If you're on our website, it's because you're facing serious federal charges – and need the best possible federal criminal defense attorney in Buffalo. At Spodek Law Group, we understand how terrifying this moment is. Your future, your career, your family, all of it is on the line when the federal government targets you. And make no mistake – these cases are nothing like state court prosecutions. Federal charges are brought by trained, well-funded prosecutors backed by powerful agencies like the FBI, DEA, IRS, Homeland Security, ATF, and ICE. Once they file against you, the government is already ten steps ahead. That’s why you need a Buffalo federal criminal lawyer with real experience, and a proven record in high-profile cases that made national headlines.

Look, I’m going to be honest with you – federal prosecutors in Buffalo are not playing games. We’ve seen major cases here involving wire fraud convictions under 18 U.S.C. §1343, identity theft charges based on 18 U.S.C. §1028A, ICE enforcement sweeps where over 130 people were taken in a single week, and task force investigations that uncovered caches of heroin, fentanyl, and illegal firearms hidden across Erie County. These cases demonstrate one thing clearly: the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York is aggressive, relentless, and willing to pull all possible resources to secure convictions at the Robert H. Jackson Courthouse downtown. They know these statutes cold and they use them aggressively.

Federal vs. State Charges in Buffalo: Why It Matters

Many people don’t realize until it’s too late that there is a fundamental difference between state and federal criminal charges in Buffalo. A basic drug possession charge – in some cases even a firearm possession – could play out in an Erie County courtroom, but the exact same facts – if they cross state lines, or if intercepted wiretap evidence involves a DEA or FBI task force – suddenly become federal offenses. That changes everything. Instead of facing local prosecutors, you’re now up against Assistant U.S. Attorneys who have careers built on maximizing the federal sentencing guidelines, often stacked with mandatory minimums found in 21 U.S.C. §841(b) and §846 conspiracy statutes.

In Buffalo, federal cases are heard at the Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse. This is not some minor courtroom—it’s equipped for jury trials, grand juries, multi-defendant conspiracy indictments. Judges here are bound by federal law, not local politics, and sentencing is driven by the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines manual. And here’s the brutal truth: without strong mitigation, without a defense team that has lived and breathed these guidelines, federal judges will follow them to the letter.

Types of Federal Charges We See in Buffalo

The federal government investigates virtually every type of crime imaginable. But here in Buffalo, the most common federal criminal charges include:

• Drug Trafficking & Gun Offenses – Federal prosecutors love combining 21 U.S.C. controlled substance charges with 18 U.S.C. §924(c) firearm charges. Multiple Buffalo indictments in the last year demonstrate how seriously the FBI, ATF, and DEA treat weapons tied to drugs. Seven defendants were charged after coordinated task force raids uncovered stockpiles of fentanyl, meth, and assault rifles hidden throughout Erie County.
• Immigration & ICE Enforcement – In one Buffalo sweep, ICE and Homeland Security agents arrested 133 individuals within a week. These immigration-related cases often carry mandatory detention, removal proceedings, and in some cases, fraud counts under 18 U.S.C. §1546 for document offenses. Many of our Buffalo clients also face additional consequences like being held at Batavia Detention Center until their case is resolved.
• White Collar & Fraud Offenses – Think wire fraud under 18 U.S.C. §1343, securities fraud under 15 U.S.C. §78j, and federal tax evasion counts prosecuted with the aid of the IRS CID division. Buffalo has seen a flood of cases where “paper crimes” turned into life-altering felony convictions with seven-figure restitution and decade-long sentences. The myth that first-time white collar offenders will be given a slap on the wrist is exactly that – a myth.
• RICO and Conspiracy – Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act cases are notoriously broad. RICO allows prosecutors to pull in people on the far edges of a broader group. We’ve represented clients who were barely connected to the core allegation, yet still indicted for racketeering conspiracy simply because of one association or phone call. Conspiracy laws in 18 U.S.C. §371 and §1951 (Hobbs Act) allow huge nets to be cast.

What Happens in Buffalo Federal Court

The federal criminal process is its own animal, it plays out with a rhythm that is nothing like local state court. Typically, FBI investigations and IRS audits last months or years. By the time agents even knock on your door, the U.S. Attorney’s Office probably has binders full of bank records, phone taps, cooperator testimony, everything. Many of our clients tell us they were shocked when they first got the call or visit, but the truth is the case had been developing in the background for a long time.

