Blog

You’re sitting in federal custody right now. Your detention hearing is in 48 hours. The terror’s real. You don’t know what the prosecutor will argue. You’re assuming the judge will be fair. You think truth matters more than strategy. That’s where you’re wrong. Unlike other law firms who tell you to wait and see what […]

final_article.html

Federal Detention Hearings: Get Released Before Trial – Spodek Law { “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [ { “@type”: “Question”, “@id”: “q1”, “name”: “How do I get released at a federal detention hearing?”, “acceptedAnswer”: { “@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Gather specific evidence in 72 hours: employment letter, family ties documentation, residence proof. Demand live testimony instead […]

Guilty Plea vs Going to Trial: Understanding the Federal Trial Penalty

Guilty Plea vs Going to Trial: Understanding the Federal Trial Penalty You’re facing federal charges. You’re lawyer keeps talking about something called “the trial penalty.” You got two choices in front of you: plead guilty or fight it at trial. This ain’t just some legal technicality—this is the most important decision of you’re life. Because […]

18 USC 924(c) Firearm Enhancement

18 USC 924(c) Firearm Enhancement You’re charged with drug trafficking or robbery. Then you see “18 USC 924(c)” on the indictment. That one line just added 5, 7, 10, or 25 years to you’re sentence — and irregardless of what you’re attorney told you, this time is gonna run CONSECUTIVE to whatever else you get. […]

Bench Trial vs Jury Trial Federal: When You Can (and Can’t) Waive Your Jury Rights

Bench Trial vs Jury Trial Federal: When You Can (and Can’t) Waive Your Jury Rights If your facing a federal criminal trial, you might think you has the right to choose between a jury trial and a bench trial. Irregardless of what your lawyer might of told you, you don’t actually have the unilateral right […]

Direct Appeal vs Habeas Corpus: Understanding Your Post-Conviction Options

Direct Appeal vs Habeas Corpus: Understanding Your Post-Conviction Options When your facing a federal criminal conviction, understanding the diffrence between a direct appeal and habeas corpus relief is absolutley critical to protecting you’re rights. These two post-conviction remedies serve seperate purposes, operate under different rules, and offer distinct pathways for challenging your conviction or sentance. […]

Safety Valve vs Mandatory Minimum: Understanding Your Options Under Federal Sentencing Guidelines

Safety Valve vs Mandatory Minimum: Understanding Your Options Under Federal Sentencing Guidelines When your facing federal drug charges, understanding the diffrence between mandatory minimum sentences and safety valve provisions can litterally mean the difference between decades in prison versus a substancially reduced sentance. The safety valve provision, codified at 18 U.S.C. Section 3553(f), represents one […]

Pre-Trial Release vs. Detention: Understanding Your Rights Under 18 USC 3142

Pre-Trial Release vs. Detention: Understanding Your Rights Under 18 USC 3142 You just got arrested on federal charges—and now your sitting in a holding cell trying to figure out if your gonna be released or held in jail until trial. Your freedom, you’re job, your family, everything depends on what happens at that detention hearing. […]

18 USC 1029 Credit Card Fraud: What You Need to Know About Access Device Charges

18 USC 1029 Credit Card Fraud: What You Need to Know About Access Device Charges If your facing federal charges under 18 USC 1029, you need to understand what your up against. This statute covers credit card fraud and access device crimes, and the penalties can be devastating—we’re talking up to 20 years in federal […]

18 USC 1028 Identity Theft Federal: Penalties, Defenses, and What You Need to Know

18 USC 1028 Identity Theft Federal: Penalties, Defenses, and What You Need to Know Federal identity theft charges under 18 USC 1028 are among the most serious white-collar crimes prosecuted in the United States. If your facing allegations related to fraudulent identification documents, stolen personal information, or aggravated identity theft, your looking at potential prison […]

Home Confinement vs Halfway House: Understanding Your Federal Sentencing Options

Home Confinement vs Halfway House: Understanding Your Federal Sentencing Options When your facing federal charges or nearing the end of a prison sentance, understanding the diffrence between home confinement and halfway house placement can significently impact you’re future. These two forms of supervised release ain’t the same thing, even though alot of people think they […]

18 USC 1341 Mail Fraud Explained

If you’re reading this because the FBI just knocked on you’re door, or because you received a target letter from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, or because you’re lawyer just told you that your facing 20 years per count under 18 USC 1341—irregardless of what anyone else told you, this article gonna explain what mail fraud […]

18 USC 1343 Wire Fraud Defense: What You Need to Know When Federal Prosecutors Come After You

If your facing federal wire fraud charges under 18 USC 1343, irregardless of what anyone told you — this ain’t like state fraud cases. Wire fraud is one of the most serious federal crimes you can be charged with, carrying up to 20 years in federal prison per count. And here’s what prosecutors doesn’t always […]

Immigration-Informed Criminal Defense

If you’re reading this, you was probably arrested at the border—or somebody you know faces federal immigration charges right now. 38% of all federal prosecutions are immigration-related crimes. That’s not a typo. More then one-third of the entire federal criminal docket has become immigration enforcement—and this number keeps growing month after month irregardless of what […]

