Best Federal Lawyers | Best Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers | Spodek Law Group [FederalLawyers] (2024)

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The juror at the center of Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid for a mistrial has lawyered up with the attorney who represented “fake heiress” Anna Sorokin.

Juror in Ghislaine Maxwell mistrial scandal retains Anna Sorokin’s lawyer

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Spodek Law Group's representation of client Anna Delvey is set to become a Netflix series, directed by Shonda Rhimes.

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THE BEST LAWYER ANYONE COULD ASK FOR.

The BEST LAWYER ANYONE COULD ASK FOR!!! Todd changed our lives! He’s not JUST a lawyer representing us for a case. Todd and his office have become Family. When we entered his office in August of 2022, we entered with such anxiety, uncertainty, and so much stress. Honestly we were very lost. My husband and I felt alone. How could a lawyer who didn’t know us, know our family, know our background represents us, When this could change our lives for the next 5-7years that my husband was facing in Federal jail. By the time our free consultation was over with Todd, we left his office at ease. All our questions were answered and we had a sense of relief.

Getting a visit from federal agents can be an intimidating and unnerving experience. Even if you haven’t done anything wrong, having the FBI or other federal law enforcement show up at your home or business can make you feel like you’re in trouble. However, there are things you can do to protect your rights and handle the situation properly.

Remain Calm

The first thing to do is remain calm. Take a few deep breaths. Don’t get angry or upset with the agents. Yelling or becoming aggressive will only escalate the situation. Be polite and professional.

Ask For Identification

When federal agents arrive, you should ask them to identify themselves. Ask to see their credentials, including their name, agency, and badge number. Take notes so you have a record of this information. You have a right to know who is at your door and why they want to talk to you.

Ask For A Search Warrant

If the agents want to enter or search your home or business, ask to see a search warrant. The warrant should be signed by a judge and specify what the agents are authorized to search for and where they can search.Take your time to read over the warrant carefully. Make sure it is valid – check the date and address. If anything seems off, point it out to the agents.If they don’t have a warrant, you do not have to let them inside or consent to a search. Simply say “I do not consent to any searches.”Search warrant

Record The Interaction

If it is legal in your state, start recording audio or video when federal agents arrive. This creates an objective record of what was said and done. Let them know you are recording.

Call An Attorney

Tell the agents you want to speak to an attorney before answering any questions or consenting to a search. Call a criminal defense lawyer right away. Avoid talking about anything substantive until your lawyer arrives.Having an attorney present protects your legal rights. Your lawyer can examine any warrants, negotiate with agents, and stop questioning if needed.

Don’t Consent To Questioning

Politely decline to answer the agents’ questions until your attorney arrives. You have a Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate yourself. Anything you say can potentially be used against you later.Simply tell agents you wish to remain silent until you have legal counsel present. Don’t argue, resist, or engage in small talk – that could be seen as consenting.

Don’t Try To Hide Anything

Don’t make any sudden movements or attempt to hide anything when federal agents arrive. That could be seen as suspicious behavior or destruction of evidence.Let your lawyer handle asserting your rights. Just remain calm and courteous.

Secure Your Home/Business

If agents leave to get a warrant after being denied entry, lock your doors and secure your home or business. This prevents them from entering while you are waiting for your attorney to arrive.

Comply With A Valid Warrant

If agents present a valid search warrant signed by a judge, you have to let them enter and search the specified areas. Interfering with their search or destroying evidence could lead to criminal charges.However, continue to assert your rights. Remain silent, record what happens, and don’t sign any documents without your lawyer present.

Get Copies Of All Documents

Request copies of the warrant, inventory of any items seized, and any other documents from the search. This creates a record you can review with your attorney later.

Take Notes

Write down as much as you can recall about what the agents said and did during their visit. Note their names, agencies, the time they arrived, what they looked at or took, and any questions they asked.

Seek Legal Counsel

After the agents leave, immediately contact a criminal defense attorney to discuss the incident. Your lawyer can advise you on next steps, including filing motions if your rights were violated.

