Public Officers And Employees

Federal Defense Attorney Explains Crimes Involving Public Employees

Public officers and public employees are placed in positions of trust. In order for the government to function effectively and in order for people to have trust in their government, it is imperative that public officers and public employees do not abuse the trust that has been placed in them. As a result, there are myriad rules in place that govern the conduct of all public workers at all levels of government.

Some of the most important laws related to government workers, and some of the strictest laws, apply to public officers and employees who work for the federal government. When these public officers and employees fail to live up to expectations, or are accused of failing to do so, they can face federal criminal charges.

Being charged with a federal crime could destroy your career as a federal workers and could destroy your reputation. You could also be imprisoned, could face fines, and could be left with a criminal record that makes it difficult to find future opportunities. Because federal charges are serious with life-changing consequences, having the right federal criminal defense attorney is vital.

LV Criminal Defense will work closely with you to try to fight accusations of wrongdoing made against you. We can represent you while you are under investigation to try to avoid criminal charges and we can advocate for you through the negotiation of a plea deal or fighting for acquittal if you have been charged.

To find out more about the ways in which our firm can help you, give us a call today.

Federal Criminal Laws on Crimes Involving Public Officers and Employees

Federal laws on crimes involving officers and public employees are found in 18 U.S. Code Chapter 93. There are a total of 24 statutes found within this Chapter; however, three of those statutes have been repealed. The remaining statutes that establish the definitions of federal crimes related to public officers and employees include the following:

• 18 U.S. Code section 1901 – Collecting or disbursing officer trading in public property
• 18 U.S. Code section 1902 – Disclosure of crop information and speculation thereon
• 18 U.S. Code section 1903 – Speculation in stocks or commodities affecting crop insurance
• 18 U.S. Code section 1905 – Disclosure of confidential information generally
• 18 U.S. Code section 1906 – Disclosure of information from a bank examination report
• 18 U.S. Code section 1907 – Disclosure of information by farm credit examiner
• 18 U.S. Code section 1909 – Examiner performing other services
• 18 U.S. Code section 1910 – Nepotism in appointment of receiver or trustee
• 18 U.S. Code section 1911 – Receiver mismanaging property
• 18 U.S. Code section 1912 – Unauthorized fees for inspection of vessels
• 18 U.S. Code section 1913 – Lobbying with appropriated moneys
• 18 U.S. Code section 1915 – Compromise of customs liabilities
• 18 U.S. Code section 1916 – Unauthorized employment and disposition of lapsed appropriations
• 18 U.S. Code section 1917 – Interference with civil service examinations
• 18 U.S. Code section 1918 – Disloyalty and asserting the right to strike against the Government
• 18 U.S. Code section 1919 – False statement to obtain unemployment compensation for Federal service
• 18 U.S. Code section 1920 – False statement or fraud to obtain Federal employees’ compensation
• 18 U.S. Code section 1921 – Receiving Federal employees’ compensation after marriage
• 18 U.S. Code section 1922 – False or withheld report concerning Federal employees’ compensation
• 18 U.S. Code section 1923 – Fraudulent receipt of payments of missing persons
• 18 U.S. Code section 1924 – Unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material

Within each of these statutes, defendants can find a definition of the specific crime they have been accused of, details about what a prosecutor would need to secure conviction, and information about the penalties if found guilty.

For example, 18 U.S. Code section 1906 details the offense of disclosing information from a bank examiner. To be convicted under this statute, a defendant would need to be a public or private examiner, or a Government Accountability Office employee with access to bank examination report information.

A prosecutor would have to prove that the defendant, who was employed in one of those positions, disclosed the names of borrowers or the collateral for loans of any bank that’s part of the federal reserve system, that’s insured by the FDIC, or that is part of a branch or agency of specific foreign banks.

The prosecutor would need to prove the names or information on collateral was obtained pursuant to a bank examination report, and that the information was unlawfully disclosed without first obtaining written permission from an authorized individual or agency such as the Comptroller of currency.

This is just one of many statutes within 18 U.S. Code Chapter 93 that establish a technical definition of a type of federal crime a public officer or employee could be charged with. Because each of the statutes within this section applies to different public employees, has different specific things a prosecutor must prove, and sets forth its own specific requirements for what a prosecutor needs to prove, defendants must understand the details of the charges brought against them.

An attorney can help defendants to understand the law that applies to them so they can effectively fight for their future.

5 Star30 reviews