Portland Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers
Top-Rated Defense Attorneys Serving District of Oregon
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(212) 300-5196Lead Attorney Todd Spodek
Federal Defense Expert • National Media Legal Analyst • Portland Criminal Defense Leader
Todd Spodek, Esq.
Managing Partner & Lead Federal Defense Attorney
Federal Court Expertise
Deep understanding of federal prosecution strategies through decades of defense experience
Strong Track Record
Proven track record in federal criminal defense cases nationwide
50+ Years Combined Experience
Leading a team of seasoned federal defense experts
Featured In National Media
High-Profile Federal Cases
- Ghislaine Maxwell Juror Case: Legal analyst for national media coverage
- Anna Delvey Federal Fraud: Defense strategy expert commentary
- NBA Healthcare Fraud: Federal conspiracy defense analysis
- American Greed Feature: Expert on white collar defense
Todd Spodek in the Media
Federal Conspiracy Defense Strategies
Expert analysis on defending federal conspiracy charges and prosecution tactics
White Collar Crime Defense Expert
Featured expert on CNBC's American Greed discussing federal fraud defense
Federal Case Dismissal Strategy
Breaking down successful defense strategies in complex federal cases
What the Media Says
"Todd Spodek's analysis of federal conspiracy law provides invaluable insight into how these complex cases are defended at the highest level."
— Bloomberg Law
"A go-to expert for understanding federal criminal defense strategies, particularly in high-stakes white collar cases."
— CNN Legal Analysis
Federal Charges We Defend in Portland
Federal Criminal Defense in Portland: Environmental Capital Meets Technology Innovation
The District of Oregon: Where Environmental Protection Meets Federal Enforcement
The Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland serves as the federal judicial center for a region uniquely committed to environmental protection and sustainable development, creating federal enforcement opportunities that reflect Oregon's distinctive environmental consciousness and regulatory framework. The District of Oregon handles more environmental crimes per capita than most other jurisdictions, reflecting the state's aggressive environmental enforcement and the intersection of environmental protection with economic development, natural resource extraction, and urban growth management.
Portland's position as a technology hub in an environmentally sensitive region creates unique federal enforcement challenges involving companies that must navigate complex environmental regulations while developing innovative technologies. The city hosts major technology companies, environmental consulting firms, and clean technology startups that operate within one of America's most stringent environmental regulatory frameworks, creating opportunities for environmental violations, technology fraud, and complex schemes that exploit gaps between environmental law and emerging technologies.
The intersection of environmental activism and federal law enforcement creates additional prosecution challenges involving radical environmental groups, eco-terrorism, and complex cases where environmental crimes intersect with First Amendment protected activity. Federal prosecutors must balance environmental enforcement with constitutional protections for political expression, often pursuing cases that involve both environmental violations and potential domestic terrorism charges that require understanding of both environmental law and national security statutes.
Environmental Crime: Protecting the Pacific Northwest's Natural Heritage
Portland federal prosecutors lead the region in pursuing environmental crimes involving illegal logging, pollution of waterways, and complex schemes that exploit Oregon's vast natural resources for illegal profit. The Environmental Protection Agency's Criminal Investigation Division operates one of its most active field offices here, investigating cases involving the illegal dumping of hazardous materials in the Columbia River watershed, violations of the Endangered Species Act involving salmon protection, and complex schemes involving the falsification of environmental monitoring data by companies operating in environmentally sensitive areas.
The intersection of urban development and environmental protection creates substantial prosecution opportunities involving land use fraud, wetlands violations, and complex schemes that exploit Oregon's comprehensive land use planning system. Federal prosecutors pursue cases involving developers who violate wetlands protection laws, companies that falsify environmental impact assessments, and elaborate schemes involving the manipulation of urban growth boundaries and environmental permitting processes that govern development in the Portland metropolitan area.
Recent years have seen Portland federal prosecutors develop expertise in climate fraud cases involving companies that misrepresent their environmental impact, manipulate carbon offset programs, and engage in elaborate schemes involving fraudulent environmental consulting and green technology investments. These cases require understanding of climate science, environmental economics, and the complex regulatory framework governing environmental disclosure and sustainable business practices that Oregon has pioneered and other states increasingly adopt.
