Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal Defense Lawyer for NJ and NY

A criminal conviction in New York or New Jersey carries serious penalties. It can also bring collateral consequences that affect you for the rest of your life. Peter Katz is a Manhattan criminal defense lawyer with decades of experience and a former federal and state prosecutor who uses insights to help clients who have been charged with crimes.

We handle many high-stakes charges, including federal and state crimes, appeals, and expungements. Our defense team is available to assist witnesses, subjects, or targets of federal or state investigations in New York or New Jersey.

Types of Charges We Handle

We handle complex white-collar crime charges and serve clients in New York and New Jersey, including:

• Violence
• Date rape and other sex offenses
• DUI
• Domestic violence, orders of protection, and restraining orders
• Computers
• Drugs
• Gambling
• Probation violations
• Weapons
• Blackmail, extortion, and embezzlement 
• Revenge porn
• Hate crimes
• Record sealing
• Asset forfeiture
• College arrests and Title IX hearings

As a former prosecutor and a seasoned defense attorney, I have a profound understanding of criminal law and defend clients in a wide range of cases.

Defense for Federal Criminal Charges

What must be proven and the penalties for a conviction will depend on the charge. Many federal crimes involve controlled substances, for example. Federal drug charges are governed by the Controlled Substances Act (Title 21 U.S.C. Section 801 et seq.). This law places drugs in categories ranging from Schedule I to Schedule V. Schedule I drugs are those that are believed to have no acceptable use. Convictions for federal drug crimes can carry particularly harsh penalties, depending on the schedule into which the drug at issue falls.

For example, cocaine is a Schedule II drug. If you are charged with a first cocaine offense in federal court, the penalty is up to 40 years of incarceration. If a death or serious injury occurred in addition to the drug offense for which you’ve been charged, you can face greater penalties. The high stakes of these cases make it critical to consult a criminal defense attorney in Manhattan or the surrounding areas who can fight for your rights.

Defense for Criminal Charges

Each state also has its own statutes that govern criminal matters. In New York, some of the most harshly punished crimes are violent crimes like assault, manslaughter, or domestic violence. It is often possible to convince a prosecutor to drop the case, persuade the judge to dismiss it, or obtain a plea bargain for a reduced charge. Prosecutors determine how to charge a defendant based on factors such as the extent to which someone was injured, whether a weapon was involved, the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator, and the alleged motives of the perpetrator. Sometimes, police make an arrest without fully investigating the circumstances. An arrest is a long way from a conviction.

Sophisticated and Proven Defense Strategies

You should not assume that a conviction is assured simply because you have been charged in federal or state court. All crimes must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt, and I can help you construct a strategy to make it as difficult as possible for the prosecution to meet this burden. Sometimes, it is possible to defend by raising a reasonable doubt about one or more elements of a charge.

Lack of intent may be a persuasive defense against charges requiring intent. In other cases, I may be able to raise procedural or constitutional defenses. For example, if the police lacked reasonable suspicion of criminal wrongdoing before detaining you, it may be possible to have evidence obtained during a wrongful search and seizure suppressed. There are also many charges for which there are substantive defenses, such as self-defense or defense of others.

Consult Peter Katz to Discuss Your Charges

At Peter Katz, we treat your case as a top priority. We know the stakes and strive to be available day and night. Our firm is dedicated to pursuing the best possible outcome for each client and has a record of success defending criminal charges in New Jersey and New York. My rates are reasonable, and I offer flexible payment options. Call 609-734-4380 or use the website contact form. I help clients in New York and New Jersey.