Legal Blog
Expert insights on criminal defense, federal charges, and your legal rights from the attorneys at Spodek Law Group.
What Are the Drug Trafficking Laws in Texas?
Welcome to Spodek Law Group. We handle federal and state drug cases across the country, and Texas is one of the most aggressive states when it comes t
Cooperation in PPP Fraud Cases: The Truth About What Helps and What Destroys You
You've heard the magic words. "Substantial assistance." "Cooperation agreement." "5K1.1 motion." You imagine sitting across from prosecutors, giving t
IRS Criminal Investigation: Tax Crime Investigation Defense
Welcome to Spodek Law Group. Our goal is to provide you with information that could protect your freedom, your career, and everything you have built o
First-Time PPP Fraud Offender: Sentencing and What to Expect
You keep telling yourself the same thing. You've never been in trouble before. No arrests. No convictions. Not even a speeding ticket in years. Surely
Money Laundering Charges for Misusing PPP Funds
You think money laundering means hiding drug cash through shell companies. Briefcases of unmarked bills. The Wolf of Wall Street washing millions thro
Aggravated Identity Theft Charges in PPP Fraud Cases
You're looking at your indictment. Wire fraud. Bank fraud. False statements. The charges are terrifying, but you've read about plea deals. Cooperation
Can You Go to Jail for a $20,000 PPP Loan?
You took $20,000. Maybe $25,000. Maybe less. The amount felt small enough to fly under the radar. Federal prosecutors have bigger fish to fry, right?
Statute of Limitations for PPP Fraud: What You Need to Know
You've been counting down the days. April 2020 plus ten years equals April 2030. That's your deadline. That's when you're finally safe. Except you're
Maximum Prison Sentence for EIDL and PPP Loan Fraud
Maximum Prison Sentence for EIDL and PPP Loan Fraud You've been Googling sentences. Looking at statutory maximums. Seeing numbers like 30 years, 100 y
How Federal Prosecutors Build PPP Fraud Cases
How Federal Prosecutors Build PPP Fraud Cases The investigation is already over. That's the part nobody tells you. By the time you receive a target le
Maximum Prison Sentence for EIDL and PPP Loan Fraud
Maximum Prison Sentence for EIDL and PPP Loan Fraud You searched for this because you want to know the worst case scenario. Thirty years. That's the n
IRS Criminal Investigation: Tax Crime Investigation Defense
IRS Criminal Investigation: Tax Crime Investigation Defense Welcome to Spodek Law Group. Our goal is to provide you with information that could protec
Wire Fraud vs. Bank Fraud: Understanding PPP Fraud Charges
You submitted one application. One form. One click of the submit button. So why are you looking at two separate federal charges? Welcome to Spodek Law
What Are the Federal Charges for PPP Loan Fraud?
What Are the Federal Charges for PPP Loan Fraud? Welcome to Spodek Law Group. Our goal is giving you the information prosecutors dont want you to have
Federal Probation Violations: Supervised Release Revocation Defense
Federal Probation Violations: Supervised Release Revocation Defense Welcome to Spodek Law Group. If you completed your federal prison sentence and are
Accused of Inflating Payroll Costs on PPP Application
Welcome to Spodek Law Group. Our goal is to provide every client facing federal charges with aggressive, experienced defense representation. If you've
DEA Investigation Defense: Responding to Drug Enforcement Agents
Welcome to Spodek Law Group. Our goal is to provide you with information that could save your career, your freedom, and everything you have worked to
What Is Drug Diversion?
Drug diversion is the term that ends medical careers. Not malpractice. Not bad outcomes. A federal classification that sounds bureaucratic until you r
What Are the Federal Charges for PPP Loan Fraud?
What Are the Federal Charges for PPP Loan Fraud? You probably think you know what you're facing. One charge, maybe two. Something called "fraud" with
How to Find Out If You're Under Federal Investigation
You typed this question into a search engine because you need certainty. Something feels wrong - maybe an agent left a card, maybe a colleague mention
FBI Investigation Defense: What to Do When the FBI Contacts You
FBI Investigation Defense: What to Do When the FBI Contacts You Welcome to Spodek Law Group. Our goal is to give you information that might actually s
Federal Sentencing Reduction: Compassionate Release and First Step Act
Welcome to Spodek Law Group. Our goal is to give you the honest truth about compassionate release that most law firm websites won't tell you. The syst
Federal Pretrial Motions That Can Strengthen Your Defense
Federal Pretrial Motions That Can Strengthen Your Defense Welcome to Spodek Law Group. If you are facing federal criminal charges, you probably imagin
Federal Arraignment: What to Expect
Federal Arraignment: What to Expect Welcome to Spodek Law Group. If you are facing a federal arraignment, you probably imagine a dramatic courtroom mo
Fourth Amendment in Federal Cases: Search and Seizure Defense
Welcome to Spodek Law Group. Our goal is to provide you with the honest assessment of Fourth Amendment defenses that most articles won't give you. We
How Federal Bail and Detention Hearings Work
How Federal Bail and Detention Hearings Work Welcome to Spodek Law Group. If you are facing a federal detention hearing, you probably think the key qu
Fourth Amendment in Federal Cases: Search and Seizure Defense
Fourth Amendment in Federal Cases: Search and Seizure Defense Welcome to Spodek Law Group. Our goal is to provide you with the honest assessment of Fo
Should I Respond to a Target Letter Without a Lawyer?
