Houston Federal Criminal Lawyers.
Energy money, healthcare volume, and an international port - Houston’s federal courthouse prosecutes the fourth-largest city’s economy at strike-force scale, under a Fifth Circuit that moves fast.
Netflix told the story. The defense was ours.
When Shonda Rhimes built Inventing Anna, the defense at its center was Todd Spodek’s - argued for the so-called fake heiress in a Manhattan courtroom long before Arian Moayed of Succession played him on screen. What 320 million hours of viewers watched is the method every client of this firm gets, in every federal district.
The record, dated and sourced.
The courthouse.
Energy fraud’s home courtroom.
Houston built the modern energy-fraud prosecution - from Enron forward - and the Southern District still owns the genre: trading schemes, FCPA cases from the international oilfield economy, royalty and reserve frauds. Healthcare fraud runs at strike-force volume (the city hosts one of the original Medicare task forces), and the port plus the border divisions supply importation conspiracies and money-laundering flows through the international banking corridor.
Fifth Circuit law governs - fast, textualist, and consequential (its firearms and administrative rulings keep reshaping national doctrine). Houston juries are business-literate and unsentimental, which changes how fraud cases get tried here.
Federal defense lawyers in Houston, energy fraud’s home courtroom.
From Enron forward.
Houston built the modern energy-fraud prosecution, and the Southern District still owns the genre: trading schemes, FCPA cases from the international oilfield, royalty and reserve frauds. Healthcare runs at strike-force volume - one of the original Medicare task forces sits here. The port and the border divisions supply importation conspiracies, and the international banking corridor keeps the laundering docket full.
What you’re actually up against.
Forensic accountants who speak reservoir engineering. Strike-force billing analytics. Business-literate Houston juries that read spreadsheets without flinching. And Fifth Circuit review - fast, textualist, consequential. Houston fraud trials are document wars fought at industrial scale, and the government arrives with the documents already indexed.
Why Spodek Law Group.
We’re not your average federal defense firm - we get it. Energy fraud, healthcare strike-force defense, laundering and forfeiture litigation: the practice maps onto Houston’s docket line for line. Direct flights from both offices, local counsel where required, and a trial reputation - the Netflix defense, the AP wire - that reprices negotiations in any district, this one included.
The clock is already running.
A trading-desk subpoena. A ZPIC audit gone quiet. A correspondent-bank inquiry. Houston’s grand juries run long - and the window is while they’re still running. The consultation is free. It’s confidential. It’s answered 24/7 - 212 300 5196. The government has a head start. Stop giving it a bigger one.
Any district is home ground.
Federal procedure is national - the same rules, the same guidelines, the same DOJ playbook in Houston as everywhere else. Houston is a direct flight from both offices; we appear in the Southern District of Texas with local counsel where required. Admission is handled by pro hac vice motion with local counsel where required, the client portal keeps every document and conversation in one place across any distance, and the person standing up in court is the lawyer you hired - not a referral.
195 Montague Street, Brooklyn
1301 Avenue of the Americas, Midtown
611 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles
Todd A. Spodek is a second-generation trial lawyer whose defense of Anna Delvey became Netflix's Inventing Anna. He appears on Fox News and CNN as a legal analyst, authored "My Advice to Diddy" in The Spectator, and is quoted by the Associated Press when the biggest federal cases break. The record behind the profile: a complete acquittal in a $26M money-laundering trial, RICO charges carrying a 10-year minimum dismissed, and 6 months on a $12M Ponzi case.
See who fights for you before you ever call.
Who we are, how we work, and why clients nationwide trust us with their future - in under a minute.
Why this firm.
Five decades of federal courtrooms. Whatever the government has charged, this firm has defended it before.
No allegiance to U.S. Attorneys, agents, or agencies. The client is the only constituency.
Every district in the country, one client portal - documents, invoices, counsel, in real time.
We decline more federal matters than we accept - and every accepted case gets the whole bench.
The first 72 hours decide the next 72 weeks.
No interviews, no consents, no explaining, no deleting. The words said in hour zero are the exhibits at trial. Write down what was asked and by whom - then stop.
Privilege attaches, facts get mapped while memory is fresh, documents get preserved the right way, and nobody in your orbit talks to agents unrepresented again.
We contact the government as your counsel: target, subject, or witness gets confirmed, deadlines get calendared, and the defense - not the investigation - sets the tempo.
How your case unfolds.
THE FULL PROCESS →Risk-free, in person or by phone. Ask anything, for as long as it takes. Strategy starts the same day.
Subpoenaed inboxes and a drawn timeline - we engage prosecutors at the target-letter stage, where charging is still a choice.
Suppress the overbroad seizure, contest intended loss, redraw the timeline - and when trial is the advantage, intent gets tried on the whole inbox, not the excerpts.
