If you're on our website, it's because you're facing serious federal charges – and you already know in your gut you need the best possible defense team behind you. At Spodek Law Group, we get it. We know that federal cases aren’t just another case on the docket, they’re battles against prosecutors who have nearly unlimited resources. These cases change lives. The statutes alone carry mandatory sentencing that can destroy everything you’ve worked for. And look, our only loyalty is to you—not the government, not the court, nobody else. Just you.

The High Stakes of Federal Charges in Orlando

In Orlando, federal cases are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. That's not your everyday county DA. You're facing career prosecutors backed by federal investigative agencies like the FBI, DEA, ATF, and IRS. They know how to build a case that looks airtight. They rely on statutory law under Title 18 and Title 21 of the United States Code—statutes like 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) for firearms offenses, 21 U.S.C. § 841 for controlled substances, or 18 U.S.C. § 1343 for wire fraud. These aren’t slap-on-the-wrist charges. They come with mandatory minimums, strict sentencing guidelines, and no parole. None. The judge can’t just “go easy” because you’re a first-time offender. That’s not how federal law works here.

I’ll be straight with you: someone in Orlando can get sentenced to over a decade for activity that’d probably be probation in state court. And the sentences handed down at the George C. Young Federal Annex Courthouse prove that. Judge Wendy Berger gave years in prison to defendants on non-violent charges because the federal guidelines tied her hands. It happens constantly here. You have to respect the reality of federal court—it’s not forgiving.

Federal Charges vs. State Charges: Why It Matters

A lot of people ask us—what exactly makes a case “federal”? Here’s the truth: it’s usually either the way the crime was committed, or who is investigating. State cases tend to be localized, handled under Florida Statutes, prosecuted in Orange County. Federal charges, under federal codes, usually mean the conduct crossed state lines, or it involved federal jurisdiction. That could be drugs trafficked across borders under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846, financial crimes using interstate wires under 18 U.S.C. § 1343, or firearms cases under the federal gun laws.

And don't think the feds need mountains of drugs or elaborate mafia operations to come after you. Everyday people in Orlando get indicted under federal law for simply having a firearm when they legally weren’t supposed to, or small-time frauds that got pulled under 18 U.S.C. statutes. What starts as an argument with local cops ends up in a federal grand jury room. That’s the difference. And that’s why you can’t approach this like it’s a state case. You’ll lose. Simple as that.

Real Examples From Orlando Federal Court

Take Dainton Drummond—just one Orlando resident sentenced to federal prison by Judge John Antoon II for firearm possession as an illegal alien under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5). Then there’s Malcolm Bellamy, sentenced to five years for being a felon in possession—a charge under the exact same statute. We’re not talking trafficking tons of cocaine here. These are individuals who might have thought “this is a state matter.” It wasn’t. And the cost was years of freedom. This is why you have to take federal charges with absolute seriousness.

We’ve handled cases that... look, the point is we win. But we win not because the odds are in our favor, they never are in federal court, but because we understand how federal agents build their cases and how Orlando judges apply sentencing. That’s everything.

Common Federal Cases in Orlando

Firearms Offenses

Federal prosecutors in Orlando aggressively pursue firearms violations. As mentioned, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) is charged constantly here—possession by a felon, unlawful alien possession, possession after restraining orders. And once you’re indicted, the penalties are brutal. Cases that a state prosecutor might negotiate down, the feds will not. It’s simple: if the U.S. Attorney filed the indictment, they want prison. Period.

Drug Trafficking

Drug crimes in Orlando frequently fall under 21 U.S.C. § 841 and § 846. These charges carry mandatory minimums starting at 5 or 10 years based purely on drug weight. And people don’t realize it until it’s too late. We’ve seen cases where clients thought they were negotiating a state-level case with Orlando PD, but then the DEA swoops in, attaches federal conspiracy, and suddenly we’re looking at life sentences on indictments. Operations like RapTor show you how collaborative and patient federal law enforcement is. They’ll work with FBI, DEA, ATF, and local officers for months without any sign—until they strike with overwhelming force. That’s when you’re calling us at midnight, terrified. That’s why early intervention matters.

White Collar & Fraud

Wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343). Bank fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344). Tax violations (26 U.S.C. § 7201). These are serious white collar statutes federal prosecutors in Orlando use constantly. Todd Spodek made national headlines by defending Anna Sorokin—“Anna Delvey”—in a fraud case that became a Netflix series. But fraud isn’t always headline news. In Orlando, middle managers, accountants, entrepreneurs—they all end up under investigation and end up facing fraud indictments. And once the indictment hits, the government already has reams of documents, financial experts, and seized bank records lined up against you. We thrive on dismantling these so-called “airtight” cases piece by piece. That’s our job.

