Statewide Defense for State and Federal Charges
An arrest anywhere in Florida puts your freedom, your record, and your future on the line, whether it happened in Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando, or the Keys. The Law Office of Nayib Hassan, P.A. defends people against state and federal criminal charges throughout Florida, in every county court, circuit court, and federal courthouse in the state.
Attorney Nayib Hassan has spent nearly 15 years defending clients in the criminal justice system, from misdemeanors resolved in county court to complex federal prosecutions. The firm is headquartered in Miami Lakes and represents clients across all 67 Florida counties.
If you or someone you love has been arrested or learned of an investigation anywhere in Florida, call (305) 403-7323 now for a free and confidential consultation.
Why Hire a Statewide Florida Criminal Defense Lawyer
Most people search for a lawyer in the city where they were arrested. But criminal defense in Florida is not a local license. Every attorney admitted to The Florida Bar can appear in any state court in Florida, and the laws that control your case are the same everywhere:
- The same statutes apply statewide. Whether you were arrested in Pensacola or Key West, your charge comes from the Florida Statutes, and the penalties are set by the same sentencing laws.
- The same rules of procedure apply statewide. The Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure govern arrests, first appearances, bond, discovery, and trial in every one of Florida’s 20 judicial circuits.
- Charges do not always stay where you live. People are arrested on vacation, on business trips, while passing through on I-95 or I-75, or in counties where they no longer live. A statewide defense attorney takes the case where it is, so you are not choosing a lawyer off a courthouse billboard in an unfamiliar town.
- Serious cases cross county lines. Trafficking, fraud, and conspiracy investigations often involve conduct, witnesses, and agencies in multiple parts of the state, and sometimes in more than one federal district.
What changes from courthouse to courthouse is the local landscape: the prosecutors, the judges, and how each circuit actually runs its docket. Our job is to bring consistent, aggressive defense work to whichever courtroom your case lands in.
Criminal Cases We Handle Across Florida
The Law Office of Nayib Hassan, P.A. defends the full range of Florida state charges and federal charges, including:
- Drug crimes, including drug trafficking and possession of a controlled substance
- DUI and boating under the influence
- Violent crimes, including assault, battery, and robbery
- Firearm and weapons charges
- White collar crimes and fraud, including healthcare fraud, PPP fraud, tax fraud, and identity theft
- Obstruction of justice
- Federal crimes prosecuted in any of Florida’s three federal districts
If your charge is not listed here, call us. This list is not exhaustive, and the earlier a defense lawyer gets involved, the more options you have.
How Florida Classifies Criminal Charges
Florida divides crimes into misdemeanors and felonies, each with degrees that set the maximum punishment. The baseline penalties come from sections 775.082 and 775.083 of the Florida Statutes:
| Charge level | Maximum incarceration | Maximum fine |
|---|---|---|
| Capital felony | Death or life in prison without parole | Not applicable |
| Life felony | Life in prison | $15,000 |
| First-degree felony | Up to 30 years (or life where a statute specifically allows it) | $10,000 |
| Second-degree felony | Up to 15 years | $10,000 |
| Third-degree felony | Up to 5 years | $5,000 |
| First-degree misdemeanor | Up to 1 year in county jail | $1,000 |
| Second-degree misdemeanor | Up to 60 days in county jail | $500 |
These are the general ceilings, not the whole picture. Many individual statutes carry mandatory minimum sentences, firearm enhancements under section 775.087, habitual offender enhancements, or fines above the standard caps, including fines of double the financial gain or loss involved in the offense. Florida also sentences felonies under the Criminal Punishment Code scoresheet, which can require a prison sentence even when the statutory maximum sounds survivable. An experienced Florida criminal attorney reads your actual exposure, not just the label on the charge.
Where Your Case Will Be Heard: Florida’s Court System
Florida’s state courts are organized the same way in every part of the state:
- County courts in each of Florida’s 67 counties handle misdemeanors, criminal traffic offenses, and ordinance violations.
- Circuit courts in Florida’s 20 judicial circuits handle all felony cases, from third-degree felonies through capital charges.
- Six district courts of appeal and the Florida Supreme Court review convictions and sentences.
