St. Petersburg Federal Defense Lawyer

If you’ve been charged with a federal crime in St. Petersburg, Florida, the team at Evergreen Attorneys is ready to help you navigate this overwhelming road ahead. When you’re facing federal charges in St. Petersburg, you’re not just going up against the State of Florida. You’re going head-to-head with the full weight of the federal government. Federal agencies like the FBI, DEA, or IRS don’t bring cases lightly, and once they do, their prosecutors will push for the harshest penalties possible. That’s why you need a St. Petersburg federal criminal attorney. The team at Evergreen Attorneys know the ins and outs of federal court, understand the strategies prosecutors use, and can build a strong defense tailored to your case.

You need hope and a plan to guide your federal criminal defense. Call us today at (303) 948-1489 if you are facing federal criminal charges in St. Petersburg.

What Makes Florida Federal Crimes Different From State Cases?

Many people wonder how federal cases are different from state cases. The short answer is: in almost every way that matters. Federal charges are a different ballgame, heres why:

• Federal courts have their own rules and procedures. Even the timeline and evidence rules can differ from what you see in Pinellas County Court.
• Federal sentencing is strict. Instead of a judge with broad discretion, most federal cases are guided by Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which can lock you into mandatory prison terms unless your attorney finds ways to push back.
• Federal prosecutors don’t overcharge just to bargain down. By the time the U.S. Attorney’s Office brings charges, they’ve already spent months or even years gathering evidence. You need to be prepared to present an aggressive defense to get the best outcome. The bluster that might work in Florida state courts is simply not enough. You have to have a plan, gather your evidence, and marshal your resources to get the best outcome in a St. Pete federal criminal defense case.

That’s why federal cases require a completely different strategy than state cases. Federal court cases are investigated not by local police officers who routinely make small mistakes because they are overworked. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Agency, (DEA), Health and Human Services, Department of Homeland Security, and other well-resourced agencies get to pick and choose which cases to file. They typically take their time before filing charges.

Simply put, to defend yourself against a federal criminal charge in St. Pete you need a lawyer who is ready to work on another level than a state court lawyer. There are different rules and different ways to get good client outcomes. Federal court is something we deal with every day at Evergreen Attorneys. If you are under investigation in St. Petersburg for a federal criminal case, contact us today at (303) 948-1489 so we can proactively walk you through what to expect and how to get your life back on track.

Who will hear my St. Petersburg Federal Criminal Case?

One of the first questions we often get from new clients is “what judge will be on my case” or “what type of judge should I expect when going to federal court?” It’s important to start off with the basics here. First, if you are charged with a federal crime in St. Petersburg, Florida, your case will be heard in federal court. Your case is not going to be heard in Pinellas County state court. That means you will have a judge in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida who is assigned to handle your case from start to finish.

Second, which judge is assigned to your case is a matter of random chance. The U.S. District Clerk’s office for the Middle District of Florida assigns federal criminal cases to St. Petersburg judges on a rotating and random basis. There is no way that you can influence which judge in St. Pete gets assigned to hear your federal criminal case.

Third, there are two types of judges in federal criminal court which will hear a given case. The first type of judge is appointed for life, nominated by the U.S. President/confirmed by the Senate, and referred to as Article III judges. These are the “U.S. District Court Judges” who would preside over any jury trial in your case. We have a list of the Article III judges below for the Tampa Bay division of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

The second type of judge is a U.S. Magistrate Judge. Magistrate Judges are not appointed for life. Instead the St. Petersburg U.S. Magistrate Judges are appointed on 8-year terms for full-time positions and 4-year terms for part-time positions. These judges are not appointed by the U.S. President. Instead, the St. Petersburg U.S. Magistrate judges are hired by a majority vote of the acting U.S. District Court judges (think those Article III judges we just discussed) in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Orlando. Magistrate judges do most of the dirty work for Article III judges.

For example, almost every hearing requesting bond (also called bail) will be heard before a Magistrate Judge instead of a district court judge in St. Petersburg. Most contested federal criminal motions will be first heard by magistrate judges as well. Finally, any guilty pleas will typically be in front of the magistrate judge instead of the district court judge. In most cases, you will appear in court with the assigned magistrate judge in your federal criminal defense case more often than you will go to court in front of the actual U.S. District court judge.

St. Petersburg Federal Criminal District Court Judges

• Thomas P. Barber
  • Nominated by: Donald Trump
  • Confirmed: June 12, 2019
  • Education: University of Florida; University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School
• William F. Jung
  • Nominated by: Donald Trump
  • Confirmed: September 6, 2018
  • Education: Vanderbilt University; University of Illinois College of Law
• Kathryn Kimball Mizelle
  • Nominated by: Donald Trump
  • Confirmed: November 18, 2020
  • Education: Covenant College; University of Florida Levin College of Law
• Mary Stenson Scriven
  • Nominated by: George W. Bush
  • Confirmed: September 26, 2008
  • Education: Duke University; Florida State University College of Law

St. Petersburg Federal Criminal Magistrate Judges

• Natalie Hirt Adams
  • Appointed: 2023
  • Education: Northwestern University, B.S.; Georgetown University, M.A.; Duke Law School
  • Chambers phone: (813) 301-5615
  • Chambers email: [email protected]
• Sean Flynn
  • Appointed: 2018
  • Education: Emory University; Emory University School of Law
  • Chambers phone: (813) 301-5820
  • Chambers email: [email protected]
• Lindsay Saxe Griffin
  • Appointed: 2024
  • Education: Johns Hopkins University; University of Florida Levin College of Law
  • Chambers phone: (813) 301-5260
  • Chambers email: [email protected]
• Anthony E. Porcelli
  • Appointed: 2009
  • Education: Stetson University, B.A.; Jacksonville University, M.B.A; Stetson University College of Law
  • Chambers phone: (813) 301-5540
  • Chambers email: c[email protected]
• Amanda Arnold Sanson
  • Appointed: 2016
  • Education: Amherst College; University of Florida Levin College of Law
  • Chambers phone: (813) 301-5315
  • Chambers email: [email protected]
• Christopher Tuite
  • Appointed: 2018
  • Education: St. John Fisher College; Cornell Law School
  • Chambers phone: (813) 301-5550
  • Chambers email: [email protected]
• Thomas G. Wilson
  • Appointed: 1979
  • Education: Michigan State University; Duke University School of Law
  • Chambers phone: (813) 301-5588
  • Chambers email: [email protected]

