A misdemeanor is a less serious crime, generally punishable by up to one year in jail. A felony is a serious crime punishable by more than one year in state or federal prison. Felonies also carry significant long-term collateral consequences.

A proffer agreement allows you to provide information to the government with some assurance that your words won't be used against you in court, usually as part of plea negotiations. This is a high-risk strategy that should never be attempted without a criminal defense attorney.