If you're on our website, it's because you're staring down federal charges, and you already know the seriousness of that. You don’t end up here because of a speeding ticket or a bar fight. You’re here because your name is on a federal charging document, or you got a target letter, or the FBI was at your door. At Spodek Law Group, we’ve spent decades handling cases like this, and I’ll be straight with you—there’s no such thing as a “small” federal case. Every one of them has life-altering consequences. Our rock star team of lawyers brings over 50 years of combined experience into every single fight, and that’s exactly why people hire us.

We owe allegiance to no one but you. Not the judge, not the AUSAs, not the system. Our loyalty is to the client, period. And that’s not a line we use—it's fact. People come to us in Denver and across the country when all the odds are stacked against them. We've handled cases that judges thought were unwinnable, prosecutors expected to be open-and-shut... look, the point is we win, and we do it in ways that surprise even the smartest prosecutors in the room.

In 2022, Netflix dropped a hit series based on one of our clients. Anna Delvey. You probably saw it, or at least heard about it. Todd Spodek was lead counsel in a case that dominated headlines worldwide. Why should you care? Because if we can stand in a Manhattan federal courtroom and go toe-to-toe in front of cameras and reporters everywhere, you better believe we bring that same firepower into the Alfred A. Arraj U.S. Courthouse here in Denver. Judges, juries, prosecutors—they all respect strategy and relentless advocacy. And that’s exactly what we bring.

Why Federal Charges in Denver Are in a League of Their Own

Federal cases aren’t just different, they’re brutal. If your case has been picked up by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, you’re already dealing with agencies like the FBI, DEA, IRS Criminal Investigations Division, ATF, Homeland Security Investigations, sometimes even Postal Inspectors. These aren’t beat cops writing citations; these are career investigators who spend years building airtight cases under statutes like 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (wire fraud), 18 U.S.C. § 371 (conspiracy), 21 U.S.C. §§ 841–846 (narcotics offenses), 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) (felon in possession of a firearm), and dozens more that carry mandatory federal sentencing consequences.

By the time you hear your name connected to charges, chances are they’ve already subpoenaed bank records, flipped informants, run wiretaps, and compiled surveillance reports. You cannot “wing it” in a federal case, you cannot learn as you go. This is why you hire a law firm that gets it. Walking into federal court with inexperience is the legal version of showing up to a gunfight unarmed.

Take United States v. Mark David Ray right here in Colorado. One count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud turned into years of litigation, restitution, prison exposure. Denver’s federal judges—whether it’s Judge Charlotte N. Sweeney presiding in Courtroom C-204 or Judge Daniel D. Domenico in another—are exacting when it comes to applying the United States Sentencing Guidelines. These aren’t state courts where personal pleas sometimes sway outcomes. These are guideline-bound proceedings, and if you don’t know how to argue enhancements, departures, variances—you’re toast.

What Makes a Federal Case in Denver Unique

Federal prosecutions in Denver move on their own rhythm, and we’ve lived it:

• Federal vs. State: Local police in Denver might arrest you, sure. But once the FBI, DEA, or IRS starts digging—your case just got elevated upstairs. The moment federal agents file reports, the system changes entirely.
• Sentencing Guidelines: The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines bind judges more rigidly than state judges in Colorado. For example, a narcotics conspiracy under 21 U.S.C. § 846 can automatically trigger a 10–year mandatory minimum depending on drug weight. You don’t get much wiggle room.
• Local Focus Areas: The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Colorado has been hammering white collar and narcotics cases. In 2023 alone, over 30 individuals were indicted in a wide-scale conspiracy tied to Denver gangs and fentanyl trafficking. Wire fraud rings are another big target here—especially if the IRS flags suspicious banking activity.
• Coordination with Nationwide Agencies: It’s common to get blindsided because Denver prosecutors are teaming up with field offices in places like Phoenix or Chicago, roping Denver defendants into what they call “nationwide criminal enterprises.” All it takes is your phone number showing up one time on a DEA wiretap out of another city, and suddenly you’re dragged in.

Types of Federal Charges in Denver

We’ve defended just about everything that moves through the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse.

• **White Collar & Fraud:** Wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343), bank fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344), securities fraud (15 U.S.C. § 78j), conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 371). These cases are bread and butter for prosecutors in Denver.
• **Narcotics Conspiracies:** Whether it’s meth distribution, cartel-linked fentanyl, or marijuana trafficking tied to interstate commerce, federal prosecutors lean on 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846 constantly. Conspiracy charges mean you can be roped in just for being tangentially connected.
• **Firearms Cases:** Felon in possession charges under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), possession of unregistered NFA firearms, or armed career criminal enhancements under § 924(e).
• **Immigration Offenses:** Cases like 8 U.S.C. § 1326 (illegal reentry after removal) are prosecuted in Denver regularly.
• **Cybercrime and Identity Theft:** Things like aggravated identity theft (18 U.S.C. § 1028A) and access device fraud connected to Denver defendants using fraudulent cards or crypto misuse.

