Criminal Justice Related Insights & Resources

The federal system has long recognized that juveniles who come into contact with the criminal justice process deserve a degree of protection and privacy that is not typically extended to adult defendants. Central to this protection is the confidentiality of juvenile records, which reflects a rehabilitative philosophy: a belief that...

As the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs approaches, the spotlight shifts from headlines to hard evidence. While the charges carry the weight of serious federal crimes, the case may be weaker than it first appears. A first-time federal judge, a media-saturated jury pool, and a prosecution strategy that leans heavily...

The Ninth Circuit's ruling in USA v. Holmes highlights a troubling trend in criminal trials—courts dismissing improper expert witness testimony as "harmless error." In Elizabeth Holmes' appeal, the court acknowledged errors in admitting expert-like testimony but upheld her conviction anyway. This article explores why relying on speculative harmless error rulings...

Ron Chapman is a Federal Defense Attorney and Author of Unraveling Federal Criminal Investigations. He’s spent a career beating the DOJ’s most difficult cases for his clients. Ron Chapman argued United States v. Campbell in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals before Judges Davis, Clay and White. Ron argued that...

In Betro v. United States, the Federal 6th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld federal healthcare fraud convictions despite improper comments that appealed to class bias, jury deliberations and use of co-conspirator plea agreements.

Donald Trump has been indicted and here is everything you want to know. Will Trump go to jail? Where will the case be tried? What are the charges? Federal criminal defense attorney Ronald W. Chapman II breaks down the charges.

The top pick on President Biden’s very short Supreme Court nomination list goes to Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson a former public defender, advisor to the sentencing commission, and D.C. District and Circuit Judge.

Two Supreme Court Justices on opposite sides of the ideological spectrum raise concerns over the lack of action of the United States Sentencing commission in resolving an important guidelines dispute.

Federal Criminal Defense Guide Federal Investigation Process Federal Target Letters Federal Indictments Inside the Federal Grand Jury Federal Arraignment & Pretrial Detention Cooperation & Proffer Agreements Pre-Trial Diversion Federal Crimes Federal Immunity Sentencing & Appeals

Understanding Compassionate Release: Navigating New Opportunities for Early Prison Release Introduction The concept of compassionate release enables certain inmates in federal prisons to seek early release under specific, extraordinary circumstances. This provision, primarily designed to address severe medical conditions or significant changes in family circumstances, aims to balance justice with...

A Comprehensive Guide to Federal Criminal Defense (2026) Wire Fraud Basics Explained by a Federal Wire Fraud Defense Attorney Ronald W. Chapman II What is Wire Fraud? Wire fraud is a federal criminal offense in the United States, charged under 18 U.S.C. § 1343. It involves the use of interstate...

A Comprehensive Guide to Federal Criminal Defense (2026) This article is an excerpt from: By: Ronald W. Chapman II Inside the Grand jury investigation Determining the “Target” of a Federal Investigation A federal criminal investigation touches many people, all with a different role in the investigation. While not every person...

 Understanding Federal Sentencing What are the Sentences for Federal Charges? Federal sentences vary based on the type of offense, severity of the offense, and prior criminal history of the defendant. Some federal sentences carry a mandatory minimum while others require the judge to determine the sentence based off of the...

 The truth about Federal Plea Agreements What is a Federal Plea Agreement? Before we dive into plea agreements, let’s clear up some common misconceptions. Federal defendants plead guilty and most do so pursuant to a Rule 11 plea agreement. Most defendants think that in order to plead guilty they have...

How the Government Reviews Attorney Client Privileged Information Using a Filter Team After seizing material that is potentially privileged through the attorney client privilege, federal agents send the information to a “filter team” previously called a “taint team” to sift through the information and separate privileged and potentially privileged materials...

The Federal Criminal Justice System Explained The first and most obvious place to begin your journey in understanding federal criminal defense and molding a strategy to effectively defend a criminal case is understanding the federal judicial system. The federal system can be daunting and intimidating. The vast resources by federal...