If you're on our website, it's because you're facing serious federal charges – and need the best possible criminal defense lawyer. At Spodek Law Group, we understand how devastating this is, and we take your situation very seriously. We aren’t just some local office hopeful for plea deals in Wake County. We are a nationally recognized criminal defense team, with over 50 years of combined experience, and a reputation for taking on the cases everyone else said were impossible. Our job is to protect you – no one else. Spodek Law Group owes loyalty to only YOU, not prosecutors, not judges, not the government.

The Stakes of Federal Charges in Raleigh

Raleigh isn't Mayberry, no matter how many people want to believe it's still small town North Carolina. The Eastern District of North Carolina hands down some of the harshest federal sentences in the Southeast. Just recently, Wilbert Lee Howard III got hammered with 16 years for narcotics and firearm charges under 21 U.S.C. § 841 and 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Another man facing violent crime charges ended up with nearly a decade behind bars. These are actual lives torn apart because federal guidelines and prosecutors don’t play games, they use every enhancement, every prior, every aggravating fact to squeeze years out of your sentence.

If federal agents are at your door – FBI, DEA, IRS, ATF, take your pick – it means the government is already deep into their investigation. They’ve got manpower, resources, and they document every move you’ve ever made. This isn’t Wake County Superior Court where half the cases drag for months and prosecutors are buried in files. Assistant U.S. Attorneys get time, energy, and entire federal task forces working with them. That’s what you’re really up against.

Understanding Raleigh’s Federal Court System

The federal courthouse at 300 Fayetteville St. is where your life could change forever. Cases here fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. The judges in Raleigh are known for sticking to the federal Sentencing Guidelines, sometimes beyond what you think is fair. We’ve seen cases where enhancements under U.S.S.G § 2D1.1 for drug weight stacked on top of § 3B1.1 leadership role adjustments literally added fifteen years to a client’s exposure.

And here’s the part nobody sticks on their shiny law firm website – these judges don’t bend easy. Federal judges run clean dockets, AUSAs come over-prepared, and probation officers writing Presentence Reports can be brutal in how they calculate your offense level. If you think you can coast into this courthouse with just a local lawyer who mostly does DUIs, you’re gambling with your future. You need a law firm that gets it.

Federal vs. State Cases

We get asked the same question over and over again: "Why did my case get pulled into federal court?" The short answer – it’s about jurisdiction and impact. The long answer – federal prosecutors cherry-pick cases where they can make big statements. Drug trafficking over state lines? 21 U.S.C. §§ 841, 846. Guns in furtherance of a crime? 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Wire fraud? 18 U.S.C. § 1343. Bank fraud? 18 U.S.C. § 1344. They have an entire playbook of statutes they can use to elevate your case into federal court, and once they do you’re looking at a whole different reality.

State cases can be serious, don’t misunderstand me. But federal cases are a different battlefield – discovery rules are tighter, you don’t get Brady evidence dropped in your lap the same way, sentencing enhancements are brutal, supervised release violations are automatic prison trips, and prosecutors are not hesitant to stack you with conspiracy under 18 U.S.C. § 371 even if your role was minor. It’s designed to overwhelm defendants, and most people break under the pressure. We don’t let that happen.

Common Federal Charges in Raleigh

• Drug Trafficking & Firearms: Prosecutors love hitting defendants with both narcotics charges under 21 U.S.C. § 841 and firearms under § 924(c). The combo is devastating. You get hit with mandatory minimums, and enhancements for “proximity to a school” or “possession of a firearm.” Sentences stack fast.
• Violent Crimes: Federal prosecutors file violent offense indictments aggressively, and Raleigh AUSAs pile on weapon enhancements, grouping violent crime statutes like 18 U.S.C. §§ 922(g), 924(c), 2119 (carjacking) together. Defendants think these are state crimes until they realize the feds grabbed jurisdiction.
• White Collar & Fraud: Wire fraud, healthcare fraud, tax evasion, embezzlement – we’ve seen ordinary professionals face decades under these. Remember, Todd defended Anna Delvey (Netflix made sure you’ve heard the name). These white collar indictments are built on paper, emails, financial data – but they’re powerful cases unless your attorney knows how to tear them apart.
• Conspiracy & RICO: Under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1961–1968, conspiracy/RICO counts pull in dozens of people. And here’s the kicker – conspiracy is so broad that just talking about a crime can make you part of it. They don’t care if you weren’t the mastermind, they’ll drag you in as a co-defendant to squeeze leverage out of you.

