Strategic Defense Posture
Federal appeals require a fundamentally different legal skillset than trial defense. At Spodek Law Group, we handle appeals in the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and beyond, challenging convictions, sentences, and procedural errors that occurred at the trial level.
Strategic Defense Posture
An effective appeal begins with a meticulous review of the trial record. We identify constitutional violations, evidentiary errors, sentencing miscalculations, and prosecutorial misconduct that can form the basis for reversal or remand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal sentencing is governed by the United States Sentencing Guidelines, which calculate a recommended sentence based on offense level and criminal history. Penalties can include substantial prison time, fines, restitution, supervised release, and forfeiture. The specific penalties depend on the nature of the offense, the amount of loss or harm involved, your role in the offense, and your criminal history. An experienced federal defense attorney can analyze your specific exposure and identify strategies to minimize the sentence.
No. You should never speak with federal investigators—including FBI agents, IRS agents, or AUSAs—without an attorney present. Anything you say can and will be used against you, and federal agents are trained to elicit incriminating statements even from innocent people. Exercise your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and contact a federal defense attorney immediately. Early legal representation can prevent you from making statements that damage your case.
The federal criminal process in Philadelphia typically begins with an investigation by a federal agency (FBI, DEA, IRS, etc.), followed by presentation to an Assistant United States Attorney. If the AUSA proceeds, a grand jury will issue an indictment. The defendant then faces arraignment, pretrial motions, discovery, potential plea negotiations, and trial. Each stage presents opportunities for an experienced defense attorney to challenge the government’s case, suppress evidence, or negotiate favorable terms. The Eastern District of Pennsylvania has courthouses in Philadelphia, Allentown, and Wilkes-Barre.