Contra Costa County Federal Crime Lawyer
Daniel Horowitz: Expert Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
Daniel Horowitz is a seasoned federal criminal defense attorney in Lafayette (Contra Costa County) with a track record of litigating some of the most intricate federal cases at the trial level.
While his office is Contra Costa County based (Near the United States District Court, Northern District of California) his practice has taken him nationwide and worldwide.
Daniel Horowitz: High-Profile Federal Court Representation
Daniel Horowitz has represented numerous high-profile clients, including former Ukrainian Prime Minister Pavel Lazarenko in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Horowitz managed the international charges against Lazarenko, which spanned multiple countries such as Ukraine, Russia, Turkey, Canada, the Netherlands, and Cyprus. These charges primarily involved fraud related to natural gas transactions and state-owned farm activities. Despite the severity of the allegations, Horowitz’s relentless efforts led to the dismissal of all international counts by United States District Court Judge Martin Jenkins, who now serves on the California Supreme Court. Lazarenko’s case was marked by political intrigue, with recordings revealing discussions among Ukrainian leaders about targeting political opponents. Horowitz’s defense highlighted these political motivations, ultimately vindicating Lazarenko on most charges.
This case underscores the importance of expert legal representation in navigating complex international legal battles and protecting the reputations of those unjustly accused.
Other High-Profile Federal Cases
Horowitz has also defended an alleged leader of the MS-13 gang operating out of Dolores Park in San Francisco. His federal defense work spans globally, including cases in China, Ukraine, Canada, and the Netherlands. Recently, Daniel’s expertise has been showcased on national television networks, where he has provided analysis on the federal criminal charges against former President Donald Trump. (Note: Attorney Horowitz is not the Daniel Horowitz of the Conservative Review.) He represented Sean Twomey, accused of operating the largest illegal gun sales organization in the United States, and successfully set aside the conviction of Michael Dutkel in a groundbreaking habeas corpus petition raising jury misconduct.
Daniel was instrumental in the Bench/Bar Committee that developed the initial criminal discovery rules for electronic materials in federal criminal defense. He pioneered the use of MP3 players for criminal defendants in federal custody, enabling them to review federal wiretaps and witness interviews before trial. Alongside Jim Davis, Daniel was at the forefront of integrating electronic discovery in criminal cases, and he was a beta tester for now-established software like DTSearch and Casemap.
When facing federal criminal charges or investigations, having an experienced federal lawyer is crucial. Daniel Horowitz stands out as a top choice for aggressive and effective federal defense.
What Are Federal Crimes?
Federal crimes are offenses created and prosecuted by the United States government, rather than individual states. These crimes are typically defined by statutes enacted by Congress.
The number of federal crimes is extensive. For a comprehensive review of federal criminal cases, visit our blog.
List of All Federal Crimes under Title 18 & 26
What are Some Common Federal Crimes?
Federal crimes are often related to specific industries. SEC violations, regulatory violations, FARA and other foreign business violations constitute federal crimes. More commonly the most common federal crimes are:
Medical Fraud: Healthcare Fraud AKS, Stark Law violations, state crimes such as violations of California Penal Code section 550, Worker's Compensation Fraud.
(Read About DME & Telemedicine Fraud)
Counterfeiting: Producing fake currency or forging government documents including immigration documents.
Bank Robbery: Robbing a bank that is federally insured.
Drug Trafficking: Violations of federal drug laws, especially when drugs are transported across state lines or national borders. These crimes often carry huge penalties even for drugs such as marijuana. (Federal Drug Crime Page)
Mail and Wire Fraud: Using the mail or electronic communications to carry out fraudulent schemes. Other that simple robbery, car theft and garden variety crimes, almost any ongoing fraud scheme will be charged at least in part as mail fraud or wire fraud.
Tax Evasion: Deliberately avoiding payment of taxes owed to the federal government. Hunter Biden once charged with tax evasion in large amounts has quickly been tagged with even small violations such as reporting a payment to a call girl as a business expense. Tax crimes are usually not filed for small amounts but once a federal tax charges if filed, even the small tax frauds are included either as a separate charge, part of the loss amount or as proof at trial of a broad criminal intent.
Terrorism: Engaging in activities that involve violent or dangerous acts intended to intimidate or coerce the civilian population, influence government policy, or affect the conduct of government.
Immigration Violations: Violations of federal immigration laws, such as illegal entry into the country or visa fraud.
White Collar Crimes: Various financial crimes like insider trading, securities fraud, and embezzlement that fall under federal jurisdiction. The Horowitz office has defended some of the larger white collar cases in this country. Daniel Horowitz’ defense of former Prime Minister of Ukraine Pavel Lazarenko involved (at one point) a government claim of over $ 1 billion dollars in loss.
Cybercrimes: Offenses involving computer systems, networks, and data that may have a national impact. Daniel Horowitz has extensive background in tech as does his legal team.
Navigating Federal Sentencing Guidelines
Understanding federal sentencing guidelines can be as complex as solving quadratic equations. For financial crimes, the “loss amount” is the primary factor influencing the penalty. However, determining this amount can be contentious. Is it based on retail or wholesale value, intended loss, or actual loss? Different federal districts may have varying rules, and some issues remain unresolved.
The federal sentencing guidelines are established by a committee and are followed by all federal judges. These guidelines provide a framework for sentencing but allow for some judicial discretion.
Financial Crimes
In financial crimes, the loss amount significantly impacts the severity of the sentence. The debates around calculating this amount are extensive and nuanced, often leading to different interpretations and outcomes.
