Representative Federal Matters

This page describes, in general terms, the kinds of federal criminal matters Elizabeth Franklin-Best, P.C., handles. The descriptions are illustrative. They do not identify clients, disclose confidential information, or make promises or predictions about any future case.

Our purpose here is to give a realistic sense of our federal experience across the trial, appellate, and post-conviction stages of a case.

If you would like to discuss your federal matter, we offer a one-hour initial consultation to review the case and options.

How to Read This Page

Every federal case is different. The facts, the charges, the district, the evidence, and the procedural posture all shape what is possible. For that reason, this page does not present case-by-case outcomes. Instead, it describes the categories of federal work we do, so you can see whether your matter is the kind of case we handle.

Trial-Level Federal Defense

We represent people under federal investigation and facing federal charges across a broad range of offense types. Representative trial-level work includes:

• White-collar and fraud matters — including wire fraud, mail fraud, bank fraud, securities fraud, and healthcare fraud investigations and prosecutions.
• Public corruption and money laundering matters — bribery, honest-services fraud, and laundering and structuring charges.
• Federal drug and firearms matters — trafficking, conspiracy, and possession charges.
• Representation during the federal criminal process — responding to target letters and grand jury subpoenas, pretrial litigation, and plea negotiations.
• Federal sentencing advocacy — Guidelines analysis, loss-calculation disputes, and sentencing mitigation.

Federal Appeals

Appellate work is central to our practice. Representative appellate matters include direct appeals to the United States Courts of Appeals, challenging trial errors, evidentiary rulings, and sentencing determinations, across a range of federal offenses. Our federal criminal appeals hub explains how the appellate process works and what it can and cannot accomplish.

Post-Conviction and Sentence-Reduction Matters

We also handle the proceedings that can follow a direct appeal. Representative post-conviction work includes:

• Motions under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, including claims of ineffective assistance of counsel.
• Habeas corpus and other post-conviction relief.
• Compassionate release motions based on extraordinary and compelling reasons.
• Matters involving supervised release and the collateral consequences of a federal conviction.

An Important Note on Results

The descriptions on this page are general and illustrative. They are not a guarantee, a warranty, or a prediction regarding the outcome of any matter. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case, because every case turns on its own unique facts, evidence, and law.

Applied Insight: The right question is not “what happened in another case” but “what is realistically possible in mine.” That is exactly what an initial consultation is designed to answer — a candid, case-specific assessment rather than a comparison to someone else’s matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Talk With a Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you are facing a federal investigation or charge — or are considering an appeal or post-conviction motion — we offer a one-hour initial consultation to review the matter and the path forward.