If you're on our website, it's because you're staring at the possibility of prison in a federal case – and you already know you can’t take chances. At Spodek Law Group, we understand this isn’t some local misdemeanor charge. A federal indictment in Bridgeport means the Department of Justice wants to take your freedom for years, if not decades. And here’s the reality: this is the big stage. Federal prosecutors come armed with stacked evidence, judges here measure sentences in decades not months, and the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines can leave no room for error. You need a law firm that gets it.

We’ve built our name on doing exactly that. Todd Spodek and our team have taken on cases everyone else called impossible – and turned the tables. Many people know Todd Spodek from representing Anna Delvey (Anna Sorokin), which became a Netflix series. That wasn’t just law – it was navigating media, strategy, and a system designed to crush defendants. That’s the same mindset we bring to every Bridgeport case: loyalty, creativity, relentless effort. We answer only to you. Not the judge, not the prosecutors, not the press screaming headlines – only you.

Why Bridgeport Federal Cases Are Different

Let me be upfront. Federal prosecutions aren’t just tougher state cases, they’re completely different. When the FBI, DEA, IRS, or ATF build a case, they usually work in the shadows for months or even years. By the time you’re indicted, discovery is stacked with wiretap transcripts, seized bank records, piles of encrypted text messages, confidential informants. You might just have found out, but they’ve had 2 years to prepare. That’s the asymmetry of power you’re up against in the District of Connecticut.

Your arraignment could happen at the Brien McMahon Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Bridgeport or at the Richard C. Lee United States Courthouse in New Haven, depending on how the docket is assigned. In fact, in 2024 Judge Kari Dooley sentenced a Bridgeport defendant to more than 15 years for a gun-related case — she’s one of several federal judges here known for following sentencing guidelines closely. Judges like Stefan Underhill as well, they’re not handing out free passes. This isn’t a "friendly deal in state court" type of environment.

We’ve handled cases that were supposed to end in decades of prison, look, the point is we win where others cave to the government. Bridgeport cases require inside knowledge not just of statutes, but the tendencies of the bench, the approach of specific AUSAs (Assistant U.S. Attorneys), and the unspoken rules of this courthouse. That’s what we bring. That’s why clients trust us.

Bridgeport-Specific Federal Enforcement Trends

Right now, Bridgeport is at the center of Connecticut’s federal enforcement. Prosecutors have made clear they’re targeting gangs, RICO conspiracies, violent crime, but also massive white collar investigations. In 2023 and 2024 alone, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicted dozens tied to narcotics operations, wire fraud rings, and PPP loan abuse. About 47 local gang associates have been convicted federally. One young man – barely 25 – got nearly 16 years. Another defendant got 40 years. Do you think those lawyers walking in unprepared made a difference? Absolutely.

And it’s not just violent crime. We’re talking about charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (wire fraud), 18 U.S.C. § 1956 (money laundering), 21 U.S.C. § 841 (drug trafficking), and sex crime statutes under 18 U.S.C. §§ 2251-2252. These aren’t random numbers – they are the weapons federal prosecutors use in Bridgeport courtrooms. And if you don’t have a defense attorney who lives and breathes federal statutes, you’re at risk.

I’ll be straight with you. The FBI is chasing financial crimes in Bridgeport harder than ever. The DEA is building new conspiracy cases monthly. The IRS and Secret Service are teaming up on fraud that, at first, defendants think is minor paperwork — only to find themselves facing 20 years. Once those agencies coordinate, your life isn’t the same. That’s why having a firm like ours matters.

Types of Federal Crimes We Handle in Bridgeport

• Violent Crimes & Firearms: Federal gang indictments under RICO, firearms prosecutions tied to 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), murder-for-hire charges that carry mandatory minimums.
• Drug Trafficking & Laundering: DEA-led prosecutions under 21 U.S.C. § 846 conspiracy, kilograms of narcotics, linked with IRS laundering investigations under 18 U.S.C. § 1956.
• Fraud & White Collar: Wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343), mail fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1341), securities fraud, PPP loan cases, healthcare billing fraud, tax evasion cases led by the IRS.
• Sex Offenses: Production or possession of exploitation material, statutory cases under 18 U.S.C. §§ 2251-52, with penalties reaching decades, no parole.

