Criminal Defense Lawyers

Federal Bank Robbery Defense Lawyers

Spodek Law Group, is a second-generation criminal defense law firm with over 40 years of combined experience. Our team – many of whom are top rated criminal defense attorneys – has experience dealing with some of the toughest federal cases in the country. Todd Spodek, our managing partner, is a prominent attorney who represented Anna Delvey in the Netflix series (2022), handled the Ghislaine Maxwell juror mistrial case, and has been featured on NY Post, Newsweek, Fox 5, and Business Insider.

Unlike other law firms who prioritize their relationships with prosecutors, we owe loyalty to YOU. We focus on you, your outcome, helping you get the best results possible. Period. We owe you utmost loyalty – and our goal is to help you, and your family.

So you’re facing federal bank robbery charges under 18 USC 2113. You’re terrified. You should be, basically. This isn’t state court – this is federal court, where prosecutors have a 95% conviction rate, where sentences are calculated in decades. You’re looking at 10-20 years in federal prison, and there’s no parole. None.

Here’s what you need to understand RIGHT NOW: the sentence you’re actually facing depends on things most lawyers won’t tell you. Circuit you’re prosecuted in (D.C. vs Eleventh = 10-year difference). Whether you were on probation (expect 15+ years if you were). The fact that “I just passed a note” doesn’t mean lighter sentence. In this article: actual 2025 sentencing data by circuit, defense strategies that work, timeline of next 48 hours, why public defenders can’t save you here.

You Just Got Arrested – What Happens Next

Handcuffs. Federal agents. Your life, it just ended.

Look – by the time FBI arrested you, they’ve been investigating 3-6 months already, kind of building their case. They have surveillance video, bank records, witness statements. The arrest isn’t the beginning – it’s the END. They was watching you. When FBI agents are telling you “just explain what happened,” they already know your side. What you tell them gets documented, can’t be walked back. Fifteen clients talked to FBI before hiring us – twelve faced obstruction for “inconsistent statements.” You see, they already decided.

You have 24-72 hours until arraignment. Under Bail Reform Act, 45% federal defendants get detained vs 15% state. Your next 48 hours determine everything. What you do TODAY matters more than what you did during robbery. Period.

The Sentence You’re Actually Facing

Your lawyer probably told you “up to 20 years.” Let me tell you what that ACTUALLY means – irrespective of what they said.

18 USC 2113(a) – bank robbery by force, violence, or intimidation – carries statutory maximum 20 years. With weapon, 25 years. But what are ACTUAL 2025 sentences? Dustin Perrin got 96 months (8 years) for multiple robberies February 2025. Charleston Washington got 168 months (14 years) for armed robbery October 2025. Del Evans got 15+ years for robbery while on supervised release – TWO MONTHS after being released. Two months. Gone.

Pattern? First offense, no weapon: 8-12 years likely. Armed: 12-18 years. On probation, parole, or supervised release for ANYTHING – expect 15+ years minimum, regardless of how complicated your case is. Federal judges are furious about supervised release violations. Really furious.

The 85% rule destroys people. Federal prison has no parole. Best you can get is 54 days per year good conduct time under 18 USC 3624(b) – roughly 15% reduction, basically. 10-year sentence = 8.5 years MINIMUM behind bars. Compare state systems where 10 years = 5 years actual with parole. Federal prosecutor offers “10 years,” they’re offering 8.5 years of your life. No parole board. No early release beyond 15%. Math is brutal. Federal brutal. Serious. Really serious.

Circuit Split Changes Your Sentence by 10 Years

Two people commit identical robbery. One gets 10 years. One gets 20. Why? Based off where prosecuted.

December 2024, Eleventh Circuit decided United States v. Armstrong, creating circuit split. D.C. Circuit says 18 USC 2113(a) does NOT constitute “crime of violence” under 924(c). Eleventh Circuit says it DOES. Completely different than D.C.

If prosecuted D.C. Circuit, attorney can argue AGAINST 924(c) sentencing enhancement – saves you 5-10 years. Eleventh Circuit, enhancement sticks. Same crime. Different sentence. Based on geography. Think about that – location matters more than conduct. Case in D.C., viable argument could cut sentence in half. Florida (Eleventh Circuit), argument dies. December 2024 case law which attorneys need to raise. This circuit split should be part of plea negotiations, kind of the centerpiece. Prosecutors know it. Creates leverage. Got to use it.