The Most Common Federal Cases in St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, with its proximity to Tampa and other major ports, sees its fair share of federal prosecutions. Some common charges include:

White Collar Crimes and Fraud – From Medicare fraud to wire fraud, white collar cases often involve piles of documents, financial records, and witness testimony. The government is equipped with an arsenal of analysts, and your lawyer needs to be ready to match that force.

Federal Drug Trafficking – Cases involving large quantities of scheduled drugs often land in federal court. These cases can hold mandatory minimum prison sentences that leave judges with no flexibility unless your attorney finds a legal way around them.

Firearm and Weapons Offenses – Federal gun laws are complicated and ever-changing. Charges like possession of a firearm by a convicted felon can add decades to a sentence if prosecuted under a punitive official.

Cybercrime and Internet-Based Offenses – Because the internet crosses state lines, cybercrime cases are very likely to end up federal court. These cases are evidence-heavy and require a defense lawyer who understands the nuances of internet offenses.

St. Petersburg, like Tampa, is part of the geographic region covered by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. There is a helpful map available at the following link which shows what counties are included in the Middle District of Florida. The Middle District of Florida covers 35 of the 67 counties in the state of Florida. Every federal criminal case that originates in St. Pete will be heard in the federal criminal courts in Tampa Bay.

What to Look for in a St. Pete Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer?

One of the scariest parts of federal cases is how quietly they’re built. Unlike a state case where you might be arrested immediately following an alleged crime, federal agencies take their time. Sometimes, investigating agencies take months to years building their case. By the time you hear about it, the government already believes it has a strong case. If you even suspect you’re under investigation, speaking with a federal defense lawyer in St. Pete right away may prevent charges, or at least put you in a stronger position if they do come.

Federal law is not something you you want your attorney learning on the job. A St. Petersburg federal criminal defense attorney does more than just show up to court. Your attorney should know the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, challenge evidence before trial, negotiate with federal prosecutors, and handle appeals or post-conviction motions. An attorney that knows these guidelines will know how to argue for reductions or alternatives to your sentence. The team at Evergreen Attorneys is well versed in federal law and appellate cases, which may be a final chance at freedom.

What should you if under federal criminal investigation in St. Pete?

First, you should take a deep breath. This is not the end of your life. It is simply the start of a long process to clear your name and get the best resolution possible.

Second, you should watch this video by founding attorney Zachary Newland where he describes federal criminal defense and your first steps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX1s8SoTRyg

Third, if you received a Civil Investigative Demand in the mail, you should read our blog about what a CID is and how Evergreen Attorneys can help you respond: https://evergreenattorneys.com/criminal-defense/civil-investigative-demand-cid/

If you received a federal criminal target letter and you live in St. Petersburg, Florida, you should review our primer on those documents here: https://evergreenattorneys.com/target-letter/federal-target-letter/

If you received a federal criminal grand jury subpoena, you can read a bit about those on this part of our website: https://evergreenattorneys.com/white-collar-crime/tampa-federal-criminal-defense-attorney/

We give you this content because we firmly believe that the only way for our clients to mentally make it through the St. Petersburg federal criminal system intact is to start with education. Once you have educated yourself, then you can move on to making an educated decision about what federal criminal defense team to trust. When you make it to that part, call Evergreen Attorneys at (303) 948-1489 today to get guidance and hope in any federal criminal investigation.

Why You Need a St. Petersburg Federal Criminal Defense Attorney?

Our law firm at Evergreen Attorneys focuses on federal criminal and white collar defense. Many other law firms will take all kinds of cases: divorce, real estate, personal injury. That’s not what we do. We handle federal criminal defense and lots of white collar crime accusations at Evergreen Attorneys. We do it at a high level because it’s what we do every single day in federal courts all around the country. If you are under investigation, charged with a crime, or needing to seek legal guidance because you are scared, contact the St. Petersburg federal criminal lawyer team at Evergreen Attorneys today. We will discuss how to craft an aggressive defense plan to make sure that federal prosecutors are not deciding how the next years of your life are spent behind bars.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida is notoriously aggressive. Most criminal investigations today can be made into federal cases. However, the federal government on the whole must prioritize which types of cases to bring, against what type of defendant, and in what circumstances. Simply put, the St. Petersburg U.S. Attorney’s Office is known for being hyper aggressive in which cases they file even among federal prosecutors.

Contact St. Petersburg Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys Today

You deserve, not need, a St. Petersburg federal criminal defense lawyer who knows what it takes to win these cases. Evergreen Attorneys are proud to defend against federal criminal investigations and charges in St. Pete and are ready to talk to you about your case today.

If you are or a loved one are seeking assistance with a federal case, contact the St. Petersburg federal criminal defense lawyers at Evergreen Attorneys  today at (303) 948-1489 or [email protected] for a free consultation. One of our senior partners will talk with you on the phone today. If you decide to hire our dedicated team, we will be ready to meet with you in person in St. Petersburg within one day.

Hope and a plan for your federal criminal defense are only a phone call away. Knowledge is power. Let us help guide you through the federal criminal defense fight of your life.