The phrase "Federal crime gets federal time" will flash on TV screens, billboards, social media and the radio — with the hope it deters potential offenders from picking up a gun, according to U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District Bill McSwain.
"It's in response to the violent crime wave that we have seen in Philadelphia over the last couple of months, which is very concerning," he explained.
For example, last year the city had more than 2,100 gun-related robberies, according to McSwain, which could potentially be in violation of the federal Hobbs Act — or a 'use of force or threats of force to rob a commercial business' — like a corner store.
"We tend to focus on the most serious offenders and the most serious crimes," he said.
McSwain hopes the campaign gets across to the public that even if a crime is committed locally, it could have federal consequences.
"If you commit one of these crimes, you could be looking at a mandatory minimum of something like 5, 7, 15 20 years, it depends on the circumstances," he detailed, "but that’s not something that the judge has discretion to sentence you to, that's something you are going to face no matter what."
Even though focus is on the city, where more crime occurs, the PSAs will run in all surrounding counties.
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