Federal criminal prosecution is an entirely separate legal system with its own rules, its own prosecutors, and sentencing frameworks.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Illinois is one of the most active federal prosecutorial offices in the country. Discovery can run to hundreds of thousands of pages and sentencing exposure can be catastrophic.
Logan Bierman was appointed by federal judges in the Northern District of Illinois to handle serious federal felony cases — a qualification requiring a direct judicial recommendation and demonstrated federal court competence.
Federal charges are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office under federal statutes, with sentences calculated using the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Federal prosecutors typically have years of investigation completed before charges are filed, and vastly more resources than state prosecutors.
The Criminal Justice Act Panel is a select group of private attorneys appointed by federal judges to represent defendants in federal felony proceedings. Appointment requires demonstrated federal court competence and a recommendation from a sitting federal judge.
No. Do not speak with federal agents without an attorney present. The only correct response is: 'I'd like to speak with an attorney before answering any questions.' Then call a lawyer before any further contact.
A target letter means the federal government has identified you as a target of a grand jury investigation. It does not mean you have been charged — but what happens next depends heavily on what your attorney does in the days that follow.
A target letter means you are in the government's crosshairs. The window between receiving one and charges being filed is critical. Call immediately.
Urgent Federal Matter →A free consultation means a direct conversation about your situation: what the legal options are, what the process looks like, and what comes next.