Federal charges
Federal charges, read page by page
A federal case usually arrives after months of investigation. The government has had time to prepare; the defense has to catch up quickly.
Federal cases come with discovery measured in boxes and hard drives: wiretaps, bank records, texts, reports from more than one agency. I read it, sort it and build a timeline you can follow.
From the first appearance and detention hearing through motions, plea talks and sentencing, you'll know which choice is in front of you, what it costs and what it gains. Sentencing guidelines shape almost every federal case, so we look at them early.
Federal cases I take
Cases filed in federal court, whether they began with an arrest or a target letter.
Drug conspiracy and distribution
Cases built on wiretaps, informants, controlled buys and seized packages.
Firearms charges
Possession by a prohibited person, straw purchases, and guns found alongside other charges.
Fraud
Wire, mail, bank and benefits fraud, and the loss figure the government attaches to it.
Target letters and grand jury subpoenas
When you learn you're under investigation before anyone has been charged.
How a federal case moves
Federal cases move on deadlines set by the court; these are the stops along the way.
- 01
Step 1: First appearance
Before a magistrate judge, usually the day of arrest or soon after. The charges are read and a lawyer is appointed or appears.
- 02
Step 2: Detention hearing
Whether you wait for trial at home or in custody. It's often decided in days, so preparation starts at once.
- 03
Step 3: Discovery and motions
The government turns over its evidence. Motions challenge searches, statements and the way evidence was gathered.
- 04
Step 4: Plea talks or trial
Every offer is weighed against the evidence and the guidelines, and the choice to plead or go to trial is yours.
- 05
Step 5: Sentencing
A presentence report, objections to it, and the argument for a fair sentence, with letters from the people who know you.
Questions about federal court
Agents came to my door and want to talk. What do I do?
Take their card, say you'll have a lawyer contact them, and call me. Lying to a federal agent is its own crime, even about something small.
Is a federal case worse than a state case?
Not always, but it's different: longer investigations, larger discovery, and sentencing guidelines that weigh heavily. It pays to have someone who works in that courthouse.
How long does a federal case take?
Many take a year or more from charge to sentencing, sometimes less with an early plea. I'll give you a working timeline once I've seen the discovery.
Got a target letter or a knock on the door?
Call before you answer any questions. What you say first is hard to take back.