Immigration Offenses

Possessing a firearm as an illegal alien (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5)). Re-entry after removal (8 U.S.C. § 1326). Immigration fraud. These charges show up in Orlando all the time. And they’re not just criminal issues, they have collateral consequences with ICE, DHS, and deportation. You’ve got two battles happening at once. That’s why you can’t just hire anyone—you need someone who knows how federal criminal process interacts with immigration law. We’ve done it. We still do it, every week.

The Federal Investigation Process

People think an indictment comes out of nowhere. Not true. By the time you hear from an agent, odds are they’ve been looking at you for months, sometimes years. FBI surveillance cameras, IRS financial subpoenas, DEA informants, ATF monitoring—this is how they quietly build cases. Then—bam—the indictment comes down from a grand jury at the George C. Young Courthouse. This is why we tell everyone: the second you get a target letter, or if agents want "just a conversation," that’s not casual. That’s the moment you need us involved. Waiting is surrendering crucial ground.

What a Federal Criminal Lawyer Actually Does

Some clients ask—what exactly do we do? Everything. We fight unconstitutional searches under the Fourth Amendment, suppression motions when wiretap applications don’t hold water, discovery requests when the government holds back evidence. We prepare for trial. We negotiate with Assistant U.S. Attorneys. We prepare for sentencing under the unique circumstances of each Orlando judge. And all along, we make sure your story is told—because without us, the only narrative is the one written by the government.

Sentencing in federal court isn’t random. It’s guideline-driven, with tables and offense levels that determine outcomes. But it’s not robotic either. We’ve convinced federal judges to consider mitigating circumstances—a child’s health, rehabilitation efforts, military service—that turn what could’ve been decades into something survivable. Many attorneys can “show up” at a sentencing. That’s not enough. You have to know each judge by name, by style, by tendencies. We do. We’ve seen how Judge Berger handles fraud sentencing differently from Judge Antoon. That insider knowledge only comes from living in this system day after day.

Why Spodek Law Group?

We’re not your typical Orlando defense firm. This isn’t a side practice for us. We live in the federal world. Our team has over 50 years of combined experience fighting in federal courts across the country. And we’ve been trusted with cases that got international attention. In 2022, the Netflix series about Anna Delvey highlighted Todd Spodek’s defense strategies in a high-profile fraud case—it wasn’t just law, it was handling media frenzy, balancing client reputation, and fighting federal prosecutors at the same time. Not every lawyer can navigate that kind of terrain. We can. We do it regularly.

Hiring us means hiring a firm that actually gets it. That skillset isn’t common. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has an army—with endless investigators, digital forensics, wiretap evidence, experts. You need counsel that can match that intensity, and bring national-level strategy right into an Orlando courtroom.

How to Choose the Right Federal Lawyer

Clients often ask—how do you pick the right federal defense attorney? Here’s what we tell them:

• You want real federal trial experience. Not just a stack of DUI plea deals.
• Ask about familiarity with Middle District of Florida—judges like Antoon, Berger, Presnell—they all matter.
• Do they have resources? Forensic accountants, digital experts, investigators. The government uses teams—you need a team.
• Have they handled complex, high stakes matters—not just locally, but nationally. Because the law the government uses against you here is the same law they use in New York or Los Angeles.

Another huge question—how much does a federal lawyer cost? The truth is: defending a federal indictment is resource heavy. It’s not cheap. These cases take time, money, experts. But this isn't about sticker price. It's about the value of your freedom, your business, your family. We’re fair, we’re upfront about retainers, and we structure payments in ways that make sense. But don’t mistake this—if you want a bargain lawyer for a federal case, you’ll get bargain-quality defense, and that almost always means losing years of your life to prison.

Protect Your Future in Federal Court

Look, I’m going to be blunt—federal cases are tough. In Orlando they’re tougher than you want to think. The government is organized, the judges enforce the law strictly, and sentencing punishes hard. Every week someone gets sentenced in the George C. Young Courthouse to years behind bars because they didn’t have an advocate who knew how to fight back. If you or someone you love is under investigation, indicted already, or about to walk into federal court alone—you cannot afford to wait.

At Spodek Law Group, we defend everything from drug conspiracies under 21 U.S.C. 846, to firearm allegations under 922(g), to wire fraud and RICO cases. We defend them with one thing in mind: protecting your future. We’ll fight for your constitutional rights, scrutinize every piece of evidence, and challenge the government’s narrative. We’ll do whatever it takes because the only loyalty we owe is to you.

Call us now. Federal prosecutors are already working against you, but with our team beside you—you get a real chance to fight back. The system is designed to break you. Our job is to stop that from happening.