Keep the contact information.
Save the agent’s name, business card, target letter, subpoena, or search paperwork.
Federal Defense
Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers for EDNY, SDNY, and Investigations Nationwide
Federal cases can begin with an interview request, a subpoena, a search, or an arrest. The firm represents clients in investigations and prosecutions, including matters in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.
Bring the complete request or charging papers, including attachments, and explain any contact that has already occurred. Identify who controls the relevant records and whether a business or another person is also involved. Early review should clarify representation, preservation needs, and the response that is actually required.
- EDNY and SDNY prosecutions
- Subpoenas and agent contact
- Fraud, conspiracy, and sentencing
WHAT TO DO NOW
Get advice before responding.
Contact counsel before an interview or a substantive response to investigators.
Preserve the records.
Do not delete or alter potentially relevant records. Discuss production and preservation with counsel.
A federal investigation can affect more than a charge.
An interview request, subpoena, or search can create decisions about statements, documents, employment, business operations, and property. If a prosecution follows, release conditions, discovery, motions, trial choices, and sentencing require a coordinated strategy. The first consultation identifies the current posture and the next decision.
EXPLORE YOUR SITUATION
Focused guidance for your matter.
THE PATH AHEAD
Understand the next stage.
Investigation
Assess the request, deadline, available records, and whether individual and business interests differ.
Prosecution
Address appearances, release, evidence, potential motions, and negotiation or trial preparation.
Sentencing or other resolution
If the matter reaches sentencing, develop the record and discuss the applicable sentencing issues.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS
Results and published case coverage.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Coverage describes allegations and proceedings at publication, not necessarily a final outcome.
Reported result
Federal jury trial
The firm reports a full defense verdict in a federal jury trial in the Eastern District of New York.
Explore the firm's case record →Reported result
Federal bribery and corruption case
The firm reports a probation sentence in a federal bribery and corruption prosecution.
Explore the firm's case record →Reported result
Federal stolen car case
The firm reports a four day sentence for its client in a federal stolen car ring case.
Explore the firm's case record →
MEET YOUR LEGAL TEAM
Discuss your matter with the firm.
Russ Kofman's practice includes state and federal criminal defense, DWI, sex offense allegations, Title IX proceedings, and civil rights matters. Contact the firm to discuss the appropriate representation for your situation.
Read Russ Kofman's profile →COMMON QUESTIONS
Federal Defense questions.
Reference: United States Courts: criminal cases. Reviewed September 28, 2026.
Does an interview request mean I have been charged?
An interview request alone does not tell you the full status of an investigation. Give counsel the exact words used and any written notice. The attorney can assess the request and advise about communications with the government.
Should I bring a subpoena to the consultation?
Yes. Provide the complete subpoena and any rider or cover letter through the method the attorney specifies. Identify the deadline, who received it, and what records it requests.
What happens after a federal charge?
The path may include appearances addressing the charges and release, discovery, motions, negotiations, and trial. If there is a conviction, sentencing follows. The actual sequence depends on the case and the court.
What information identifies the federal case?
Provide the district, agency, prosecutor or agent contact, case number if known, and every page of the request or charging papers. Identify the response date and whether you are being asked to appear, speak, produce records, or address property.
What if business and personal records are mixed together?
Explain who owns and controls the records and which people or entities received the request. Preserve the material and ask counsel about collection and representation. Do not assume one person can decide the response for everyone involved.
Can the consultation address an approaching deadline?
Give the attorney the deadline at the beginning of the conversation and provide the complete notice. The firm can assess the requested action and appropriate next step. Do not assume the deadline is extended merely because you contacted a lawyer.
Read the detailed federal defense guide
CourtsEDNY, SDNY, and federal cases nationwide
StageInvestigation, complaint, indictment, trial, sentencing, appeal posture
ExposurePrison, forfeiture, immigration, licensing, reputation
Phone646 663 4430
Federal defense proof
If federal agents are involved, the first conversation matters.
Federal investigations often begin before an arrest. A call from an agent, subpoena, search warrant, target letter, proffer request, complaint, or indictment can affect statements, records, bail, charging decisions, forfeiture, sentencing exposure, and the defense strategy.Prior result categories
- Trial wins and suppression wins.
- Gun cases suppressed and dismissed.
- Numerous felony cases dismissed at grand jury after testimony.
Federal pressure points
- Target, subject, or witness status.
- Search warrants, subpoenas, interviews, and proffers.
