Eastern & Western Districts of Missouri
Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer in Missouri
Federal cases are built for months before anyone is charged, and they run on their own rules, their own sentencing system, and their own timeline. We defend federal charges statewide, from our office in Jefferson City, a few blocks from the federal courthouse.
The difference
What is a federal crime lawyer?
A federal criminal defense lawyer defends people charged under federal law, in federal court, by the United States Attorney’s Office. The investigation usually comes from a federal agency such as the FBI, DEA, ATF, Homeland Security Investigations, or IRS Criminal Investigation.
What gets charged federally
Drug conspiracies and trafficking, firearm offenses such as possession by a prohibited person, fraud and financial crimes, and cases that cross state lines or involve federal agencies, programs, or property. The same conduct can sometimes be charged in either system.
Why the system matters
Federal procedure, discovery, detention, and sentencing all work differently from Missouri state court. A defense built for state court can miss what matters most in a federal case.
The stakes
How serious are federal charges?
Very. Federal prosecutors usually charge after a long investigation, with the evidence already gathered, and federal sentences are often longer than state sentences for similar conduct.
The Sentencing Guidelines
Federal judges must calculate a sentencing range under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. The Guidelines are advisory, but the calculation drives most sentences, and the arguments over it can move the range by years.
Mandatory minimums
Some drug and firearm statutes carry mandatory minimum prison terms that bind the judge. Only narrow exceptions, such as the statutory safety valve, allow a sentence below them.
No parole
The federal system abolished parole for offenses committed after November 1, 1987. Good-conduct credit can reduce a sentence modestly, but most of the sentence imposed is served.
Detention before trial
For many drug and some firearm charges, the law presumes a person should be held until trial. The defense has to rebut that presumption at the detention hearing, which can come within days of arrest.
The courts
Where are federal cases heard in Missouri?
Missouri has two federal judicial districts, and Adam Bryson is admitted in both, and in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Western District of Missouri
Covers Mid-Missouri and the western half of the state, including Kansas City and Springfield. Its Central Division sits in Jefferson City at the Christopher S. Bond U.S. Courthouse on Lafayette Street, a few blocks from our office.
Eastern District of Missouri
Covers St. Louis and the eastern half of the state. Our federal defense is statewide, so a case in either district is one we can take.
Appeals from both districts go to the Eighth Circuit. We handle federal appeals and federal habeas corpus as well as trial-level defense. Which district hears your case? See the Eastern and Western Districts by county.
Step by step
What happens when you are charged with a federal crime?
- Investigation. Agents interview witnesses, gather records, and often present evidence to a grand jury. You may learn of it through a search warrant, a subpoena, a visit from agents, or a target letter.
- Indictment. Federal felony charges are generally brought by grand jury indictment, sometimes sealed until an arrest.
- Initial appearance and detention hearing. The court decides whether you will be released while the case is pending, and on what conditions.
- Discovery and motions. We review the government’s evidence and challenge what should not be in the case, including through motions to suppress.
- Plea or trial. Most federal cases resolve by plea agreement. A good plea is only possible when the government knows the defense is ready for trial.
- Presentence report and sentencing. A probation officer prepares a report calculating the Guidelines. Objections to that report are one of the most important stages of a federal case.
- Appeal. An appeal goes to the Eighth Circuit, subject to any appeal waiver in a plea agreement.
The honest answer
Do federal charges ever get dropped?
Sometimes, but less often than in state court, because federal prosecutors usually charge only after the investigation is complete. That is why the time to have a lawyer in a federal case is before the indictment, not after.
Before charges
If you are under investigation, have received a target letter, or agents want to talk to you, a lawyer can deal with the government for you, protect you from statements that become evidence, and in some cases affect whether or what charges are filed.
After charges
A suppressed search, a weak element of the charge, or a contested drug quantity can change the whole case. Where a plea is the right outcome, the charge you plead to and the Guidelines calculation are where years are won or lost.
State or federal
Can a Missouri state case become a federal case?
Yes. The same conduct can sometimes violate both state and federal law, and some cases that start in a county court are picked up federally.
Where it happens most
Drug and firearm cases cross over most often. A case built from a Cole County or Mid-Missouri investigation can be adopted by federal agents and the U.S. Attorney, especially where the quantity is larger, there is an interstate connection, or a prior record raises the federal exposure.
Why the district matters here
For much of Mid-Missouri, a federal case is heard in the Western District’s Central Division in Jefferson City. If you were charged or investigated around Cole County, your federal case may be one that sits a few blocks from our office.
If your state case suddenly involves federal agents, or you are told the U.S. Attorney may take it, that is the moment to have federal counsel. The decisions made before an indictment are often the ones that matter most.
Answers
Federal criminal defense questions we hear
How much does a lawyer charge for a federal case?
It depends on the charge, the volume of evidence, whether there is a detention fight, and whether the case is likely to go to trial. We quote a flat fee before you retain us, explain what it covers, and tell you what would change it. We do not offer payment plans.
Is a federal crime worse than a felony?
They are not opposites. Most federal crimes are felonies. What makes a federal case different is the system: federal investigators, federal prosecutors, the Sentencing Guidelines, mandatory minimums for some offenses, and no parole.
Do you go straight to jail after federal sentencing?
Not always. A person who has been on release may be allowed to report to the Bureau of Prisons later, called voluntary surrender. For certain serious offenses, the law generally requires detention after a guilty plea or verdict. Whether you remain free until sentencing is something to plan for early.
I received a target letter. What should I do?
Do not contact the agents or prosecutor yourself, and do not discuss the investigation with anyone else. Talk to a federal defense lawyer before the date in the letter. A target letter means the government views you as a likely defendant, and what happens next can shape the entire case.
Can a state charge become a federal case in Missouri?
Yes. Some conduct violates both state and federal law, and drug and firearm cases in particular are sometimes adopted by federal agents and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. For much of Mid-Missouri, including Cole County, a resulting federal case is heard in the Western District’s Central Division in Jefferson City.
Do you take federal charges in Jefferson City?
Yes. If you are looking for a federal charges attorney in Jefferson City, that work is a core part of this practice. Cases for much of Mid-Missouri are heard in the U.S. Courthouse on Lafayette Street, a few blocks from our office on East High Street, and we are admitted in both the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri.
Should I talk to federal agents if they come to my door?
You have the right to decline to answer questions and to ask for a lawyer. Lying to a federal agent is itself a federal crime, even when you are not under oath, which is one more reason not to answer questions without counsel.
Facing a state charge instead? See our Missouri criminal defense page. Many federal cases involve drug charges or firearm charges. For how the two systems differ, see federal vs. state charges.
Federal guides
Guides to every stage of a federal case
Plain-English explanations of how federal criminal cases work in the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri, from the first contact with agents through sentencing and appeal.
Under investigation
Federal charges
- Drug conspiracy and mandatory minimums
- Distribution resulting in death
- Felon in possession, 18 U.S.C. 922(g)
- Straw purchases and Form 4473
- Guns and drug trafficking, 18 U.S.C. 924(c)
- Glock switches and machine guns
- Wire and mail fraud
- Bank fraud, 18 U.S.C. 1344
- Aggravated identity theft, 18 U.S.C. 1028A
Detention, pleas, and sentencing
Talk to us
The government has been preparing. You should be too.
If you have been charged in federal court, received a target letter or subpoena, or been contacted by federal agents anywhere in Missouri, reach out before you say anything to anyone.
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