Wherever you were arrested, your case will move through this same structure. We defend clients at every level of it.
State vs. Federal Charges in Florida
Some conduct violates Florida law, some violates federal law, and some violates both. Federal cases are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and heard in one of Florida’s three federal districts:
- Northern District of Florida, with courthouses in Tallahassee, Pensacola, Gainesville, and Panama City
- Middle District of Florida, with courthouses in Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, and Ocala
- Southern District of Florida, with courthouses in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Fort Pierce, and Key West
Federal cases tend to carry heavier sentencing exposure, better resourced prosecutors, and investigations that were built long before the arrest. If a federal agency such as the FBI, DEA, IRS, or Homeland Security Investigations contacted you, or you learned you are the subject of a grand jury investigation, treat it as urgent. Learn more on our federal criminal defense page, or call us before you speak with any agent.
Arrested in Florida? Do These Three Things First
- Stay silent. You are required to identify yourself. You are not required to explain, justify, or answer questions. Politely say you are exercising your right to remain silent and that you want a lawyer.
- Do not consent to searches. If police ask permission to search your car, phone, home, or bags, you can say no. Consent removes defenses your lawyer could otherwise raise.
- Get a lawyer before first appearance if possible. Under Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.130, an arrested person must be brought before a judge within 24 hours of arrest. That first appearance is where bond and release conditions are set. Having counsel involved that early can mean the difference between going home and sitting in jail while your case begins.
What a Florida Criminal Defense Attorney Does for You
From the first phone call through resolution, our work on a Florida criminal case includes:
- Case evaluation: reviewing the arrest, the charging documents, and the evidence to find weaknesses in the state’s case and violations of your rights.
- Pretrial release: fighting for release on reasonable conditions at first appearance and bond hearings.
- Investigation: interviewing witnesses, preserving evidence, and consulting specialists where the case calls for it.
- Motions practice: moving to suppress unlawfully obtained evidence and to dismiss charges the state cannot support.
- Negotiation: pressing prosecutors for reduced charges, diversion programs, or sentencing alternatives when resolution serves you better than trial.
- Trial defense: trying the case to a jury when the state will not offer an outcome you can live with.
At every stage, you will understand where your case stands, what your options are, and what we recommend. The decisions are yours. Our job is to make sure they are informed ones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the Law Office of Nayib Hassan, P.A. take my case if I was arrested outside Miami?
Yes. Florida attorneys are licensed statewide, so we can represent you in any Florida state court, from county court through the Florida Supreme Court, no matter which county you were arrested in.
I live outside Florida and was charged here. Do I have to come back for every court date?
It depends on the charge and the court. In many misdemeanor cases, your attorney can appear on your behalf for routine hearings, and we structure the defense to minimize travel wherever the rules allow. Felony cases generally require your presence at key hearings. We will tell you exactly which dates require you in the courtroom.
What is the difference between a state charge and a federal charge in Florida?
State charges allege violations of the Florida Statutes and are prosecuted by the local State Attorney in circuit or county court. Federal charges allege violations of federal law and are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in one of Florida’s three federal district courts, typically with harsher sentencing exposure. Some cases could be charged either way, which makes early defense involvement especially valuable.
How soon should I hire a criminal attorney after an arrest in Florida?
Immediately. First appearance happens within 24 hours of arrest, bond is set there, and evidence starts disappearing from day one. The earlier your lawyer is involved, the more we can shape the case instead of reacting to it.
What are the maximum penalties for a felony in Florida?
Depending on the degree, Florida felonies carry up to 5, 15, or 30 years in prison, and life felonies and capital felonies carry life or the death penalty. Fines range up to $15,000 under the general statute, and individual offenses can carry mandatory minimums and enhancements beyond that. See the classification table above, and call us for an honest read on your specific exposure.
Talk to a Florida Criminal Attorney Today
A criminal charge does not make you a criminal, and it does not have to define what comes next. But the outcome will be shaped by decisions made in the first hours and days, long before a trial date exists.
The Law Office of Nayib Hassan, P.A. defends clients throughout Florida in state and federal court. Headquartered in Miami Lakes, serving all 67 Florida counties.
Call (305) 403-7323 for a free and confidential consultation, or request a consultation online.