Frequently Asked Questions
Every case is different. These answers provide a starting point. This guide explains what happens at each stage of a federal case.
Is this site a law firm?
No. Andrew For Oklahoma is a research reference published by John D. Kirby. It summarizes public statutes, court resources, and case law. It does not offer legal representation, and nothing on the site is legal advice.
What are the penalties for federal offenses?
Penalties are set by each statute. 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) directs the court to impose a sentence sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to comply with the purposes of sentencing, and the U.S. Sentencing Commission publishes the guidelines that federal judges consult.
How long does the government have to bring charges?
Under 18 U.S.C. § 3282, no person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for any non-capital offense unless the indictment is found or the information is instituted within five years next after the offense was committed, except as otherwise expressly provided by law.
What is the difference between a billing error and health care fraud?
A billing error is an unintentional mistake — a wrong code, a duplicate claim, a documentation gap. Health care fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1347 requires a knowing and willful scheme to defraud a health care benefit program. The government must prove intent, and the distinction is everything.
What should a person do if under federal investigation?
A target letter, a visit from agents, a subpoena served on a bank or employer, or the sudden silence of a business associate who has been contacted can all signal that an investigation is underway. Anyone who learns of an investigation should consult independent counsel of their choosing before speaking with the government.
Which districts cover Oklahoma?
Under 28 U.S.C. § 116, Oklahoma is divided into three judicial districts — the Northern, Eastern, and Western Districts of Oklahoma. District coverage and courthouse details are catalogued in the District Coverage pages.
Does this site sell legal services?
No. This reference desk does not solicit clients, schedule consultations, or sell anything. Its purpose is to make the primary sources of federal criminal practice readable for Oklahoma readers.
Primary sources cited on this page
Each citation links to the primary source and quotes it verbatim. Verify the current text of any statute at the linked source before relying on it.
- 18 U.S.C. § 3231 — District Courts (Cornell LII) law.cornell.edu
“The district courts of the United States shall have original jurisdiction, exclusive of the courts of the States, of all offenses against the laws of the United States. Nothing in this title”
- 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) — Factors To Be Considered in Imposing a Sentence (Cornell LII) law.cornell.edu
“The court shall impose a sentence sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to comply with the purposes set forth in paragraph (2) of this subsection. The court, in determining the particular”
- U.S. Sentencing Commission — Guidelines ussc.gov
“The Commission promulgates guidelines that federal judges consult when sentencing individuals. When the guidelines are amended, a subsequent Guidelines Manual is published.”
- 18 U.S.C. § 1347 — Health Care Fraud (Cornell LII) law.cornell.edu
“knowingly and willfully executes, or attempts to execute, a scheme or artifice— (1) to defraud any health care benefit program; or (2) to obtain, by means of false or fraudulent pretenses,”
- 18 U.S.C. § 3282 — Offenses Not Capital (Cornell LII) law.cornell.edu
“Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, no person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for any offense, not capital, unless the indictment is found or the information is instituted within”
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