Pam Bondi was sworn in yesterday as the Attorney General of the United States. She immediately issued new directives for all 94 United States Attorneys related to charging decisions and sentencing policy. The AG has now ordered that, in all federal criminal prosecutions, prosecutors must charge and pursue the most serious, readily provable offenses. These include charges that carry the most significant mandatory minimum sentences (including under the Armed Career Criminal Act and 21 U.S.C. Section 851) and the most substantial recommendation under the Sentencing Guidelines.
These changes will increase significantly federal sentencing recommendations and ultimately final sentences. There are some exceptions built in to the AG's directives which need to be pursued in every case.
These changes are dramatic in every federal criminal prosecution, but particularly so in drug (narcotics) and firearms cases. Federal defendants should retain experienced federal criminal defense attorneys who are fully familiar with these changes and which will lead to the best outcomes.