Houston Federal Criminal Lawyers.
Facing federal criminal charges? You need the best legal team in your corner - and that's us. At Federal Lawyers, our nationally-renowned federal criminal lawyers have successfully defended clients against virtually every type of federal allegation. With over 50 years of combined experience, we know how to dismantle the government's case and secure favorable outcomes.
Don't take our word for it - just look at the results we've achieved for clients just like you. From healthcare fraud to cybercrime, our attorneys have an unparalleled track record of getting charges reduced or dismissed entirely. We leave no stones unturned in building a strategic, aggressive defense customized to your unique situation.
So if you're being investigated by the feds or were recently indicted, pick up the phone and call 212-300-5196 right now. The sooner we get involved, the better we can protect your rights, reputation, and freedom. An initial consultation is free and 100% confidential.
What to Do If You Receive a Federal Grand Jury Subpoena
Getting that dreaded letter from the U.S. Attorney's Office is terrifying. A federal grand jury subpoena means the Department of Justice has targeted you or someone close to you for a criminal investigation. Maybe you're just a witness...or maybe you're the prime suspect. Either way, how you respond could make or break your case.
At Federal Lawyers, we get calls every day from panicked individuals asking "What do I do? I just got a federal subpoena!" Here's our advice:
Critical Steps When You Receive a Federal Subpoena
| Step | Action | Why It's Critical |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Don't Panic, But Take It Seriously | Ignoring a federal subpoena is a surefire way to make a bad situation catastrophic | You could be held in contempt of court, fined, or even thrown in jail |
| 2. Exercise Your Right to Remain Silent | The 5th Amendment allows you to avoid making self-incriminating statements | Don't say a word to prosecutors until you have a defense lawyer present |
| 3. Hire a Federal Criminal Attorney Immediately | Not just any lawyer, but one with extensive experience handling federal grand jury matters specifically | We have a proven playbook for managing subpoena responses, negotiating with prosecutors, and protecting your constitutional rights |
At Federal Lawyers, we've helped hundreds of clients navigate this daunting process. We know all the tactics federal investigators use to try and flip witnesses or extract incriminating statements. With our attorneys by your side, you don't have to face this alone. One call puts our expertise to work for you right away.
Understanding the Federal Grand Jury Process
To build an effective defense strategy, it's critical to understand how the federal grand jury system works. Here's a quick overview:
A grand jury comprises 16-23 citizens who review evidence and testimony presented by federal prosecutors. Their sole purpose? To determine if probable cause exists to indict someone for a federal crime.
Unlike a normal trial, there is no judge present and no defense lawyers allowed in the room when witnesses testify. It's a one-sided process where prosecutors call the shots.
If the grand jury issues a "True Bill," that means they believe probable cause exists and formal charges will be filed. A "No Bill" indicates insufficient evidence for an indictment.
Key Grand Jury Terms and Roles
| Status | Definition | What It Means for You |
|---|---|---|
| Target | Person prosecutors believe committed the crime | Highest risk - likely to be indicted; need attorney immediately |
| Subject | Person whose conduct is within scope of investigation | Under suspicion - could become target; legal representation essential |
| Witness | Person with information relevant to investigation | Still at risk of self-incrimination; should consult attorney before testifying |
How the Federal Grand Jury Process Works
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Investigation Begins | Federal agents and prosecutors gather evidence |
| Subpoenas Issued | Witnesses and documents subpoenaed to grand jury |
| Grand Jury Convenes | 16-23 citizens hear evidence presented by prosecutors |
| Witnesses Testify | No judge, no defense lawyers allowed in room during testimony |
| Grand Jury Votes | Determines if probable cause exists for indictment |
| "True Bill" or "No Bill" | True Bill = indictment issued; No Bill = insufficient evidence |
| Formal Charges Filed | If True Bill, defendant faces federal criminal charges |
As you can see, the deck is stacked heavily in the government's favor from the start. That's why having a skilled federal criminal lawyer managing your case from Day 1 is absolutely crucial.
Our attorneys know all the laws and procedures involved in federal grand juries. We've handled thousands of cases just like yours. We understand how to leverage every possible advantage to undermine the prosecution's case and clear your name.
Federal Crimes We Defend Against
At Federal Lawyers, our federal criminal defense practice covers the full spectrum of allegations and charges. While no two cases are identical, we have deep experience across all major areas of federal criminal law, including:
Financial Crimes
- Healthcare fraud
- Tax evasion/fraud
- Money laundering
- Bank fraud
- Securities fraud
- Embezzlement
- Mortgage fraud
Drug Crimes
- Drug trafficking/distribution
- Continuing criminal enterprises
- RICO violations
- Controlled substances violations
On the record, on the wire.
Get ahead of the case.
Answered within 24 hours, guaranteed. Some stories are better told out loud -
212 300 5196