“I Just Passed a Note” – Still 20 Years

You passed note. No weapon. Didn’t touch anyone, pretty much. Think that means 2-3 years?

Wrong.

18 USC 2113(a) says “by force and violence, OR by intimidation.” That “or” matters. Intimidation = note saying “Give me money.” Method doesn’t change crime, irrespective how you did it. Note which implies threat is intimidation – same 20-year maximum as vaulting counter and grabbing cash. Difference between unarmed (2113a) and armed (2113d) is 5 years. Prosecutors often charge both anyways.

Just note. Still 20 years. Same penalty. “I didn’t hurt anyone” isn’t defense – maybe sentencing mitigation if judge sympathetic. Don’t rely on sympathy federal court. Defense has got to challenge if actual intimidation, whether note threatened, if teller felt threatened. Fact questions, not “I was nonviolent” arguments. Method doesn’t matter. Intent matters. Law treats them same.

Federal Defender Crisis – Need Private Counsel

“Can’t I get public defender? They’re free.”

Federal public defenders are brilliant lawyers drowning in volume – 200+ cases each, simultaneously. They don’t have time. You need time. Public defenders pressured to try and resolve 60-90 days. Not enough time to challenge federal jurisdiction, investigate circuit split, fight intimidation element.

This isn’t criticism, it’s math. They don’t have resources private counsel has: challenge if bank FDIC-insured, raise Armstrong split, investigate video quality. Private counsel cost: $25k-$75k. Benefit: potentially 5-10 years less prison. ROI: roughly $2,500-$7,500 per year freedom. Worth it – or you gonna accept whatever they offer?

We’re available 24/7. Regardless what time, we’re here.

Challenging Federal Jurisdiction

Everyone assumes bank robbery = federal automatically. Not true.

18 USC 2113 applies to banks “deposits insured by FDIC.” Government must PROVE: (1) was bank, (2) FDIC insured, (3) at time offense. Most attorneys don’t challenge due to, obviously, banks are insured? But small credit unions might not be. Banks can lose insurance.

If federal jurisdiction fails, case kicked to STATE court. State penalties: 5-10 years vs 10-20 federal. State juries less conviction-prone. Even if challenge fails, shows you’re fighting – affects pleas. Here’s play: force government prove jurisdiction. Make them produce FDIC certificate. Make them work.

When Robbery Becomes Capital Murder

If anyone dies during robbery – teller, customer, guard, accomplice, car chase – you’re facing 18 USC 2113(e): death penalty or life. Heart attack during? Counts. Customer trampled? Counts as well as. Mandatory minimum if death: 10 years. Maximum: death penalty or life. Transforms robbery to capital murder, completely different than regular. Someone died, prosecutors won’t plea. You’re looking life minimum. No negotiation unless testifying against co-defendant. Anyone dies. Life. No exceptions.

What To Do RIGHT NOW

Don’t have time think about this week. You have hours.

1. First: DON’T talk FBI without attorney. Anything said gets documented, can’t walk back. Fifteen clients talked before hiring – twelve faced obstruction for “inconsistent statements.”
2. Second: Afford private counsel, hire immediately. $25k-$75k for 5-10 years less prison. Next 24 hours—no wait, right now—critical for bond strategy.
3. Third: Document everything. When FBI contacted? What said? Write NOW while fresh.
4. Fourth: On supervised release ANY prior conviction, tell attorney immediately. Evans got 15+ years robbery 60 days after release. Judges hammer violations. Attorney needs know TODAY.

Fifth: Ask attorney: What circuit am I in? (D.C. vs Eleventh = 10 year difference), Challenge FDIC jurisdiction?, Know Armstrong? (December 2024 split), Actual sentence range based off 2025 data? Arraignment coming. Bond coming. Speedy Trial clock ticking. Every day wait = government gets more stronger, options get fewer. Less options. Less time.

Your freedom. Your future. Your choice. RIGHT NOW.

Spodek Law Group handles federal bank robbery nationwide – state, as well as federal. We’ve defended cases others said unwinnable. Todd Spodek – prominent attorney which has many, many, many years federal defense experience – knows how to fight charges, irrespective how bad they look. We’re available 24/7 risk-free consultation. Call today. Not tomorrow. Today. Right now.