Federal court in Fort Lauderdale
Federal crimes in Broward County are prosecuted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Its Fort Lauderdale division sits in the U.S. Federal Building and Courthouse at 299 East Broward Boulevard, about half a mile from Adam’s office. Cases from Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties are heard in the same district, in West Palm Beach and Miami.
How a federal case moves
- Investigation. Many federal cases start long before an arrest, with agents, subpoenas or a target letter. If an agent contacts you, talk to a lawyer before you talk to the agent.
- Initial appearance. A person arrested on federal charges must be brought before a magistrate judge without unnecessary delay. The judge addresses detention or release conditions.
- Indictment. Under the Speedy Trial Act, an indictment or information generally must be filed within 30 days of the arrest.
- Trial clock. Trial generally must begin within 70 days of the indictment or the first appearance, whichever is later, though many delays are excluded by law and most complex cases take longer.
- Sentencing. Federal judges calculate the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which have been advisory since the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in United States v. Booker. Some federal statutes carry their own minimum mandatory sentences.
Federal charges
Adam’s practice includes federal criminal defense in the Southern District of Florida. Federal cases often involve drug offenses, firearms, money laundering, fraud and racketeering, the same kinds of charges listed on his criminal defense page. Call to talk about whether your case is a fit.
Why the early stage matters
In federal court, much of the case is decided before trial: what you say to agents, whether you are released, how the charges are framed and what the guidelines calculation will be. A lawyer involved early can protect you from mistakes that cannot be undone later.
Call Adam
If you have been contacted by federal agents, received a target letter, or been arrested on federal charges, call Adam at (954) 294-9372.
Frequently asked questions
Is a federal charge more serious than a state charge?
Not always, but federal cases follow different rules, federal prosecutors and agents usually build the case before charging, and sentencing works differently. Federal prison sentences are served largely in full.
An FBI or DEA agent wants to talk to me. Should I?
Talk to a lawyer first. Lying to a federal agent is a separate federal crime, and statements made without a lawyer are among the hardest evidence to undo.