The viral story of Carlee Russell, an Alabama woman who admitted to making up a story about being kidnapped on the roadside of an Alabama interstate, is an example of how making false statements to police can turn into a federal case.

On July 13, Russell went missing after she called 911 to report that she had seen a toddler wandering beside an Alabama highway. Her call set off a panic in the local area, as private citizens and state and federal law enforcement authorities invested time and resources to look for Russell, the child, and the alleged kidnapper. The story also caused a frenzy online and in the national news media.

Two days after making the call, Russell returned to her home and told police that, when she stopped on the roadside to check on the child, she was abducted by a man who came out from the nearby trees. The man put her in a car and in an 18-wheeler, blindfolded her, and held her at a home where a woman “fed her cheese crackers.” Russell said that she was again put into a vehicle but managed to escape through the woods and return home.

Russell eventually admitted that she made the whole thing up. As a result, she faces criminal charges for falsely reporting an incident and for making false reports to law enforcement.

Making False Statements to Police Can Constitute a Federal Offense

In addition to state law penalties that exist for making false statements to law enforcement personnel, the potential for penalties under federal law also exists.

Some federal laws specifically prohibit the making of false statements to government officials. For example, 18 U.S.C. §1001 makes it a misdemeanor to make false statements to any branch of the federal government. It is considered somewhat of a catch-all statute because it applies to any false statement made “in any matter” within the federal government's jurisdiction.

In addition, if a false statement incident involves federal law enforcement officials — such as the FBI, for instance — there's a strong likelihood that their involvement could trigger federal law, even if the false statement is initially made to local authorities.

Making False Statements to Police Can Have Serious Consequences Under State and Federal Law

In addition to penalties that exist under state law for making false statements to police, there are also penalties under federal law. These can be very serious.

For example, the penalty for violating 18 U.S.C. §1001 is a fine of up to $250,000 and, depending on the circumstances, up to 8 years in jail.

The LLF Law Firm Can Help Anyone Who Is Accused of Making False Statements to Police

The knowledgeable members of the LLF Law Firm's Criminal Defense Team have years of experience defending clients who have been accused of making false statements to law enforcement officials. We can handle cases that are based on Pennsylvania's law, and because of our strong knowledge of the federal criminal process, we can also effectively represent clients who are facing federal charges for making false statements to government officials. Contact the LLF Law Firm at 888-535-3686, or submit a confidential online consultation form.