federal investigation

A federal investigation is, in US law, an official inquiry into possible violations of federal law, initiated and led by federal agencies — typically the FBI, DEA, ATF or the Secret Service — under the supervision of the US Department of Justice (DOJ). It differs from state and local inquiries by operating under federal jurisdiction, meaning that the offences under examination are defined in federal legislation and can be prosecuted in federal courts. The investigative phase serves to establish whether a federal crime has been committed, who may be held responsible, and what evidence supports a possible charge.

The FBI is described by the Department of Justice as the DOJ's principal investigative body, with a mandate to examine a broad spectrum of federal offences, including organised crime, fraud, coercion and terrorism-related matters. Once an investigation is sufficiently advanced, the case is handed over to federal prosecutors — United States Attorneys — who assess whether the evidentiary basis is strong enough to bring charges. A grand jury may be convened to review the evidence and decide whether an indictment should be issued. Only then does an actual federal criminal case begin.

In a true crime context, the designation 'federal investigation' signals that a case is not handled merely locally or at state level, but is subject to federal investigation with the resources and judicial apparatus available to the federal authorities. This is typically the situation in serious or complex cases — for example organised crime as in the 'Cowboy Cartel', or cases of cult-related coercion and exploitation as in the case of Robert Shinn and 7M Films — where the nature, scope or geographical spread of the offences makes federal involvement necessary or justified.