Orlando Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

Katz & Phillips defends people charged with federal crimes in Orlando. Criminal charges fall into two systems, state court and federal court, and a federal case means the U.S. Attorney's Office is prosecuting you. When the federal government levels criminal charges against you, the consequences can be devastating: to the point they may never stop haunting your ability to work in your chosen field, to rent a home, or even to establish new relationships with others. This may be true even if you do not go to jail. If you’re convicted and incarcerated, the stakes are much higher.

Life can turn sour on a dime. A mistake or misstep, something you may wish you hadn’t done a second later, can have the potential of derailing the rest of your life. You may even be falsely accused of something you would never dream of doing. You should begin fighting from the first moment you realize you have a problem.

What Is the Difference Between State and Federal Criminal Charges?

Federal charges are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office in federal court, while state charges are prosecuted by the state of Florida. Federal cases are typically investigated by agencies such as the FBI, the DEA, and Homeland Security, which have extensive resources to gather evidence against a person. Federal court moves quickly, and federal prosecutors pursue their cases aggressively.

In the video above, our attorney puts the conviction rate in federal cases at 98%. That is why a person facing federal charges needs an attorney who can guide them through the process from the start.

How Will an Orlando Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Help Me?

You need an experienced advocate on your side, an attorney who is intimately familiar with the ins and outs of the criminal justice system in the Orlando area. The attorneys at Katz & Phillips have worked on the other side of the fence as prosecuting attorneys. We know how the state will try to convict you and what tactics they’ll use. We’ve done it ourselves, and we can use that knowledge to guide you through your problem to the best possible result.

What to Do After an Arrest in Orlando 

The hours and days after an arrest can shape the outcome of your case. If you or a loved one is facing federal criminal charges in Orlando, taking the right steps early can help protect your rights and preserve defenses your attorney may use later.

5 smart steps to take right away

• Stay calm and be respectful—arguments or resistance can lead to additional charges.
• Use your right to remain silent—provide basic identifying information, then politely decline to answer questions until you have counsel.
• Ask for an attorney immediately—once you request counsel, questioning should stop.
• Document what happened—as soon as you can, write down times, locations, officer names, witnesses, and anything you remember.
• Preserve evidence—save texts, call logs, receipts, photos, social media messages, and any medical records related to the incident.

Common mistakes that can hurt your case

• Explaining your side “to clear things up”—even innocent statements can be misunderstood or used against you.
• Talking about the case on jail calls—calls are often recorded, and prosecutors can use them.
• Posting on social media—posts, comments, and even deleted content can become evidence.
• Contacting the alleged victim or witnesses—this can trigger new charges or violate conditions of release.

Katz & Phillips can help you understand what happens next—bond, first appearance, pretrial hearings, and potential resolution options—so you can make informed decisions instead of reacting under pressure.

Contact our office to discuss your situation and learn your options.

Federal Property Crimes

Federally-owned property is protected under federal laws. These types of property include post offices, military bases, and more. Offenses that might not have had such severe penalties if they were committed on privately owned property would be punished much more harshly when committed on federal property.

It’s important to contact an Orlando federal criminal defense attorney that understands how to defend the rights of those accused of federal crimes. Federal courts have a different way of operating than state courts and hiring someone that isn’t experienced and proficient in these procedures can have a harmful effect on your case. Our federal property crimes page covers these charges in more detail.

Types of federal property crimes

The vast majority of people don’t know that when an otherwise relatively minor crime occurs on federal property – or one that involves theft of federal property – the consequences can be incredibly severe.

Of course, being charged with a crime such as theft, dealing drugs, DUI, or arson is a very serious situation whether the alleged crime occurs on private, public, or federal property. But if you’re caught vandalizing or even trespassing on federal property, you’ll be in much more trouble than you would likely ever imagine.

When a crime occurs on federal property, it’s treated as a federal crime. Examples of federal property include the following:

• Federal courthouses
• Military bases
• U.S. post offices
• Federal buildings where governmental agencies are housed
• Any other property owned by the U.S. government

Charges and penalties for federal property crimes

When we say that a crime on a piece of federal property carries harsh penalties, we’re not exaggerating. Many offenses that would be treated as a misdemeanor in other jurisdictions will be charged as felonies. Yes, you could potentially be facing a felony charge if you spray paint the outside of a U.S. post office wall, involving imprisonment and hefty fines.

