Defense Attorneys With Federal Experience

At RaquinMercer LLC, we handle federal cases in Maryland for the Northern and Southern Division – in Baltimore and Greenbelt – and the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit. Attorney Steve Mercer also represents clients in the federal District Court in the District of Columbia. Attorneys Isabelle Raquin and Steve Mercer can provide you with the knowledgeable advice and skilled representation you need. Our team has a passion for federal defense work, and we do everything we can to protect the rights of the accused.

Our federal experience extends to a wide range of cases, including:

Child pornography
Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Act (VICAR)
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)
Drug possession, distribution or importation
Trafficking of guns and firearms

Federal Sentencing Guidelines

To determine your sentence, the judge will use federal sentencing guidelines. The guidelines can be complex, and the potential mandatory minimum sentences are very severe. Our firm knows how to work the guidelines and sentencing factors in order to mitigate the range of calculated points and give you the best possible outcome.

Protecting Your Rights At Every Stage Of The Process

Our firm assists clients throughout the criminal justice process, including if you have been contacted by the police as a suspect, target, person of interest, or as a witness, if you received a summons, or if you have been subpoenaed to testify at trial or before a grand jury. You should retain a lawyer to advise you of your rights. Our attorneys will:

Make sure you don’t incriminate yourself
Prepare you for the charges to come
Start investigating the case early and collect evidence
Negotiate the conditions of your release if an arrest is made
Protect you from harassment by the police, Child Protection Services, the state or government, or the media

If you have been charged or have reason to believe you are under investigation, it is important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible. Contact us now for a consultation.

Practice Areas

When does a conflict of interest justify an appeal?

For you to count on a fair legal system, judges, jurors and lawyers must be able to handle their duties without undue bias. If any of these participants have a personal stake in your case that could call their objectivity into question, their service might be an...

What is post-conviction relief?

In instances where you feel you have been wrongfully convicted of a crime, you can ask for post-conviction relief. These examine all factual and legal claims related to your case and take precedence over other court-related processes. Here is what you need to know...

The difference between robbery and burglary

Regarding theft crimes in Washington D.C., specific actions can fall under either a violent crime or a property crime. In general usage, people use the terms robbery and burglary interchangeably. In the courts, though, these words have more specific meanings and come...

The link between mistaken identification and wrongful conviction

Many people behind bars in Maryland and other parts of the country are there because someone said they saw them commit particular offenses. Many people believe eyewitness testimony is one of the most compelling and convincing types of evidence in a court case....