Federal Expungement: Sealing Federal Records

Federal Expungement: Sealing Federal Records If you just discovered that your presidential pardon didn’t actually clear your federal record—or that your expensive state expungement still shows up on federal background checks—you need to understand why the system lied to you. Federal expungement ain’t like state expungement irregardless of what anyone told you. The federal system […]

Federal Pretrial Motions: Suppression and Dismissal

If you’re reading this, you’re likely facing federal charges—or you know someone who is. Your federal case might already be won or lost—and you have no idea. Not in the courtroom. Not at trial. Right now. Before any jury ever hears a word—and before your trial date gets locked in. This article explains the pretrial […]

Missouri PPP Loan Fraud Lawyers – Federal Defense

If your on this page, chances are federal agents have contacted you about PPP fraud in Missouri—or that letter arrived and you’re stomach dropped. Look, Spodek Law Group is a second-generation criminal defense firm with over 50 years combined experience. Todd Spodek—the attorney which represented Anna Delvey (Netflix 2022)—understands what you’re facing when Missouri prosecutors comes after you […]

Federal Bail Detention Hearings

Welcome to Spodek Law Group – a premier federal defense law firm. We have over 50 years of combined experience dealing with federal detention hearings, and all aspects of criminal defense cases. Our firm is managed by Todd Spodek, a second generation criminal defense attorney. If you’re accused of a crime, and need help – […]

Federal Arraignment Procedure

The U.S. Marshal will bring you before a federal magistrate judge within 48 hours of your arrest—whether you’re ready or not. If your reading this right now, chances are you or someone you care about has been arrested on federal charges, and the terror of what comes next is overwhelming. Federal court isn’t like state […]

Federal Counterfeit Goods Trafficking

Welcome to the Spodek Law Group. This article is about Federal Counterfeit Goods Trafficking. If you are accused of this crime, we can help you. We encourage you to get a risk free consultation today for information about Federal Counterfeit Goods Trafficking. – If federal agents just seized your counterfeit inventory—or worse, your business partner […]

Federal Sex Tourism Charges: International Travel Violations

If federal agents just questioned you about international travel—or worse, seized your passport and devices at the border—you’re facing charges that carry up to 30 years in federal prison and lifetime registration, even if what you did was legal in that country. The PROTECT Act changed everything in 2003, giving federal prosecutors the power to charge U.S. citizens for […]

Federal Online Threats: Interstate Communication Threats

If the FBI just called about your online posts—or worse, showed up at your door with questions about “interstate threatening communications”—you’re facing charges that changed completely after the Supreme Court’s Counterman decision in 2023, and most lawyers haven’t caught up yet. The prosecutors are using a playbook that’s literally evolving as we speak, targeting everything from […]

Federal Revenge Porn Charges: Non-Consensual Pornography

If the FBI just contacted you about revenge porn—or you discovered your intimate images online across state lines—you’re facing federal charges that didn’t even exist until May 2025, when the Take It Down Act revolutionized how prosecutors attacks these cases. The evidence against you is comprised of digital files which prosecutors will use to secure a conviction. […]

Federal RICO Charges Explained: Defending Racketeering Cases

Federal RICO Charges Defense Guide The FBI just left a business card at your office – and everything you do in the next 72 hours will determine whether you spend the next 87 months in federal prison. Look, I’m not trying to scare you. Actually, wait – that’s exactly what I’m doing. Because if federal […]

Federal Drug Conspiracy Minimum Sentences: 10 Year and 20 Year Mandatory Terms

Federal Drug Conspiracy Minimum Sentences: 10 Year and 20 Year Mandatory Terms The federal prosecutor just told you that your facing a 20-year mandatory minimum for drug conspiracy—even though you personally only handled a few hundred grams. How is that even possible? I mean, look—your sitting there thinking you was involved in something relatively small, […]

Federal Drug Diversion Charges: Healthcare Provider Defense

Federal Drug Diversion Charges: Healthcare Provider Defense The DEA badge hits you’re desk at 7 AM—your medical practice is under federal investigation for drug diversion, and everything you built over decades are now at risk. If your reading this, you’re likely facing the most terrifying situation a healthcare provider can face: federal agents has seized […]

Federal Drug Conspiracy Minimum Sentences

Federal Drug Conspiracy Minimum Sentences: 10 Year and 20 Year Mandatory Terms Welcome to the Spodek Law Group. This article is about federal drug conspiracy minimum sentences, what they mean, and what the implications are for you and your life. None of this is simple stuff. It’s federal law, and it’s complicated. The consequences are […]

Safety Valve vs. Substantial Assistance

Welcome to the Spodek Law Group. This article is about Safety Valves. Our goal is to educate you about them, so you know what it entails. Your facing a mandatory minimum sentence in federal court—5 years, 10 years, maybe even 20 years—and your lawyer just told you there’s two ways to reduce it. One requires […]

Federal Drug Possession Intent to Distribute

Federal agents found drugs in you’re car during a traffic stop. They searched your house and discovered a scale, some plastic baggies, and $3,200 in cash. Now your facing federal possession with intent to distribute charges under 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)—even though you never sold nothing to nobody. How can prosecutors charge you with distribution […]

Post Arrest Procedures

They just arrested you — right now — and the next 48 hours determines everything about you’re future. Federal agents doesn’t wait, prosecutors won’t give you time to think, and every single thing you do or say in these first moments become evidence that can send you to prison for many, many years. Based off Salinas v. Texas, even […]