Technology Crime: Silicon Forest Under Federal Investigation
Portland's position as a major technology center, often called Silicon Forest, creates federal enforcement opportunities involving intellectual property theft, technology fraud, and complex schemes that exploit the region's concentration of semiconductor, software, and clean technology companies. Federal prosecutors pursue cases involving employees who steal proprietary technology, elaborate corporate espionage schemes involving foreign intelligence services, and complex conspiracies involving the theft and sale of trade secrets from major technology companies including Intel, Nike, and numerous startups that develop cutting-edge technologies.
The intersection of technology development and environmental consciousness creates unique prosecution challenges involving clean technology fraud, environmental technology scams, and complex schemes that exploit investor enthusiasm for sustainable technology solutions. Cases involve companies that falsify performance data for renewable energy systems, manipulate environmental impact assessments for technology facilities, and engage in elaborate schemes involving fraudulent environmental technology investments that promise unrealistic environmental benefits.
Recent developments in emerging technologies have created new categories of prosecutions involving biotechnology fraud, advanced materials violations, and complex schemes involving the theft of research and development from Oregon's growing biotechnology and advanced manufacturing sectors. These cases require understanding of cutting-edge technologies, intellectual property law, and the intersection of technology development with environmental regulations that are particularly stringent in Oregon's regulatory environment.
Natural Resource Crime: Federal Lands and Forest Protection
Oregon's vast federal lands create substantial enforcement opportunities involving timber theft, illegal mining, and complex schemes that exploit natural resources from national forests and other federal properties. The United States Forest Service Law Enforcement operates major operations throughout Oregon, investigating cases involving the theft of valuable timber, illegal marijuana cultivation on federal lands, and complex schemes involving the unauthorized extraction of natural resources from protected areas that require understanding of federal land management law and natural resource regulations.
The intersection of marijuana legalization and federal land management creates unique prosecution challenges involving large-scale cannabis cultivation operations that violate federal environmental laws, water rights regulations, and land use restrictions while potentially operating legally under state law. Federal prosecutors must navigate complex jurisdictional issues while pursuing cases involving cannabis operations that damage federal lands, violate environmental regulations, and exploit the confusion between state and federal marijuana laws.
Recent years have seen Portland federal prosecutors develop expertise in cases involving eco-terrorism, radical environmental activism, and complex schemes involving the sabotage of natural resource development projects, logging operations, and other activities that environmental extremists view as threatening to Oregon's natural environment. These cases require understanding of both environmental law and domestic terrorism statutes, often involving classified evidence and complex constitutional issues involving the intersection of environmental activism and criminal conduct.
Federal Sentencing Guidelines & Mandatory Minimums
The federal sentencing system in Portland operates under strict guidelines that leave judges with limited discretion. Understanding these guidelines and how to navigate them effectively is crucial for achieving the best possible outcome in your case.
Federal sentences are calculated using a complex point system based on offense level and criminal history. Factors include:
- • Base offense level
- • Specific offense characteristics
- • Victim-related adjustments
- • Role in the offense
- • Obstruction of justice
- • Acceptance of responsibility
Certain federal crimes carry mandatory minimum sentences that judges cannot reduce:
- • Drug trafficking: 5-40 years
- • Firearms offenses: 5-25 years
- • Child pornography: 5-20 years
- • Identity theft: 2 years consecutive
- • Some fraud offenses: 2-10 years
Experienced attorneys can pursue various strategies to minimize sentences:
- • Safety valve provisions
- • Substantial assistance motions
- • Downward departures
- • Alternative sentencing programs
- • Pre-trial diversion
- • Plea negotiations
Federal Courts in Portland
U.S. District Court
District of Oregon
1000 SW 3rd Avenue
Portland, OR 97204
Service Area
We defend federal cases throughout Oregon, including:
• Portland Metropolitan Area
• All Federal Courts in Oregon
• Population Served: 652,000+
Why Choose Our Portland Federal Defense Team
Federal Expertise
Our attorneys have decades of federal court experience and know the system inside out
24/7 Availability
Federal charges don't wait - neither do we. Available around the clock
50+ Years Experience
Combined decades of federal criminal defense experience in Portland
Exceptional Results
Proven track record of dismissals, acquittals, and reduced charges