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

What is “trace DNA”?

DNA plays a huge role in the modern court system when determining guilt or innocence. It also may be used in appeals or when cracking “cold cases” that investigators could not solve in the past.  Experts sometimes refer to “trace” DNA as “touch” DNA. According to...

Substance abuse, criminal activity and eligibility for drug court

In some instances, imprisonment may not be the best way of managing people who use illicit drugs or obtain them by illegal means. Treatment for drug abuse may be a better solution. Drug courts are now in operation in every state in the union as well as the District...

RaquinMercer LLC secures a another reversal on appeal in a First Degree Murder case

In Ford v. State, the Court of Special Appeals held that the trial court committed reversable error in refusing to propound Appellant’s proposed voir dire questions regarding the presumption of innocence, proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and his Fifth Amendment right...

THE PROSECUTION OF JUVENILES: SCHOOLS, POLICE, AND STATE’S ATTORNEYS

The year is 1966 and the place is Woodlawn High School in Baltimore County, Maryland. The student body is 95% or more White, as is the faculty and administrative staff. There are no school resource officers or police presence of any kind in the school. I am in a...