Yes, and it happens more often in Rhode Island than people expect. Federal prosecutors under 18 U.S.C. § 1029 - the access device fraud statute - can take over cases involving interstate commerce, higher loss amounts, multiple victims, or organized activity. Because virtually every modern card transaction clears through a national network, the interstate commerce element is almost always satisfied. The practical triggers are loss size, sophistication (counterfeit cards, skimmers, dark-web marketplaces), and whether federal agents - Secret Service, FBI, or U.S. Postal Inspectors - led the investigation. If you received a target letter, subpoena, or visit from a federal agent, assume you are in the federal system and hire a lawyer immediately.