Don’t Discuss The Raid Publicly

Avoid posting about the visit on social media or talking to the press. Anything you say publicly could be used against you. Wait to discuss the incident until you have guidance from your attorney.Dealing with a visit from federal agents can be unsettling, but knowing your rights is empowering. Remaining calm, seeking legal counsel, and not consenting to questioning or searches helps ensure the interaction goes smoothly while protecting your legal interests. With the proper response, you can get through the experience intact.

Getting charged with a federal crime is scary enough,but then you gotta wonder– if I’m convicted, could the government seize myassets too? It’s a fair question. The shortanswer is yes, they totally can under certaincirc*mstances. Let’s break it down.

Civil Asset Forfeiture

One way the feds can snatch your property is something called civil asset forfeiture. This is when the government takes your stuff by filing a case against the assetsthemselves, not you. Crazy right? It’s like your car orhouse committed the crime.The usual targets are cash, cars, and houses thatlaw enforcement believes are connected to criminal activity.They don’t even need toconvict you of a crime first. The case isagainst the property, so it’son you to prove the assets are totally legit. Good luck with that.This processhas come underfire lately forbeing a little too aggressive. I mean the government can just take your stuff without convicting you first? Kinda shady. Many wouldargue it violates the whole “innocent until proven guilty” thing. But for now, it’s still legal on the federal level.

Criminal Forfeiture

Ok this one makes more sense. If you’re convictedof a federal crime like drug trafficking, fraud,or organized crime, the court can order criminal forfeiture as partof your sentence.Here the government is seizingassets because they were used to commita crime or were gained illegally.The assets are basically considered “guilty” too.The court has a ton of power here.They can forfeit almost anything – cash, cars, businesses, houses, land, securities,even intellectualproperty like patentsand trademarks. Yikes!However, there are some limits. The government can only take propertylinked to the specific crimeyou were convicted of. If you’re convicted of tax fraud,they can’t take your house just because they feel likeit. There has to be a connection.

Fines and Restitution

Sometimes instead of forfeiting your assets, the court willorder fines and restitution as partof your sentence. This means you have to pay money to thegovernment and victims.If you don’t pay up, the government can seize assets like cash, cars, or property to cover the amounts owed. They can even garnish your wages or put liens onyour bank accounts and other assets.So in this case it’s not exactly asset forfeiture, but the end result is still thegovernment taking your stuff if you don’t pay. Notideal.

Bankruptcy Won’t Save You

A lot of people think you can get out ofcriminal fines, restitution,and forfeitures through bankruptcy. Nope! These debts typically can‘t be discharged through bankruptcy.The government will get paid one wayor another. Your assets are fair game if youdon’t pay what you owe.

Negotiating a Deal

If you’re facing criminal charges, the best way to avoid asset seizure maybe negotiating a plea deal. Many federalprosecutors will agree to not pursueforfeitures and limit fines/restitution in exchange for a guilty plea.You’ll probably still lose some assetsand have to pay fines, but maybe you canhang on to your house, retirement savings,college fund for the kids, etc. It’ssomething to discuss with your defense attorney.

Fighting Back

If the government seizes your assets in a way you feel is unfair or illegal, you can challenge them in court. For civil forfeiture, you’d file a claim on theproperty and fight itout in court. For criminal cases,you can appeal the forfeitureorder.It’s always an uphill battle though. The government has way more resources than the average person. You’llneed a knowledgeable attorney on your side. But sometimes youcan win, especially if the seizurewas questionable.

Losing Everything

At the end of the day, it is possibleto lose all your assets if convicted of a federal crime. Homes, cars, businesses, retirement accounts – nothing is really off limits if the courtorders it.For most average folks, having everythingseized would be financially devastating. It can mean startingover from scratch. Heck, you might not even be able to afford agood lawyer to fight the chargesanymore!

The Takeaway

The possibility of losing assets through forfeiture, fines, and restitution is very realif convicted of a federal crime. The keyis avoiding criminal charges altogether,or negotiating a plea deal that limits fines andforfeitures.An experienced federal defense lawyer canhelp navigate these issues andfight back if the government seizesassets inappropriately. Don’t wait untilit’s too late – get advice early on asset protection strategies.Overall the feds have broad powersto take privateproperty linked tocriminal convictions.While there are some limits, it’s a scary amount ofpower. So maybe don’t commit federalcrimes, okay?And if you do, lawyeringup ASAP is probably wise.