If you're on our website, it's because you're facing serious federal charges – and need the best possible defense team in Augusta. At Spodek Law Group, we understand exactly what this means. Federal criminal cases aren’t state cases, they move faster, they're stacked with federal resources, and the consequences hit harder than anything the local DA can threaten. A conviction means decades, millions, immediate prison time with no parole. We take that seriously. Our only loyalty – the one thing you can bank on – is to you, the client sitting in that federal courtroom with everything on the line.

The Severity of Federal Charges in Augusta

I’ll be straight with you – Augusta has become a hotbed for federal prosecutions. Just recently in late 2023, a defendant in Augusta was nailed for heroin trafficking and firearms under 21 U.S.C. § 841 and 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) – result: years in federal prison, and remember there’s no parole in the federal system. Another case? A Hinesville man prosecuted for threats against federal employees under 18 U.S.C. § 115. These are the types of cases federal prosecutors live for, and they go all in. This isn’t theory, it’s what actually happens every week in the Southern District of Georgia.

Federal prosecutors win over 90% of their cases. That stat should scare you, because it’s real. The FBI, DEA, ATF, and IRS-CI often team up for months or years before bringing down charges. They’ve already subpoenaed your bank records, flipped your associates, maybe even wired a co-worker. So by the time you learn you’re a “target,” they’ve built a mountain. And that’s the exact reason you hire a law firm that gets it.

Federal Court in Augusta: What You Need to Know

All federal criminal cases here run through the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Augusta Division. That courthouse sits right at 600 James Brown Blvd., Suite 200, Augusta, GA 30901. That’s where your initial appearance happens, followed by your detention hearing, arraignment, motions, and potentially trial and sentencing. Every stage is high impact. This isn’t sleepy state court. The AUSAs here run tight cases, and these judges enforce the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to the letter. You don’t get second chances if your lawyer stumbles.

Federal enforcement in Augusta isn’t abstract. Operation No Escape? That fugitive sweep picked up suspects directly in Augusta. Homeland Security Investigations has boots on the ground right here locally. The point is simple – these agencies don’t cherry-pick, they plant roots in Augusta. And jurors in the Southern District are not lenient. They listen, they take the law seriously, and many times, they convict on *all counts*. We’ve seen it, we know how it feels walking out of that courtroom. That’s why we prepare differently.

Federal vs State Charges

Here’s what most people get wrong: federal charges aren’t simply “the same thing but bigger.” They’re fundamentally different. State charges? Local DA juggling hundreds of cases, half of which will end in pleas. Federal charges? You’re staring across the courtroom at an Assistant United States Attorney who has one mission – take you down using agents, analysts, discovery the size of your living room, and mandatory minimum penalties designed to force pleas.

Sentencing in federal court is brutal. Harsh doesn’t even describe it. It’s guided by the United States Sentencing Guidelines, combined with mandatory statutes like 21 U.S.C. § 841(b). A single shell casing or one bullet for a felon caught under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) can add years. I’ve sat across from clients shaking their heads, saying “this would’ve been probation in state court.” Maybe so, but in federal? It’s real time. This is why hiring just anyone won’t protect you. You need someone who actually knows this system – because it’s a rigged maze unless you’ve navigated it before.

Common Federal Charges in Augusta

• Drug Trafficking & Firearms – Prosecutions under 21 U.S.C. § 841 and 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Augusta has seen convictions for meth, heroin, fentanyl trafficking, coupled with firearm enhancements. These stack penalties and trigger mandatory minimums.
• White Collar & Fraud Cases – Wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343), bank fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344), healthcare fraud – Augusta sees them, they’re real. They may not land in the front page of the Chronicle, but they can put a professional away for 20+ years. We handled high-profile fraud like Anna Delvey, turned into a Netflix show, and the playbook overlaps.
• Threats to Federal Agencies – Charges under 18 U.S.C. § 875 or § 115 are serious. Recently, a Georgia man making online threats to federal officials was charged here. That’s not handled locally – that’s federal jurisdiction.
• Immigration & Homeland Security Cases – 8 U.S.C. § 1326 (illegal reentry), smuggling, passport fraud. With HSI operating in Augusta, these cases stay active, they’re in the courtroom you’ll stand in.

What Happens After a Federal Arrest

Most clients tell me they never saw it coming. One day you’re going to work – next day DEA agents are at your house, cuffing you on a sealed indictment. Here’s the play-by-play: you’re taken into custody, often no bond option at first. You’ll sit in a hold cell until your initial appearance within 72 hours. Then comes the detention hearing – prosecutors argue you’re a flight risk, or dangerous. If you’re indicted, the grand jury issues charges. From there it’s sprinting toward trial or plea negotiations under massive pressure.

The FBI and DEA don’t make arrests casually. If they’re showing up, they’ve already lined up wiretaps, flipped witnesses, or executed search warrants long before. Talking to them – without a lawyer – can literally add another charge (18 U.S.C. § 1001 false statements). Do not do it. Call us instead.

Questions We Hear Every Week

How much do lawyers charge for federal cases?

Every case is different. A federal wire fraud case isn’t the same as a drug conspiracy with gun enhancements – and both take massive preparation. Sometimes the the legal fees look intimidating, but think about what’s at stake: 5 years, 10 years, 20 years. You’re not paying for paper pushers, you’re paying to buy back your future.

Should I hire a lawyer for a federal case?

Yes, absolutely. This isn’t optional. AUSAs don’t file unless they’re confident. Their conviction rate is north of 90% because the deck is stacked. You walk in unrepresented you might as well be walking into a prison cell. Get a defense attorney right away.

Costs of a defense lawyer in Georgia?

Hard to give a flat number. A DUI in state court isn’t the same as a 20-defendant drug conspiracy indicted under 21 U.S.C. § 846. Some federal cases hit six-figure defense costs. But really – what’s your liberty worth? It’s not about the number of dollars, it’s about preventing losing decades of your life.

What is a federal lawyer called?

The government’s lawyers are AUSAs – Assistant U.S. Attorneys. On the defense side, you want a federal criminal defense lawyer who knows their playbook. That’s us.

Why Choose Spodek Law Group

Spodek Law Group isn’t like other firms. We’ve got 50+ years of combined federal defense experience. We’ve tried cases nationwide, and yes, we’ve handled them right here in Augusta federal court. We take on the cases other firms pass on – the ones labeled "unwinnable". And we know how to shift the odds. We’ve handled cases that... look, the point is we win. Our team is full of rock star attorneys, trial warriors who don’t scare easy.

You know Todd Spodek. He represented Anna Delvey – the case that eventually became a Netflix series. That level of complexity? We bring that same strategy, attention, and aggressive posture to Augusta cases – whether or not cameras are rolling. We don’t care if your case makes headlines, we care if you get home to your family.

Spodek Law Group’s loyalty is never divided – not to public opinion, not to media headlines, not to political pressure. Only to you. That’s how we operate, period.

Immediate Federal Criminal Defense in Augusta

If you, or someone close to you, is under investigation or has been picked up by the FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS-CI, or HSI in Augusta, we need to talk right now. Federal cases are a race. You could be standing in front of a magistrate judge at 600 James Brown Blvd. in 72 hours – if you wait, you lose ground. Waiting is fatal to leverage in bail, in plea deals, in trial prep.

We run defense like it’s life or death because for you, it is. We’re 24/7. We move fast. And we fight aggressively inside and outside the courtroom. Call us now at (706) 397-5088. Don’t let the United States government gain unchecked momentum against you. Hire a firm that fights, that gets it, that wins. Hire Spodek Law Group.