Most criminal charges are prosecuted in state court, but - for a variety of reasons - a small minority of cases are prosecuted by the United States Attorney in the U.S. District Court.  Often, the rules of the case are even more favorable to the prosecution and the potential penalties are far greater than in state court.

If you haven't yet spoken with a lawyer about your charges, the words "this might go federal" from a police officer ought to remind you to exercise your right to remain silent and immediately seek the advice of an experienced local criminal defense attorney.

Experienced. Local. Effective.