Experience. Skill. Results.
At Colasessano Law, We Are Always Ready to Defend Your Rights & Deliver Results
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Aggressive Representation, Not Afraid to go to Trial
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A Criminal Defense Trial Attorney in Your Corner
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Client-Focused Approach
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Over 30 Years of Experience
When Federal Agents Come Knocking: What Marion County Residents Need to Know
A federal investigation rarely begins with an arrest. More often, Marion County residents first learn of federal interest when agents appear at their home or workplace, when a target letter arrives in the mail, when property is seized under a federal warrant, or when they receive a grand jury subpoena for testimony or documents. By that point, the investigation may have been underway for months.
The distinction between being a witness, a subject, or a target of a federal investigation matters enormously, and it isn’t always clear from the outside. Federal agents aren’t required to tell you which category you fall into, and what they say in their initial contact is carefully considered. What you say in response should be equally careful, which means it should happen only with legal counsel involved.
Speaking with federal investigators without an attorney present carries significant risk. Even a good-faith attempt to cooperate can result in a false statement charge under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 if agents believe any part of what you said was inaccurate. That charge can exist entirely independently of whatever the underlying investigation involves.
Early representation by a federal criminal defense attorney can make a meaningful difference at this stage. Counsel can communicate directly with prosecutors, help assess the scope of the government’s activity, protect you from making statements that could be used against you later, and in some cases engage with the U.S. Attorney’s Office before an indictment is filed. A grand jury subpoena requires a careful, legally informed response. It doesn’t automatically mean you will be charged, but it does mean the government has a formal interest in information connected to you.
If federal agents have contacted you, if you’ve received correspondence from a federal agency, or if you believe you may be under federal investigation, contact us before you respond to anything.
Federal Sentencing in the Southern District of Indiana
One of the most significant differences between federal and state charges is what happens at sentencing. In federal court, outcomes are shaped by the United States Sentencing Guidelines: a structured framework that produces a recommended sentencing range based on the nature of the offense, the defendant’s criminal history, and a range of applicable enhancements.
How the Guideline Calculation Works
The calculation can be complex. In federal drug cases, the quantity of controlled substance drives the offense level. In fraud and financial crime cases, the loss amount determines much of the guideline range. Firearm enhancements, role-in-the-offense adjustments, and whether the defendant demonstrates acceptance of responsibility can each shift the range significantly. Mandatory minimum statutes in drug and firearm cases can remove judicial discretion entirely for certain offenses.
Federal defendants also serve time differently than those sentenced in Indiana state court. Because parole has been eliminated in the federal system, a defendant generally serves at least 85 percent of the sentence the court imposes. A five-year federal sentence often means close to five years served.
Defense Work at Sentencing
Defense work at sentencing isn’t limited to what happens in the courtroom on sentencing day. It includes challenging the government’s guideline calculations, objecting to enhancements that aren’t supported by the evidence, presenting mitigation that speaks to the individual rather than the offense, and arguing for a variance below the guideline range when the circumstances warrant it.
For Marion County clients whose cases proceed to conviction, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reviews federal appeals from the Southern District of Indiana. Appeal rights and deadlines are typically short, and the terms of a plea agreement may affect what issues can be raised on appeal. Understanding these downstream consequences is part of the work we do throughout a federal case, not just at the end of it.
