If you're on our website, it's because you're facing serious federal charges – and you know you cannot afford to take chances. At Spodek Law Group, we live and breathe federal defense, and when the federal government sets its crosshairs on you – with the FBI, DEA, IRS, ATF, Homeland Security, all working like a machine – you need a team that knows how to punch back. We are that team. Period.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho, with courthouses in Boise, Coeur d’Alene, Pocatello, and Moscow, is where federal cases in this state go forward. We've defended criminal cases in every federal jurisdiction you can imagine – New York, California, Idaho, Texas – and we understand the federal court system is not friendly terrain. Once an indictment hits your name in the District of Idaho, it’s already serious. The U.S. Attorney’s Office out here prosecutes aggressively, and they don’t let go easily.

Our rock star defense team brings over 50+ years of combined federal criminal defense experience. We've been in front of federal juries in every region of the country, and our name is known because we defend the "impossible" cases. Just asking the media – Netflix turned Anna Delvey’s federal case into a series for a reason, because Todd Spodek was the lawyer who stood in against prosecutors and said: no, you don’t get to define her forever. That relentless fire is what we bring to your defense in Idaho too.

Federal Charges vs. State Charges – Why It Matters So Much

People underestimate federal charges all the time. I’ll be straight with you – most lawyers in Idaho know the state system well, but federal prosecutions are a different animal entirely. The penalties are tougher. Prosecutors like the U.S. Attorney’s Office have endless resources. And they don’t stop. In Idaho, DEA agents have targeted drug corridors from Las Vegas to Boise. FBI runs complex fraud investigations tying in defendants from multiple states. The IRS digs through years of tax returns and financial records just to build a wire fraud or tax evasion claim that can land you in federal prison for years.

Look, here’s the real difference. State prosecutors in Idaho handle DUIs, state-level theft, bar fights, property disputes. Serious, yes, but not life-destroying. Federal cases involve statutes like 21 U.S.C. § 841 and § 846 (drug trafficking and conspiracy), 18 U.S.C. § 1343 (wire fraud), § 1956 (money laundering), § 922 (firearms and weapons charges), and 8 U.S.C. § 1326 (illegal reentry). These come with mandatory minimums, guideline enhancements, and career offender classifications that can stack decades onto a sentence.

And in the District of Idaho specifically? Federal prosecutors are not shy. They move indictments quickly. A sealed indictment can become an arraignment in Boise within days. There’s no warning shot. You need to prepare before the hammer falls, or it’s almost impossible to catch up after.

Most Common Federal Charges in Idaho

Drug Trafficking & Federal Conspiracies

Idaho is not some bypass. It’s a corridor. The DEA and ATF are watching for fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine moving across state lines. One case we saw involved loads coming from Las Vegas—intercepted by DEA mid-route—and suddenly defendants were looking at § 841(b)(1)(A) mandatory minimums of 10 years to life. And conspiracy (§ 846) will drag in associates who barely knew what was happening. We've handled cases where someone was accused simply for being in the wrong car at the wrong time. And the government lumped them in with kingpins. That’s how conspiracy laws work, unfairly stacking the deck.

White Collar Crimes & Federal Fraud Prosecutions

Federal white collar prosecutions in Idaho aren’t “paperwork” slaps on the wrist. We're talking securities fraud, accounting fraud, wire fraud indictments under 18 U.S.C. § 1343, money laundering under § 1956, healthcare fraud under 18 U.S.C. § 1347. The U.S. Attorney’s Office here teams up with the IRS and FBI, puts forensic accountants on your life, drags in years of business records. We’ve defended CEOs and small business owners alike who thought “it’s just a mistake in the bookkeeping.” But the government treats it like theft from the United States. And they want prison, not apologies.

Immigration & Identity Related Federal Offenses

Immigration prosecutions in Boise and Coeur d’Alene have grown significantly. 8 U.S.C. § 1326 makes unlawful re-entry a federal felony with up to 10 or 20 years if you have priors. Couple that with identity theft charges (§ 1028) and you’re looking at stacked sentencing exposure. We've seen DOJ indict foreign nationals for simple work permit falsifications, and suddenly it snowballed into aggravated identity theft – mandatory two years consecutive to everything else. Clients underestimate it because it feels administrative. It isn’t. It's federal prison, deportation, and lifetime bans from returning.

Firearms & Federal Gun Offenses

ATF has been pursuing gun enhancements in Idaho too – charges under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) for felons in possession of a firearm, or § 924(c) for possession of a weapon in relation to drug trafficking. These carry mandatory consecutive sentences. We’ve fought cases where a small handgun, barely functional, gave prosecutors leverage to add decades to a sentence that was already too high.