Federal Enforcement Trends in Raleigh

Look, I’ll be straight with you – Raleigh is a hub for federal enforcement, and they’re proud of it. In 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office under Michael Easley brought over 280 trafficking prosecutions. That’s not a small number, that’s a message. Task forces with DEA agents side-by-side with RPD, sheriff’s deputies from Wake, Johnston, Sampson counties, funnel everything into federal indictments. We’ve seen huge raids – kilos seized, firearms lined up on tables. And every time that happens the DOJ trots out press releases showing “progress.” What that really means is people are losing 10, 20, 30 years of their lives, because local cases don’t get that kind of sentencing power. Once the FBI or DEA takes it federal, the entire game changes.

What Sets Federal Defense Apart

Federal litigation is not state court with nicer buildings, it’s a different beast. Discovery rules don’t give you everything, Jencks Act disclosures come late, Brady evidence is slippery. And it’s not unusual to see superseding indictments dropped mid-case, doubling your exposure. Sentencing is driven by the Guidelines Manual, where even a few grams, a leadership enhancement, or an obstruction boost can change your sentence by decades. The timeline is insane – you get arraigned, discovery starts, and trial is set often within months. Prosecutors know defendants panic, and that’s why 90+ percent of federal cases end in pleas.

We intervene early. Pre-indictment representation is the best chance to save you. Challenging search warrants under the Fourth Amendment, arguing Miranda violations, pushing back against overbroad subpoenas – we file motions that most lawyers don’t even think about. We’ve handled cases that… look, the point is we win because we don’t sit quiet waiting for the indictment, we go at the government’s weakest points first.

Inside Raleigh Federal Court

The courthouse in Raleigh is its own culture. Different AUSAs handle narcotics versus white collar versus violent crimes, and each has distinct strategies. Some AUSAs love conspiracy counts, others push hard for cooperation agreements. The judges? They run very efficient courtrooms – strict rules, limited patience. It’s not unusual for them to shut down delays, hammer attorneys unprepared, or stick by harsh guideline ranges even when downward departures are requested. We’ve been here countless times, we know how each judge operates. That’s an advantage you need, because playing catch-up in this court will crush you.

FAQs About Raleigh Federal Criminal Defense

How much do federal lawyers charge?

Federal cases require more time, prep, and strategy than simple state misdemeanors or even felonies. Fees reflect the complexity – multiple motions, forensic experts, trial prep. There’s no flat answer because some cases involve years of litigation, but if you care about your freedom, this is the kind of investment you make without hesitation.

Do I really need a lawyer for a federal case?

Yes. Federal prosecutors win over 90% of their cases. Without an attorney who knows discovery rules, guidelines, and how federal courts really operate, your odds of walking away are slim. Going in alone or with inexperienced counsel is the quickest route to prison, plain and simple.

What is a "federal lawyer"?

It’s an attorney licensed to practice in the United States District Courts. We’re admitted in multiple districts, including Raleigh’s Eastern District of NC, and we handle cases nationwide. We know how trial schedules move in federal courts, we know how the prosecutors think, we know how the judges react.

How much does a criminal lawyer cost in North Carolina?

Local averages for state cases are one thing, federal is another. Federal cases almost always cost more – because of the filings, because of the investigations, because of expert witnesses. You're not just hiring a lawyer, you’re hiring a defense team dedicated to protecting your life.

Why Choose Spodek Law for Your Raleigh Federal Case

Here’s what sets us apart. We’ve handled nationally recognized cases – Todd Spodek defended Anna Delvey, which became a Netflix series. We’ve tried cases against the best prosecutors in the country. We’ve defended doctors accused of Medicare fraud, alleged cartel members in trafficking indictments, and professionals charged with tax evasion when the IRS wanted blood. We don’t dabble. Federal criminal defense is what we do. Period.

Our team has over 50 years combined experience. We’re aggressive, relentless, and strategic. And when we take your case in Raleigh, we know the courthouse, the AUSAs, the local agents. We file the motions that scare prosecutors because we don’t accept their evidence at face value. We cross-examine their agents until their stories crack. We litigate every enhancement. That’s how you survive when the United States government is trying to bury you.

Call to Action

Look, I’ll be honest with you – waiting is the single worst mistake you can make. If FBI, DEA, IRS, or ATF agents in Raleigh have contacted you, or you’re already indicted, then every day matters. The government is actively working to lock you away while you’re sitting there reading this. You need to fight back now, not next week, not after your arraignment. Call the Raleigh federal criminal defense lawyers at Spodek Law Group right now. We defend clients nationwide, but here in the Eastern District of North Carolina – this courthouse, these prosecutors, these judges – we know exactly how it works. Don’t gamble with your life. Hire a firm that gets it.