A conviction of a felony offense will leave you labeled as a felon. Felon status could cost you your job, could make it difficult to get another one, and could affect your housing. There are plenty of other severe ramifications, too.

This is one of the many reasons you’re going to have to get in touch with a Katz & Phillips Orlando federal criminal defense attorney as soon as you possibly can.

How we can help with federal property crimes

Our firm has the resources needed to aggressively and successfully defend anyone against federal property crimes. Although we can never guarantee that any case will be won, we are confident in our experience and skill and have a high success rate with federal property crimes. We will thoroughly review the evidence brought against you in court to ensure that it was properly acquired.

If the evidence is insufficient to support the conviction or taken illegally, we may be able to get your penalties lessened, or the charges dropped. We believe that every one of our clients is entitled to outstanding legal representation.

Federal Immigration Violations

Unfortunately, even a small offense can result in the eventual deportation of an individual. If you or a loved one has been convicted of a crime as a non-citizen, you should seek assistance immediately.

In most cases, even if there isn’t a criminal conviction, immigration will consider it a criminal conviction. That is just one of the reasons why it is so important for a non-citizen to hire a skilled attorney that he or she can trust. Permanent exclusion and deportation are often the results of a criminal charge against a non-citizen.

Our immigration violations page covers these charges in more detail.

Types of immigration violations

With the increased focus on stemming the tide of illegal immigration, authorities are, of course, cracking down like never before. Immigration violations are federal crimes. Adults can be sent to federal prison, while their children can be forced to stay in a federally run shelter or in a foster home.

Incarceration in federal prison for an immigration conviction can last for months – or possibly even years. If convicted, they might find it almost impossible to ever legally migrate to the U.S.

There are two main types of federal immigration violations – illegal entry and illegal re-entry. If someone tries to enter a U.S. point of entry without proper documentation or makes a false statement while trying to enter, they can be charged with a federal crime.

Illegal re-entry is similar. It’s considered a federal crime to try to re-enter the U.S. after having been deported, denied admission, or after having been ordered to be removed from the country.

Charges and penalties of immigration violations

The penalty for illegal entry can be six months in jail and a fine, even for a first offense. Illegal re-entry carries a prison sentence of up to two years in most instances. However, if the person being charged had been removed from the U.S. for committing certain kinds of crimes, they could be imprisoned for as long as 20 years.

For example, if you were removed from the U.S. after being convicted of a felony or three misdemeanors (any of which involved crimes against another person or drugs), you’ll potentially be looking at a 10-year prison sentence. If your crime was an aggravated felony, the potential jail sentence could be 20 years.

How we can help you and your family with immigration violations

At Katz & Phillips, P.A., we offer skilled and high-quality legal representation to all of our clients. Immigration laws are always changing, so it’s extremely important to hire an attorney who is knowledgeable and efficient in immigration law.

In addition, it is helpful to have an attorney who has experience dealing with homeland security and other federal government agencies. Some charges have a surprisingly large effect on one’s immigration status. Any attorney hired should first thoroughly review the immigration consequences of a crime so that the proper actions can be taken. In some cases, the only way to avoid immigration problems is to obtain a dismissal.

An offense that may not affect another’s life broadly can utterly ruin the future of someone who is not a citizen. Don’t allow your future to be decided by another; hire an attorney who can review your case and start assisting you immediately.

Other Federal Charges

Federal charges can also arise in drug, firearm, and fraud cases. Our pages on drug trafficking, gun crimes, and white collar crimes explain each in more detail.

When to hire an attorney

As you can see, the potential punishments for either of these federal crimes are severe. U.S. prosecutors are very experienced and very powerful. But that doesn’t mean they can’t make mistakes.

You’re going to need legal help, and you’re going to need it quickly. A Katz & Phillips Orlando federal crime attorney will help you stand up to this intimidating opposition, and determine the best possible strategy for your defense.

Contact our Orlando federal criminal defense attorneys today

Being convicted of a crime listed here will change the rest of your life. You need an attorney with extensive success and experience in defending clients against the federal government.

You need the Orlando criminal defense attorneys from Katz & Phillips. Contact us now for a free consultation and take the first step towards protecting your future.

You need the Orlando criminal defense attorneys from Katz & Phillips. Contact us now for a free consultation and take the first step towards protecting your future.