And here’s the thing—more often than not, Denver prosecutors tie in defendants using multi-agency investigations. The IRS meets with FBI, DEA talks to ATF, they create task forces so no one slips through the cracks. We’ve defended clients caught up in cases that started from a “routine” tax flag but spun into 200-count indictments. That’s how quickly it snowballs.

Life Inside the Alfred A. Arraj U.S. Courthouse

This courthouse is the battlefield. Located at 901 19th Street in downtown Denver, it houses the judges, the magistrates, the clerks you’ll see week after week. And knowing these judges isn’t just about respect—it’s about understanding how each one views motions, bail arguments, suppression hearings. Judge Sweeney might handle evidence disputes differently than Judge Brimmer. These nuances matter. And we know them. Because we’re here.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys in Denver do not back down. They have IRS audits sitting in binders 3 feet high. They have FBI and HSI case agents lined up to testify. They pull in expert witnesses, forensic accountants, digital specialists from Quantico. You walk in thinking it's just about a bank transfer, and suddenly they have 10 years worth of your Venmo transactions. That’s what you’re up against.

The Cost, Risks, and Why a Federal Lawyer Isn’t Optional

Let’s knock out the questions we always get:

• How much do federal cases cost with lawyers? Honestly, they are expensive. Federal cases involve mountains of discovery—gigabytes of emails, wiretap transcripts, videos. They are never cheap, you’re often looking at six figures in fees for serious cases.
• Do you really need a lawyer? I’ve seen defendants go pro se in Denver federal court, and I’ve seen them get steamrolled. The prosecutors don’t go easy on you because you chose not to hire counsel. They still bury you. You absolutely need a lawyer here.
• What exactly is a federal lawyer? It’s someone admitted to practice in federal court. Many criminal defense attorneys in Colorado aren’t even admitted in federal court—so, make sure whoever you hire is actually licensed for the District of Colorado.
• Why do top federal lawyers earn so much? Because this is high-level work. The skill to negotiate a plea deal from 30 years down to 3 isn’t something anyone can do. You’re paying for expertise that can literally give you your life back.

From Anna Delvey to Denver Conspiracies—The Reality of Sentencing

The Anna Delvey case showed just how quickly sentencing jumps from “minimal” to decades. In Denver narcotics cases, I’ve seen indictments where defendants are hit with enhancements for using a phone (that’s a sentencing bump under the guidelines), or weapons possession, or leadership role. Before you know it, you’re staring down 20–30 years.

Statutes drive it. The guidelines lock it in. But judges grant variances if they’re persuaded. That’s where lawyering comes in. If you don’t argue every factor under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)—history, character, nature of offense, mitigating factors—you leave freedom on the table.

Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat this: the feds have the upper hand from the start. The whole system is stacked against the accused. But we’ve proven, time and again, that with aggressive pretrial motions, strategic suppression hearings, and relentless advocacy at sentencing, we can carve out outcomes many clients thought impossible.

Why Choose Us and Not Someone Else

Here’s what really happens: many lawyers in Denver have never set foot in federal court. They might be fine at DUIs or local misdemeanors. But federal law? Totally different universe. If you hire someone without federal experience, you’re playing Russian roulette with your future. At Spodek Law Group, we’ve been everywhere—Southern District of New York, Central District of California, District of Colorado, and all over in between. Judges know us. Prosecutors know us. Our reputation carries weight.

We aren’t about checking boxes. We aren’t about pushing paper. When you hire us, you hire a battle-tested firm that takes the fight personally. Every case gets creative strategy. Sometimes that’s uncovering a procedural violation during a DEA traffic stop on I-25. Other times, it’s leveraging cooperation in a multi-district narcotics conspiracy to shave 20 years off someone’s exposure. We do what has to be done.

Call to Action: Your Defense Starts Now

Federal investigators don’t stop and wait for you to catch up. They’re working while you sleep—pulling credit reports, analyzing cell tower data, interviewing witnesses quietly. If you wait until arraignment day to start thinking about a defense, it’s already too late. That’s reality.

Your future is on the line. Don’t gamble it. Call us right now. Don’t walk into the Alfred A. Arraj Courthouse blind. Your life, your family, your freedom—they depend on making the right choice. Pick a law firm that understands what’s at stake and knows how to win.

Spodek Law Group. Denver Federal Criminal Defense that gets it.