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When you’re facing a federal issue, you need an attorney whose going to be available 24/7 to help you get the results and outcome you need. The value of working with the Spodek Law Group is that we treat each and every client like a member of our family.

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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.

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NY and Federal Criminal Background Check

NY and Federal Criminal Background Check

If you are looking to obtain an NY or Federal criminal background check there are myriad of options on the internet. Unfortunately almost all of the services offered online are are unofficial. The data is compiled from various questionable data sources. Clients often ask which official court records can we obtain on their behalf. We generally obtain there separate criminal history reports to ensure we have a complete criminal background check. The first criminal background check we obtain is the FBI criminal history summary, the second is either a NY criminal background check through the New York State Office of Court Administration or through the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and the third one is the individual certificates of disposition for any town or village courts in New York State for sealed records.  A criminal background check is referred to as a rap sheet. A rap sheet meaning a record of arrests and prosecutions.

Federal Background Check

A criminal history summary offered by the FBI is a nationwide report on your criminal history.  The criminal history summary lists all of the arrests and the dispositions for any fingerprints that were submitted to the FBI. The name of the agency that submitted the fingerprints to the FBI, the date of the arrest, the arrest charge and the ultimate disposition of the arrest.

George FernandezGeorge Fernandez
14:16 30 Apr 24
Excellent 10 out of 10, Helped resolve my case. Jeremy explained everything and made everything easy to understand.
RajRaj
21:33 24 Apr 24
If you are looking for a lawyer that listens, is aggressive where needed, and holds his word above all else, Todd is the best pick. I had hired multiple attorneys prior to hiring the Spodek Group for a white collar case. The first thing that stood out to me was the cost, as anyone going through the process and dealing with the system, money was tight at that time - especially after hiring and firing multiple lawyers. The cost was not as high as others which was definitely a plus. Todd's intake process was also unlike other attorneys. He took the time to actually listen. He cared. He was trying to put himself in my shoes while I was explaining the situation to him and he really took the time to understand the whole situation. Other lawyers will give you 15 mins and send you a retainer agreement. Not Todd, I think he spent almost two hours with me as I was explaining everything.Not only was he great during the onboarding process, he was supportive and very informative through the entire plea process and eventually sentencing. After hiring him, I asked if I should hire a prison consultant, he told me to save my money as he would do everything they would. He was right and held up to his word. Later on I would hear from others that went with the prison consultants that they were a waste of money - I am glad I listened to Todd!When it came time for sentencing, two days prior to sentencing, the prosecutor tried increasing my proposed prison time by almost double - apparently a normal move. Todd and his team worked with me non-stop through the weekend prior to sentencing to ensure that I was not given additional prison time. Again, he took the time to listen and came up with a strategy to explain the case with great detail.Unfortunately, I did plead guilty as that was my best option. Todd and his whole team wrote up nearly 300 pages of a summary of what happened and why I should not be given prison time. If I breakdown the amount I spent with Todd versus the amount of work that I saw being done, I am shocked I was not charged four times as much. The other benefit was, a lot of criminal defense lawyers were just a single attorney with a paralegal or two. Todd had a team of people that I dealt with (5-7 people that I interacted with), but he was ALWAYS accessible. It would never take him more than an hour to reply unless he was in court.I was sentenced to prison and I was emotionally distraught. Todd and his team did whatever they could even after sentencing to make sure I was alright. He personally stayed in touch with my family to ensure I was doing alright and offered support to them. Most lawyers would consider the job complete at sentencing, not Todd.After prison, Todd still spent time with me to make sure I was on the right track and avoiding any potential risks in the future. He has also been giving advice on how to navigate probation etc and has not been looking at the clock for billing.Although I wish I had never been arrested in the first place, I am glad I had Todd and his team in my corner. Without them I likely would have had to spend a lot more time in prison than I did.Thank you, Todd, and the entire Spodek Law team, for helping turn what was a nightmare into a manageable situation!
Yelva Saint-PreuxYelva Saint-Preux
19:26 19 Apr 24
I am immensely grateful to the entire team at Spodek Law Group for their unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise throughout my case. From our initial consultation to the final resolution, their professionalism and tireless advocacy made all the difference. Their strategic approach and attention to detail instilled confidence in me every step of the way.Thanks to their hard work and commitment, we achieved a truly favorable outcome that exceeded my expectations. Not only did they navigate the complexities of my case with precision, but they also provided invaluable support and guidance during what was undoubtedly a challenging time. I cannot recommend Spodek Law Group highly enough, especially attorneys Todd Spodek and Claire Banks; they are beacons of excellence in the legal profession.YSP.
Katherine SunKatherine Sun
18:08 18 Apr 24
my lawyer is Alex Zhik. Efficient, patient and professional
Nun yaNun ya
17:48 18 Apr 24
Todd, Ralph and Alex are amazing. Helped my husband get from a double digit number with multiple charges to a single digit, by the time I blink he will be out. They very professional and help with all your needs. They dealt with my anxiety and worry very well and they understand that your family member needs to get home as soon as possible.
Keisha ParrisKeisha Parris
20:45 15 Mar 24
Believe every single review here about Alex Z!! From our initial consultation, it was evident that Alex possessed a profound understanding of criminal law and a fierce dedication to his clients rights. Throughout the entirety of my case, Alex exhibited unparalleled professionalism and unwavering commitment. What sets Alex apart is not only his legal expertise but also his genuine compassion for his clients. He took the time to thoroughly explain my case, alleviating any concerns I had along the way. His exact words were “I’m not worried about it”. His unwavering support and guidance were invaluable throughout the entire process. I am immensely grateful for Alex's exceptional legal representation and wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone in need of a skilled criminal defense attorney. Alex Z is not just a lawyer; he is a beacon of hope for those navigating the complexities of the legal system. If you find yourself in need of a dedicated and competent legal advocate, look no further than Alex Z.
Taïko BeautyTaïko Beauty
16:26 15 Mar 24
I don’t know where to start, I can write a novel about this firm, but one thing I will say is that having my best interest was their main priority since the beginning of my case which was back in Winter 2019. Miss Claire Banks, one of the best Attorneys in the firm represented me very well and was very professional, respectful, and truthful. Not once did she leave me in the dark, in fact she presented all options and routes that could possibly be considered for my case and she reinsured me that no matter what I decided to do, her and the team will have my back and that’s exactly what happened. Not only will I be liberated from this case, also, I will enjoy my freedom and continue to be a mother to my first born son and will have no restrictions with accomplishing my goals in life. Now that’s what I call victory!! I thank the Lord, My mother, Claire, and the Spodek team for standing by me and fighting with me. Words can’t describe how grateful I am to have the opportunity to work with this team. I’m very satisfied, very pleased with their performance, their hard work, and their diligence.Thank you team!
K MarK Mar
01:37 25 Jan 24
I recently had Spodek Law Group represent me for a legal matter in NYC and I am thoroughly impressed with their services.Alex Zhik secured the best possible outcome for my case.It was a seamless journey from the initial consultation to the resolution of my legal matter. From the moment I spoke to Todd about my case, his enthusiasm to help was evident, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. The efficiency and professionalism displayed by the team is commendable.A particularly noteworthy aspect of their service is their user-friendly portal to upload your documents/evidence. This not only simplified the process, but showcases their commitment to streamline the client experience.Lastly, in an industry where legal fees can often be a concern, I found their pricing to be very reasonable, making needing legal assistance feel accessible and stress-free.I am grateful for their support and wouldn't hesitate to turn to them again in the future.
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An official federal criminal background check can only be obtained by you, or your attorney. The common reasons our office sees for these requests is the following:

