“My clients know that I do the work. I do not cut corners when it comes to a federal case or a white collar case. The government may come in with agents, endless documents, and significant resources, but none of that stops me from exploring every possible avenue of success for my clients—whether through motions, trial, negotiations, or other forms of mitigation. Communication is absolutely key, because this is the client’s life and future. I take on the burden of getting them the best result, but the client remains an integral part of their own defense.” – David Tarras, Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

In this video, South Florida federal criminal defense attorney David Tarras, founder of Tarras Defense, explains his philosophy in representing clients facing serious federal charges, white collar crime allegations, and government investigations.

David emphasizes the importance of:

• Doing the work and leaving no stone unturned in federal cases
• Challenging government resources, documents, and agents with strategic motions and trial preparation
• Using negotiation, trial advocacy, and mitigation strategies to secure the best outcome
• Maintaining open and consistent client communication at every stage of the defense
• Building trust and collaboration with clients, making them integral to their defense strategy

At Tarras Defense, every client receives personalized representation, strategic precision, and relentless advocacy from a nationally recognized trial lawyer. David believes that communication and collaboration are critical to building a strong defense, especially in high-stakes cases involving fraud, money laundering, healthcare investigations, wire fraud, PPP loan fraud, cryptocurrency enforcement, and other complex white collar matters.

“When a client comes in and they’re facing the federal criminal justice system, yes, freedom is paramount, but there are so many other collateral consequences that come along with a criminal prosecution: their reputation, their livelihood, their ability to earn an income, their ability to continue supporting their family. Winning a case does not solve all the problems. You have to take a holistic approach, because an indictment or criminal charge brings with it so many other issues—loss of licensure, loss of income, and long-term damage if you wait too long to prepare.” – David Tarras, Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

In this video, South Florida federal defense attorney David Tarras, founder of Tarras Defense, explains why collateral consequences of federal charges must be addressed from the very beginning of a case.

David emphasizes that:

• Freedom is only one piece of the puzzle in federal defense
• Indictments and convictions can cause loss of professional licenses (medical, financial, legal, real estate, etc.)
• Criminal charges often lead to job loss, income disruption, and financial instability
• Reputational harm can affect future career opportunities, business relationships, and community standing
• Family and dependents often suffer if consequences are not proactively managed
• A holistic defense strategy prepares clients for both the courtroom and the broader impact on their lives

“Clients need to start preparing early—not just for trial or sentencing, but for the collateral consequences that follow an indictment. That’s where we focus on protecting their families, their careers, and their futures,” David explains.

“Right out of law school in New York, I came down to South Florida and joined the Palm Beach County Public Defender’s Office. You are thrown right into the fire there—handling appeals, learning objections and the black letter of the law, and then moving directly into the trial division. I was trying cases on a weekly basis, from domestic violence to homicide. That experience was invaluable to developing my litigation skills, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.” – David Tarras, Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

In this video, South Florida federal defense attorney David Tarras, founder of Tarras Defense, shares how his early years as a trial lawyer shaped the relentless approach he brings to today’s high-stakes federal cases. David explains that his career began with:

• Appeals work, mastering objections and legal fundamentals in just three months
• Trial division experience, trying multiple cases per week across the criminal spectrum
• Handling serious cases, ranging from domestic violence and theft to complex homicides
• Managing high caseloads, learning to prepare and advocate under intense pressure

From there, David transitioned into private practice, where he now represents clients in major federal criminal and white collar cases. His current practice includes:

• Large-scale drug trafficking and cartel cases
• Healthcare fraud and Medicare fraud investigations
• Securities fraud, Ponzi schemes, and investment fraud
• Wire fraud, mail fraud, and financial crimes
• Money laundering and cryptocurrency enforcement
• Conspiracy charges across all federal crime categories
• Cyber crime and technology-driven federal offenses
• “Whether I am defending a client in a drug cartel case, a securities fraud Ponzi scheme, or a healthcare fraud indictment, I approach every case the same way: from a trial-forward perspective. By looking ahead to trial and working backward, I ensure that every motion is filed, every detail is covered, and every angle is considered. No stone is left unturned, and the client receives a complete, holistic defense,” David explains.

What should you do if federal agents or prosecutors contact you? According to federal criminal defense attorney David Tarras, the biggest mistake people make is speaking to the feds, turning over documents, or trying to “explain themselves” without a lawyer present.

In this video, David explains:

• Why you should never talk to federal agents without counsel
• The dangers of handing over documents before consulting an attorney
• Why hiring a lawyer does not make you “look guilty”
• How an experienced federal defense lawyer can communicate with investigators while protecting your rights
• Why there are always options, even if the feds show up at your home, work, or serve you with a subpoena
• The reality: Anything you say can be used against you—but exercising your right to counsel cannot. Federal agents often prefer when attorneys are involved, because it ensures communication is clear and rights are not violated.