Drug Cases
In drug-related offenses, mandatory minimum sentences play a crucial role. The possibility of reducing charges to lesser offenses, such as “phone counts,” can add to the complexity. Applying fundamental logic or consistency to these rules can be challenging due to their intricate nature.
Navigating these guidelines requires a deep understanding of the legal framework and the ability to interpret and argue the nuances effectively.
Federal Sentencing Guidelines
The Federal Sentencing Guidelines are a set of rules established by the United States Sentencing Commission to create a uniform policy for sentencing individuals and organizations convicted of felonies and serious misdemeanors in federal courts1. These guidelines were introduced in 1987 to address disparities in sentencing and ensure consistency across the federal judicial system.
Federal Sentencing Guidelines:
Structured Sentencing: The guidelines provide a framework for judges to determine appropriate sentences based on the severity of the offense and the defendant’s criminal history. This structured approach helps to reduce variability in sentencing.
Offense Levels and Criminal History: Each federal crime is assigned an offense level, and defendants are categorized into criminal history categories. The combination of these two factors determines the sentencing range.
Adjustments and Departures: The guidelines allow for adjustments based on specific circumstances, such as the defendant’s role in the offense or acceptance of responsibility2. Judges can also depart from the guidelines in certain cases, either imposing harsher or more lenient sentences based on unique factors1.
Mandatory and Advisory Nature: Initially, the guidelines were mandatory, but a 2005 Supreme Court decision (United States v. Booker) rendered them advisory3. This means that while judges must consider the guidelines, they are not bound to follow them strictly and can use their discretion in sentencing3.
Periodic Updates: The United States Sentencing Commission regularly reviews and updates the guidelines to reflect changes in law, judicial decisions, and feedback from the criminal justice community4.
The Federal Sentencing Guidelines play a crucial role in promoting fairness and transparency in the federal sentencing process, ensuring that similar offenses receive similar sentences while allowing for judicial discretion in unique cases.
You can look at the entire Federal Sentencing Guidelines here.
While the goal of the federal sentencing guidelines is promote fairness and uniformity in sentencing, most federal defense lawyers find that it is a bog of complications, possibilities and dangers which have little uniformity and little case by case consistency.
Certified Criminal Defense Specialist
Daniel Horowitz is a certified criminal defense specialist. There are only 7 certified specialists in all of Contra Costa County and only several hundred statewide.
On high stakes cases Daniel works with Dan Russo and Carmela Caramagno who are also certified criminal defense specialists. This title is not self created. It is a designation of criminal defense achievement issued by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization. There are thousands of criminal defense lawyers, thousands of federal defense lawyers but only several hundred who are State Bar certified.
State Bar Board of Legalization - Learn More
Our main office is in Lafayette, California (Contra Costa County). We provide federal defense in all 50 states and throughout California.
If you need assistance, call us at 925-291-5388 or use this online form.
Client Testimonials
Contra Costa County Location - National Reputation for Excellence
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I can not say enough about Mr. Horowitz and his staff. Brook was amazing to myself and my family. My case was very unique. He believed in me and listened to what I had to say. I highly recommend him and his staff. Yvett Bline- Yvett Bline
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Dan Horowitz handled my complex business issue with magnanimity, compassion, care, promptness, and utmost professionalism. I'm an Attorney and would highly recommend him to other professionals (and others alike) because he's the very BEST at what he does and has an uncanny knack at finding unique resolutions with unparalleled speed and efficiency. What is quite outatanding is that he treats each client with kindness and compassion as if a family member- Lovely K.
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I cannot express enough gratitude for the outstanding legal services provided by Daniel Horowitz. He not only possesses an in-depth understanding of the law but also demonstrated a genuine commitment to me. He took the time to listen attentively to my concerns, providing clear and concise explanations of the legal processes involved in my case. He made me feel heard and supported during this tumultuous time. What impressed me most was his unwavering dedication to achieving the best possible outcome for me. The attention to detail and strategic approach to my case were evident at every stage. I am eternally grateful towards Daniel for what he has done for me and I wholeheartedly recommend his services to anyone seeking legal representation. Thank you Dan- Kento T.
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Daniel and his team did an excellent job. He was always readily available to take my call and provided peace of mind through a stressful situation.- Reid V.
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My experience with Dan was great. I appreciate the knowledge Dan has and the professionalism they exhibit. I would highly recommend the Law Office Of Daniel Horowitz. My family and I are truly grateful we worked with him.- Brandon D.
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There are lawyers and then there are real lawyers. Dan Horowitz is a real lawyer in every since of the word. Dan is a Certified Specialist in Criminal Law. You will not find very many attorneys having such recognition especially one that hits on all cylinders as Dan. In addition to his knowledge of the law and his experience, which I found to be unmatched, i appreciated the fact that he at all times is genuine, which for me says it all. Thank you Dan.- Cory N.
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“The Best Attorney I Could Have Asked For.”- Katherine Ryken
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Dan Horowitz was the best attorney I could have asked for during a difficult time in my career. From the moment I met him, I felt believed, respected, and safe. He and his team were endlessly responsive and empathetic to me and my family. He fought for my case day and night, always keeping my best interests at the forefront of his mind. As I learned from Dan, it is never a good time in one’s life to need legal representation - but if you need it, Dan is your person, your advocate, and your best friend. We are forever grateful for his tireless commitment to justice for the people.- Katherine R.