Let’s not sugarcoat this. These crimes carry sentences up to life, mandatory minimums that tie judges’ hands, and guideline ranges that don’t forgive mistakes. One wrong move – one missed motion, one ignored evidentiary issue – could cost you 25 years.

Questions Clients Always Ask

How much do federal lawyers charge?

There isn’t one number. Federal defense is resource-heavy. Experts, motions, investigators, sometimes multiple years of litigation. Anyone quoting you a flat cheap fee is either lying or planning to do the bare minimum. That’s not how we operate, we put in the work because we know the fight you’re up against.

Should I hire a lawyer for federal court in Bridgeport?

Yes, yes, and yes again. It’s malpractice to walk into the Brien McMahon Courthouse without a seasoned federal defense lawyer. Even state criminal defense attorneys often get lost here, because federal practice means new rules, new sentencing structures. You want someone who knows 18 U.S.C. statutes, Federal Rules of Evidence, and Federal Guidelines in Connecticut’s district.

What is a federal lawyer called?

You’ll usually hear “federal criminal defense attorney.” The title isn’t the point — what matters is they are admitted in federal court and have actual, documented experience fighting the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

What does a criminal lawyer cost in the U.S.?

It varies so widely it’s almost irrelevant. The real question is, are you buying a discount lawyer or the defense that could keep you out of prison? Federal prosecutors don’t care you saved a few dollars, they want decades of your life. This isn’t the time to price-shop.

Inside the Federal Process in Bridgeport

Here’s what really happens. Many cases begin as sealed indictments. You don’t even know it’s coming, and then suddenly agents show up at your door, you’re cuffed, and within 24 hours you’re standing before a federal magistrate at the Brien McMahon courthouse. Bail isn’t a formality here – prosecutors argue detention, claiming you’re too dangerous or too much of a flight risk. Judges often agree.

Discovery follows, and it’s overwhelming. Thousands of pages, digital evidence dumps, financial spreadsheets. But here’s the thing – federal evidence can be challenged. Wiretap authorizations get disputed, search warrants fought, expert witnesses cross-examined. This is where skill changes outcomes. Some lawyers don’t bother fighting discovery – we fight tooth and nail. Because every suppression motion or evidentiary challenge can shave years off a case.

Trial practice in federal court isn’t the same either. The jury pool is different, the speed is faster, the rules of procedure unforgiving. Judges in Bridgeport like Kari Dooley and Stefan Underhill run their courtrooms with strict schedules. Miss a deadline and the judge might not even consider your motion. We know their tendencies, their past rulings, their sentencing trends. We analyze them case by case because preparation is what wins.

The Spodek Law Group Advantage

There’s a reason clients in Bridgeport and nationwide come to us. We’re not a general practice who takes the occasional federal case. We’re a rock star team with over 50 years combined federal defense experience. We’ve cross-examined FBI agents, negotiated directly with the IRS, exposed flaws in DEA operations. We’ve fought AUSAs on evidence suppression, and when needed, we’ve taken cases to trial.

But here’s the truth: we don’t guarantee results, anyone who does is lying. What we guarantee is loyalty and strategy. Our entire loyalty is to you. If the prosecutors dangle a plea deal, we’ll dissect it together – but we’ll never push you into a deal because it’s easy for us. That’s not what we do here. We push, we fight, we keep going as long as you want the fight to continue.

We also understand something essential: federal court isn’t just legal, it’s psychological. Judges, jurors, prosecutors – they all respond to credibility, confidence, and command of the room. That’s what we bring into the courtroom. We control the narrative. We’ve proven it in high-profile cases under media spotlights. We’ll bring that same intensity to your Bridgeport case.

Protect Your Future in Federal Court

Your future is in the balance. Fifteen years, twenty, forty – these aren’t made-up hypotheticals. This is the daily reality of defendants sentenced in Bridgeport. The choice you make about your lawyer could define the rest of your life. Don’t gamble with your freedom by trusting someone learning on your back.

If you or a loved one is under federal indictment in Bridgeport, call Spodek Law Group today. Confidential consultation. Complete loyalty. A defense strategy that recognizes exactly what’s at stake.

Our firm has gone toe-to-toe with FBI agents, DEA task forces, IRS auditors, ATF investigators. We know how to crack open government evidence and find the flaws. We fight as if our lives depend on it because frankly – yours does. That’s who we are. That’s why we win when other lawyers fold.