud, working closely with other investigative agencies.
In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services investigates criminal matters related to fraud in the federal health care system. The General Services Administration is responsible for the prevention of fraud, waste and abuse among federal government employees. The Social Security Administration, Office of Investigations (SSA-OI) investigates claims of fraud, waste and abuse within the U.S. Social Security system.
Federal Criminal Defense Against U.S. Investigatory Agencies
The resources of the United States government and investigative agencies are vast. If you suspect that you are being investigated by any of these investigatory agencies, contact my office to schedule a confidential consultation appointment. To schedule your free consultation, call my office directly at 609-900-2648 or send an inquiry through the online form on my website.