- Guidelines, loss amount, forfeiture, detention, and cooperation issues.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every federal case turns on its own facts, evidence, district, judge, charging posture, guidelines exposure, and procedural history. Review representative cases and media coverage and client reviews.
Federal Cases We Handle
Federal Defense Strategy Starts Before Indictment
Investigations and Target Letters
Early intervention may affect whether charges are filed, how prosecutors view the facts, and whether a client should engage, decline, proffer, or prepare for litigation.Detention and Release
Federal release strategy can be critical. The defense may need to address bail packages, suretors, conditions, travel, work, treatment, and risk allegations quickly.Discovery, Motions, and Trial
Federal cases often involve large discovery, digital evidence, financial records, cooperating witnesses, expert issues, suppression motions, and trial strategy.Sentencing and Forfeiture
Guidelines, loss amount, role, criminal history, mandatory minimums, restitution, forfeiture, mitigation, and collateral consequences can drive the outcome.What to Do Before Speaking With Federal Agents
Protect your position
- Do not answer questions, produce records, attend an interview, or sign forms before speaking with counsel.
- Save subpoenas, target letters, search-warrant paperwork, business records, device-seizure receipts, and agent contact information.
- Write down the timeline: who contacted you, what they asked for, what deadlines exist, and whether anyone else was contacted.
Protect the defense
- Tell the attorney whether you may be a witness, subject, target, defendant, business owner, employee, professional, or family member.
- Identify any court dates, surrender demands, proffer requests, detention concerns, asset freezes, or travel restrictions.
- Preserve emails, messages, financial records, devices, cloud accounts, contracts, and witness information without altering anything.
Federal Case Defense Pressure Points
What prosecutors focus on
- Statements, records, digital evidence, financial transactions, informants, cooperating witnesses, and grand jury proof.
- Charging theories such as conspiracy, fraud, money laundering, drug trafficking, weapons, public corruption, cyber, or federal sex-offense allegations.
- Detention risk, mandatory minimums, guidelines, loss amount, role, restitution, forfeiture, and criminal history.
What the defense reviews
- Whether agent contact, search, seizure, statements, subpoena response, or digital extraction can be challenged.
- Whether early advocacy, proffer strategy, declination strategy, motion practice, trial posture, or sentencing mitigation can change the trajectory.
- Whether employment, licensing, immigration, business, family, reputation, and asset consequences need immediate planning.
Why Clients Call Lebedin Kofman LLP for Federal Defense
Clients call the firm when the case is serious, sensitive, and likely to affect freedom, career, business, licensing, immigration, assets, or public reputation. The firm focuses on early strategy, evidence review, proffer and subpoena decisions, negotiation posture, motion practice, trial preparation, sentencing advocacy, and protecting the client beyond the courtroom. Read client reviews and review representative cases and media coverage.Federal Criminal Defense FAQ
When should I contact a federal criminal defense lawyer?
As early as possible, especially if federal agents contacted you, you received a target letter, subpoena, search warrant, grand jury notice, proffer request, complaint, indictment, or detention-hearing notice.Should I speak with federal agents if I am only a witness?
Speak with a defense attorney before making statements, producing records, signing forms, or attending an interview. A person may begin as a witness and later become a subject or target depending on the evidence and the investigation.What is the difference between EDNY and SDNY?
EDNY and SDNY are separate federal districts with different courthouses, prosecutors, judges, local practices, and investigation patterns. Strategy should account for the district, prosecutor, agent contact, charging posture, discovery, detention issues, and sentencing exposure.Can a federal case be handled before indictment?
Sometimes early defense work can affect charging decisions, proffer strategy, subpoena response, target-letter response, search-warrant issues, detention risk, and how prosecutors understand the facts before an indictment is filed.How fast can I speak with a federal defense attorney?
Lebedin Kofman LLP offers free consultations. Call the firm or request a consultation. If your matter is time-sensitive, tell us about any approaching court date or response deadline.Talk to a Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
If federal agents contacted you, you received a subpoena or target letter, or you were charged in federal court, do not wait for the case to harden before getting defense counsel involved. Call now or send the short intake form above. If the matter is time-sensitive, tell us about any approaching court date or response deadline.YOUR NEXT STEP
Talk to a New York defense attorney.
Tell us the immediate issue and the best way to reach you. For an arrest, police contact, or an approaching court date, call the firm directly.
646 663 4430Free consultation. Do not wait for a form response when a deadline is near.