  • Personal review by the client
  • To challenge information listed on the criminal history summary
  • Adopting a child in the USA
  • Adopting a child from outside the USA
  • To live in a foreign country
  • To travel in a foreign country
  • To work in a foreign county
  • Immigration issues
  • Work in law enforcement

We work with an FBI-approved channeler to obtain criminal history reports for our clients. A FBI-approved channeler is a private business that has contracted with the FBI to obtain criminal history reports and to deliver them to the applicant. If there is no criminal history, then you will receive a report that says no criminal history exists. If there is a criminal history then you will receive the summary

To obtain your criminal history from the FBI you will need to submit an official fingerprint card which is called FD-258 along with an application form.

FBI Fingerprint Card FD-258

In lieu of doing traditional fingerprinting you can also utilize live scan. Live Scan is a  fingerprinting technique in which law enforcement and/or private businesses can capture an individuals fingerprints and palm prints electronically.

The FBI criminal history application form will require the following information:

  • Last name
  • First name
  • Middle name
  • Date of Birth
  • Phone number
  • Height
  • Weight
  • Eye color
  • Hair color
  • Place of birth
  • Whether you are a US citizen, or legal permanent resident. Please note, if you are neither the request needs to be submitted directly to the FBI.

New York State Background Check

In New York State, there are two official ways to obtain your NY criminal history. The first one is through the New York State Office of Court Administration.

The New York State Office of Court Administration can obtain a New York State criminal history report. This criminal history search is based on an exact match name and date of birth. This report will detail any open and pending criminal matters in New York State as well as any convictions. The NY criminal history report will detail cases from New York County Courts, New York Supreme Courts, New York City Courts, New York Town Courts and New York Village Courts. The information on the New York Town and Village Courts are generally very limited.

I generally recommend that in addition to the above FBI criminal history report and the New York State criminal history report, and individual obtain a certificate of disposition for each town or village court in which there was an arrest or a sealed disposition. This will provide a comprehensive official criminal history check.

A second method to obtain a New York criminal history is through the New York Division of Criminal Justice. Both an individual and their attorney can obtain a criminal history through this method. Your fingerprints will be needed to conduct a record review.

Todd A. Spodek is  NY Criminal Defense Lawyer with Spodek Law Group P.C. Please call us at (888) 997-4123 for a free consultation on any criminal matter.

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Todd Spodek

Founding Partner

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RALPH P. FRANCHO, JR

Associate

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JEREMY FEIGENBAUM

Associate Attorney

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ELIZABETH GARVEY

Associate

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CLAIRE BANKS

Associate

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RAJESH BARUA

Of-Counsel

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CHAD LEWIN

Of-Counsel

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