The Department of Justice is not just bringing traditional money laundering cases anymore. Federal prosecutors rely primarily on Title 18 U.S.C. § 1956 and 18 U.S.C. § 1957, statutes that prohibit the use or concealment of unlawful proceeds. While those laws have been in place for decades, today they are being applied in modern and complex ways—especially in cases involving cryptocurrency, cross-border transfers, and sanctioned countries.” – David Tarras, Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

In this video, South Florida federal defense attorney David Tarras, founder of Tarras Defense, explains how money laundering cases are evolving and why defending them requires both legal skill and technological knowledge.

David highlights:

• Money laundering statutes: 18 U.S.C. § 1956 and 18 U.S.C. § 1957
• How laundering charges often connect to fraud cases (wire fraud, healthcare fraud, PPP loan fraud)
• Traditional “cleaning money” concepts applied to modern financial systems
• The DOJ’s renewed focus on overseas transactions and sanctioned countries
• The rise of cryptocurrency money laundering as federal enforcement priority
• How foreign actors collaborate with domestic individuals to move unlawful funds into the United States

“The statutes are the same as they’ve been for decades—it’s still about disguising money—but today we’re seeing them used in new and inventive ways. Cryptocurrency, overseas transfers, and sanctions violations are at the forefront of federal money laundering prosecutions,” David explains.

For individuals and businesses facing money laundering allegations, early representation by an experienced federal criminal defense lawyer is critical. These cases often involve asset seizures, forfeiture actions, parallel fraud charges, and international investigations.

Getting on board early in an investigation is crucial. A lot of the best work that federal criminal defense attorneys can do, especially white collar specialists like myself, comes at the early stages. The way the feds build cases is on a rolling basis—one witness leads to another, which leads to bank records, and eventually they’ve created their own story of why your client deserves to be charged. Coming in early allows us to change that narrative before it hardens.” – David Tarras, Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

In this video, South Florida federal criminal defense attorney David Tarras, founder of Tarras Defense, explains why early representation in a federal investigation is often the most important step a client can take.

David emphasizes that:

• Federal cases start small—with a complaint or a single witness—and grow into a larger theory built by prosecutors and agents
• Every new witness, bank record, or document adds momentum to the government’s narrative
• Without intervention, the government often builds its case without ever hearing the defense’s perspective
• Early intervention gives the defense a chance to shape the story, present alternative narratives, and prevent prosecutors from locking into a one-sided theory
• Once the government’s theory is established, it is much harder (though not impossible) to roll back
• “Getting in early allows us to stop the government’s narrative, or at least keep it on a proper track. Once the ball gets rolling, it is very difficult to unroll,” David explains.

For individuals or businesses who learn they are the subject of a DOJ, FBI, SEC, IRS, DEA, or other federal agency investigation, hiring a defense lawyer immediately can make the difference between charges being filed—or avoided altogether.

“The Department of Justice and its agencies are changing regulations on a daily basis. Even companies and individuals who believe they are perfectly compliant under one set of rules may find those rules change tomorrow—whether due to a new administration or a new Attorney General.” – David Tarras, Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

In this video, David Tarras, founder of Tarras Defense, explains why compliance is critical for businesses and individuals navigating federal regulations and modern financial markets.

David highlights that:

• DOJ regulations and enforcement priorities can change overnight
• Companies should not wait until there is an investigation to involve an attorney
• Proactive compliance reviews of financial transactions and cross-border activity are essential
• Cryptocurrency and digital asset transfers create new risks that must be evaluated
• Having a knowledgeable lawyer issue compliance opinions early can prevent liability later

As David explains: “If you do the compliance from the get-go, and if you have an attorney who understands the modern trends, then you don’t have to worry about the bad stuff later on. Focusing on compliance—even if you fully believe you’re compliant—is the right thing to do from the start.”

There are a variety of different charges that can fall under the category of cyber crime. These can be financial cases, wire fraud involving the internet, cross-border transactions, identity theft, money laundering, drug-related cases, and even misconduct charges. The Department of Justice has made cyber crime one of its major enforcement priorities, because they are still figuring out how to regulate this ever-expanding cyber world we live in—including AI, hacking, and cross-border digital threats.” – David Tarras, Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

In this video, South Florida federal criminal defense attorney David Tarras, founder of Tarras Defense, explains the rise of cyber crime charges and how the DOJ is aggressively pursuing them. He highlights how today’s cyber prosecutions involve not just traditional online identity theft, but also sophisticated hacking operations by domestic actors and foreign governments like North Korea and China, often using artificial intelligence (AI) to exploit vulnerabilities.

David emphasizes that defending cyber crime cases requires more than courtroom skill—it requires deep knowledge of technology. A successful defense depends on understanding:

• How AI systems and tools are being leveraged by hackers and investigators
• Metadata, digital footprints, and how information travels online
• IP addresses, servers, and cross-border jurisdictional issues
• The way federal agencies build cyber crime cases through surveillance and digital forensics

“Cyber crime is a broad topic, but it is certainly a major enforcement goal, if not the predominant enforcement goal, of the Department of Justice right now,” David explains.

For individuals and companies facing cyber crime allegations—whether involving financial fraud, cryptocurrency, money laundering, or hacking—early representation by an experienced federal defense lawyer is essential.