People Ask: When should I call a federal lawyer? The moment you even hear federal agents contacted someone connected to you. If DEA or FBI agents are "just" asking questions, it’s a trap. If you wait until formal charges… you’re playing defense while they run offense unchecked.

How Federal Cases Move In Idaho

The federal process isn't forgiving. It starts with silent investigation – subpoenas, wiretaps, undercover informants. Then the evidence goes to a grand jury. If they issue an indictment (almost always they do), you get arrested, brought to arraignment in Boise or one of the other divisions, and now you're standing in front of the federal judge. And there's no sympathy, no pause. Pre-trial motions, detention hearings, suppression arguments, plea negotiations, trial prep – all at lightning speed.

And I've got to tell you, we’ve handled cases that—look, the point is we win. We’ve stood in front of these judges, argued motions to suppress wiretap evidence, impeached confidential informants, and shown juries where the government bent the truth. Idaho follows the national pattern: most federal cases end with prison time. The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines govern sentencing, and they are harsh. Without an experienced legal team fighting guideline enhancements, objecting to Presentence Investigation Reports (PSRs), negotiating downward departures – you’re going away for a very long time.

The Cost of Hiring a Federal Defense Lawyer in Idaho

People Ask: How much does it cost? The honest truth – there’s no flat answer. A complex drug conspiracy with wiretaps, expert testimony, multiple co-defendants? That's hundreds of hours. White collar cases with 50,000+ financial records? Even more. Immigration-related cases often require parallel proceedings in federal court and immigration review. It's intense. It’s resource heavy. And it costs more than state defense. That’s just the truth.

But here’s what I tell people: the cost is nothing compared to the risk. You're fighting for your freedom, your ability to keep working, sometimes even your ability to stay in the country. You don’t budget shop your future. You hire the law firm that has battle scars, that has real experience fighting the FBI, IRS, DEA in federal courtrooms. That’s us.

Why Federal Experience Matters in Idaho

Most lawyers here never step foot in federal court. They’re good people, competent in state court, but they’ve never stood in front of a federal judge and argued against a motion filed under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 12, or challenged federal sentencing enhancements under U.S.S.G. §2D1.1. We have, week after week, across the country. We've filed motions suppressing evidence from illegal wiretaps, compelled discovery from federal agencies, forced plea deals where prosecutors swore they’d never bargain. That’s the difference.

Quite frankly, federal cases are not for dabblers. You want a lawyer who's been in the fire, not someone learning at your expense. Many Idaho lawyers might tell you they’re "good defense lawyers." But ask them: how many federal cases? How many jury trials fought against a U.S. Attorney? How many downward departures obtained? That’s the real test.

How to Choose the Best Federal Criminal Lawyer

People Ask: How do I pick the right federal defense lawyer? It’s simple: ask about their federal trial track record. Ask if they’ve defended cases under 21 U.S.C. drug statutes, 18 U.S.C. fraud cases, § 922 or § 1956. Ask if they know the personalities of the U.S. Attorneys in Boise or Coeur d’Alene. Ask if they’ve worked high-profile matters. Look, the reality is, discretion matters too. Your lawyer has to know not just the statutes but how to control the narrative if the media jumps on your case, like they did with Anna Delvey. We know how to do that. We’ve done it before, and we’ll do it again.

Hire a law firm that gets it – not one dipping their toes into federal water for the first time on your dime. The prosecutors are already seasoned. The FBI, DEA, IRS, ATF agents working against you are experts. You need someone who’s not afraid to stare all of them down and remind them they don’t always win. We’re that firm.

Protect Your Future – Don’t Wait

If you’re under investigation – even if no indictment has been filed yet – you’re already behind. Federal prosecutors build cases in silence for months or years. Then they hit. And when they hit, it’s too late to scramble. You must get a legal team in your corner immediately, crafting defenses, locking in evidence, preparing to counter every move the government makes.

At Spodek Law Group, our promise is simple: 24/7 accessibility, individualized strategies, and absolute discretion. We don’t play games. We fight. Every case, every client, gets all of us. With over 50 years of federal defense experience, familiar with Idaho’s judges, prosecutors, and procedures, you're getting a rock star defense team that knows the law, knows the battlefield, and most importantly – knows how to win.

Contact us now for a confidential consultation. Protect your career, your freedom, your family. Don’t let the government decide your story – take control back.