Criminal Defense
Overview
A criminal charge is an accusation, not a conclusion. What sits between the two is work: the discovery, the motions, the suppression hearings, and pressure applied at every point where the government's case is weakest.
The firm handles both state and federal matters in New York. The two systems run on different procedure, different timelines, and very different sentencing exposure — a federal indictment and a New York felony complaint are not the same problem and are not defended the same way.
Timing matters more than most people expect. Decisions made in the first weeks — whether to speak to investigators, what to preserve, when to appear — routinely determine what is still available months later.
What we handle
Federal Cases
State Cases
Results in this area
4 of 125 published matters
Below-Guideline Sentence of 18 months.
Per the charges, from November 2016 through July 2018, the defendants carried out a wide-ranging fraudulent scheme that typically involved impersonating legitimate sellers of cars, tricking victims into providing payment for those cars, withdrawing the funds from banks around the country using efforts designed to evade scrutiny, and wiring the proceeds outside the United States. The government has claimed that the defendants’ scheme defrauded victims of more than $4.5 million. Each of the defendants was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Link
Non Criminal Disposition. No Jail Time
Defendant was charged with Felony Gun Possession and participating in an illegal Gambling Operation when the gambling house he worked at was raided pursuant to a Police Search Warrant. In New York, criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree is a Class C violent felony with a minimum prison sentence of 3.5 years and a maximum of 15 years. (Queens County Criminal Court)
Dismissal of All Charges
Landlord Defendant was arrested following an altercation with a non-paying Tenant. The Charges included Criminal Possession of a Weapon, Menacing, Criminal Contempt, and Harassment
No Jail. Probation
Multiple Charges After the Defendant is caught with illegal substances while having an open case for prior drug possession.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every matter turns on its own facts.
What to expect
01
Free case evaluation
A confidential conversation about the charge, the posture of the case, and the realistic range of outcomes. No cost, no obligation.
02
Case analysis
Review of the accusatory instrument, the discovery, and the procedural history — identifying the weaknesses in the government's case before deciding on a strategy.
03
Motion practice
Where the record supports it: motions to suppress, to dismiss, or to compel disclosure. Much of what determines a case's outcome is settled here rather than at trial.
04
Resolution or trial
A negotiated disposition where that serves the client, and trial where it does not. The decision is the client's, made with a clear account of the exposure on each path.
Common questions
What is the difference between a state and a federal charge?
A federal crime is one made illegal by federal legislation, or one committed on federal property. Federal matters are investigated by agencies such as the FBI, IRS, DEA, ATF, DHS and ICE, and are prosecuted in federal district court under the federal sentencing guidelines. State matters proceed in New York's county courts under the Penal Law. The systems differ in procedure, in timeline, and in sentencing exposure.
Investigators have contacted me, but I have not been charged. Do I need a lawyer?
That is often the point at which counsel matters most. A grand jury subpoena or a federal target letter arrives before any charge is filed, and what is said in that window is difficult to take back afterwards. You are not required to answer questions without counsel present.
What does a non-criminal disposition mean?
It resolves a matter without a criminal conviction on the record. In New York that commonly takes the form of a violation such as disorderly conduct, or an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal, under which the case is dismissed and the record sealed after a set period. Whether it is available depends on the charge, the record, and the court.
What does an initial consultation cost?
Case evaluations are free and confidential. The conversation covers the charge, where the case currently stands, and what happens next — with no cost and no obligation to retain the firm.
Related practice areas
Free confidential case evaluation