From there, the process looks something like this:

• Indictment – A secret grand jury at the Jackson Courthouse reviews evidence and votes to indict. You won’t even know it’s happening until the indictment drops.
• Arraignment – Appearances happen quickly. Bail arguments are tough, the Bail Reform Act favors detention in serious drug and fraud cases. Federal judges order electronic monitoring, curfews, or outright detention far more often than state judges.
• Pretrial Motions – We file Rule 12 motions to dismiss defective counts, Rule 41 motions to suppress illegal searches, and motions to strike inflammatory surplusage from indictments. These are not just academic points—they can gut the case.
• Trial or Plea Negotiation – Some matters end in carefully structured plea agreements under Rule 11(c)(1)(C), while others go to full jury trials where AU.S.A’s introduce hundreds of exhibits. We prepare for both.
• Sentencing – Cases are governed by the Guidelines. Enhancements under §2D1.1 for drug quantity, §3B1.1 for leadership role, or §2B1.1 loss tables in fraud cases add years. We fight each enhancement line by line, and we present mitigation that humanizes you as a person – not just a docket number.

I’ll be straight with you: Buffalo federal judges don’t deviate from guidelines absent strong advocacy, compelling personal mitigation, psychological evaluations, and expert testimony. If your lawyer isn’t preparing sentencing mitigation from day one, you’re already losing ground.

Why Spodek Law Group Is Different in Federal Cases

The truth is, very few lawyers in Buffalo spend serious time in federal court. It’s a different skill set. A different battlefield. Most criminal defense attorneys are comfortable in state court, not handling wiretap evidence or arguing sentencing enhancements. That’s why you hire us. Because for us, this is our core, not an occasional detour.

The Spodek Law Group owes loyalty only to you—never the government, never the judges, never the system. We don’t bend for them, we fight them. When it comes to federal charges, you have to hire a law firm that gets it. And not every lawyer does. With over 50 years combined experience, with cases that reached international media – including the Netflix series on Todd Spodek’s defense of Anna Delvey, we have been tested under fire. And we delivered results, even when the headlines made everything more intense. We bring that same energy into the Robert H. Jackson courthouse every single day.

Answering Common Questions About Buffalo Federal Cases

How much does a federal criminal lawyer cost in Buffalo?

It depends. That’s the honest answer. Federal cases require motion practice, experts, sometimes weeks of trial. We don’t do cookie-cutter flat fees because each case is unique. What we don’t do is cut corners. Cutting corners in federal court equals disaster, simple as that. You pay for us because you want us to win.

Should I really get a federal lawyer if charged?

Yes. Absolutely. Going into federal court with a lawyer who has little or no federal experience is like walking into a knife fight unarmed. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has already invested time, agents, analysts, IRS audits, digital forensics, all aimed at one thing: convicting you. If you’re not serious, they’ll crush you.

What is a federal lawyer called?

A federal criminal defense attorney admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. Not every Buffalo lawyer has those credentials, not every lawyer has actually stood up to argue Rule 29 acquittal motions, or handled Guideline objections at sentencing. You don’t want someone dabbling.

How do I choose the best Buffalo federal defense lawyer?

Results, experience, preparation. Look at whether your attorney has handled multi-defendant RICO cases, whether they’ve fought IRS fraud charges, whether they’ve gone to trial against federal prosecutors who have conviction rates over 90%. That’s what it comes down to. We do that every single day, and the track record speaks volumes. We’ve handled cases that... look, the point is we win.

Our Defense Strategy for Federal Charges in Buffalo

At Spodek Law Group, our defense strategy is never cookie-cutter. We don’t recycle motions, we don’t copy-paste mitigation memos. Every case is built fresh from scratch, because every client deserves advocacy tailored to them.

• Early Intervention – If we can get involved before indictment, sometimes we can talk prosecutors down, adjust how charges are filed, or negotiate information that keeps charges from ever being approved by a grand jury. It happens more often than people think.
• Mitigation & Sentencing – If a plea is the pragmatic choice, we line up mitigation that shows you’re not a statistic. Judges in Buffalo have downward departed for clients when we’ve presented real, human stories supported by experts and letters from family, employers, clergy. We know how to tell that story.
• Trial Readiness – We prepare every case as if it’s going to trial. That readiness gives us leverage at the plea stage, because prosecutors know we’re not bluffing, we’re ready to go to a jury.
• Challenging Evidence – Whether it’s a defective search warrant lacking particularity, or forensic accounting errors in fraud cases, we pick apart everything. Mistakes made by FBI agents or IRS investigators can and do tank cases.

Our approach is aggressive, by necessity. The federal government doesn’t pull punches, so neither do we.

Protect Your Future – Call Today

If you're reading this, time isn’t on your side. Federal prosecutors in Buffalo are already at work on your file. It doesn’t matter if your charges are immigration fraud from an ICE investigation, drug trafficking linked to DEA wiretaps, or fraud with millions in alleged losses. What matters is: you cannot wait. You need aggressive federal defense right now.

The Spodek Law Group is nationally recognized – trusted by professionals, executives, doctors, immigrants, and everyday people who have everything to lose. We combine hyper-local Buffalo court knowledge with federal defense experience across the nation. With over 50 years combined defense expertise – including headline-making cases like Anna Delvey’s – we are built for moments like this.

Call Spodek Law Group today for a confidential consultation. Put our rock star federal defense team to work for you in Buffalo’s U.S. District Court.