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

Can I get back my gun rights after a felony conviction?

One of the consequences of a felony conviction is the potential to lose your rights to own or possess a firearm. Whether you can get these rights back depends on where you live. Each state manages its own laws concerning felony consequences and the ability to restore...

How effective is DNA at clearing convictions?

DNA is a relatively new tool in the criminal field. However, despite its rather young age, the technology for identifying and using DNA has grown exponentially. In fact, as technology has improved, DNA has helped to exonerate many people for crimes. Some people...

What should you know if you are under investigation?

Being the subject of a criminal investigation can be harrowing. Even if you are innocent of the crime that police are investigating, you may have reason to be extremely concerned. This type of situation can seem fraught with uncertainty, but your plan of action needs...

Drug court as a possible alternative to imprisonment

A drug conviction has the potential to set you back in many areas of your life. It may hurt your family and your bank account, for starters. It may, too, leave you facing time behind bars, which may hinder your ability to hold down a job. However, depending on...