Should I Respond to a Target Letter Without a Lawyer? You received a federal target letter. The envelope sat on your kitchen table while you researche
Will I Go to Jail If I Received a Federal Target Letter?
Will I Go to Jail If I Received a Federal Target Letter? The question you're asking is the wrong question. Not wrong because it doesn't matter - priso
What Is a Superseding Indictment?
What Is a Superseding Indictment? Welcome to Spodek Law Group. We understand that if you have just received a superseding indictment, your first react
What Is Neither Admit Nor Deny?
What Is Neither Admit Nor Deny? The phrase sounds perfectly balanced. You don't admit wrongdoing. You don't deny the charges. Both sides walk away wit
Cook County PPP Loan Fraud Lawyers
Cook County PPP Loan Fraud Lawyers Seven people conspired to steal $16 million from American pandemic relief programs. They submitted more than 300 fr
How Long After a Target Letter Will I Be Indicted?
How Long After a Target Letter Will I Be Indicted? You received a target letter three days ago. The first thing you did was search how long you have.
Los Angeles County PPP Loan Fraud Lawyers
Los Angeles County PPP Loan Fraud Lawyers Richard Ayvazyan was convicted of pandemic fraud. He was out on bond, awaiting sentencing. Seventeen years w
Conspiracy Charges in Federal White Collar Cases
Your former business partner just took a meeting with the FBI. You weren't invited. You didn't know it was happening. Three hours later, your partner
Can a Target Letter Be Avoided?
Can a Target Letter Be Avoided? Early Intervention Strategies The question answers itself. If you are searching for this article, you almost certainly
Federal Mail Fraud Explained: 18 U.S.C. § 1341
You sent a FedEx package last month. Inside was an invoice for consulting services you actually provided. The work was real. The hours were accurate.
What Is an SEC Deferred Prosecution Agreement?
You've probably heard about deferred prosecution agreements. The SEC offers them to companies that self-report misconduct, cooperate extensively, and
Federal Wire Fraud Charges: 18 U.S.C. § 1343
Federal Wire Fraud Charges: 18 U.S.C. § 1343 You sent an email last week. Maybe it was to a business partner, a potential investor, or a contractor yo
What Is Considered a White Collar Crime?
What Is Considered a White Collar Crime? You Googled this phrase at 2am because something happened. Maybe the FBI left a business card at your office.
Seattle PPP Loan Fraud Lawyers
Seattle PPP Loan Fraud Lawyers You work in Seattle tech. Maybe you were at Amazon. Maybe Microsoft. Maybe one of the hundreds of startups that define
Should I Take My Federal Case to Trial?
Should I Take My Federal Case to Trial? Welcome to Spodek Law Group. We understand that if you are reading this, you are probably staring at the most
How to Negotiate With the SEC
How to Negotiate With the SEC You're sitting across the table from SEC enforcement staff, and you think you're negotiating your penalty. You think if
Portland PPP Loan Fraud Lawyers
Portland PPP Loan Fraud Lawyers Eric Wade Lysne applied for a PPP loan claiming his company Paradigm employed 10 people in the agriculture sector and
Target Letter vs. Grand Jury Subpoena: What's the Difference?
Target Letter vs. Grand Jury Subpoena: What's the Difference? You are staring at two different documents from the federal government. One says you are
San Francisco PPP Loan Fraud Lawyers
San Francisco PPP Loan Fraud Lawyers You applied for a PPP loan in 2020. Your startup was burning through runway. Your contractors were stuck at home.
Understanding Federal Plea Agreements
Understanding Federal Plea Agreements Welcome to Spodek Law Group. We understand that if you are reading this, someone has probably put a document in
Federal Bail and Detention Hearings: Why Federal Bail Isn't Really Bail At All
Federal Bail and Detention Hearings: Why Federal Bail Isn't Really Bail At All Welcome to Spodek Law Group. We handle federal criminal defense cases a
What Happens After a Federal Indictment?
What Happens After a Federal Indictment? Welcome to Spodek Law Group. We understand that if you're reading this, something has fundamentally shifted i
Federal Arraignment Procedure: What Really Happens Before You Ever Stand Before a Judge
Welcome to Spodek Law Group. We handle federal criminal defense across the country, and one thing we see constantly is people walking into federal arr