Miami Federal Sentencing Attorney

Miami Federal Sentencing Lawyer

The federal sentencing guidelines are an integral component of federal criminal cases in Miami and throughout the United States. A Miami federal sentencing attorney can assist you with examining the facts of your case and determining which legal defenses are applicable to the charges filed against you. Working with a skilled Miami federal criminal defense lawyer will allow you to understand how federal cases differ from criminal cases prosecuted in state court.

Attorney Barry M. Wax understands the complexities of federal sentencing laws and how they are applied in criminal cases. Our team will help you develop effective case strategies relevant to the charges you are facing. We have years of experience handling federal cases. We are here to help you determine the next steps you should take so you can defend your liberty.

The Basic Structure of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines

The Federal Sentencing Guidelines assist judges who impose sentences on criminal defendants who are convicted of federal offenses. The two primary variables governing the Federal Sentencing Guidelines are the severity of the criminal offense and the criminal background of the defendant. Every federal crime receives a specified level depending on the seriousness of the crime.

Criminal history is relevant to federal sentencing because the guidelines take into account histories featuring multiple serious criminal convictions. The judge will apply these two variables and assess the sentencing table that recommends sentencing ranges reflecting both. The United States Sentencing Commission designed the federal sentencing guidelines to be applied in a neutral and objective manner.

Applying the Federal Sentencing Guidelines During Sentencing

The judge will determine the offense level by taking into account any aggravating factors and mitigating factors that may increase or decrease the potential sentence. Aggravating factors include details that make a crime especially violent or harmful. Mitigating factors include details about the defendant’s role in the crime that imply they played a minor role in its execution.

The federal court will then examine the defendant’s criminal history and assign the defendant to one of six categories. The range begins with category I, which is for those with a minor criminal record or no criminal history at all. Category VI is assigned to individuals with long criminal histories.

The sentencing table then guides the judge in sentencing the criminal defendant. The offense level and the criminal history category are cross-referenced, which produces a sentencing range for the judge to consider when deciding on the length of the prison term the defendant must serve.

Hire a Federal Sentencing Attorney

Federal cases are often more complex and feature time-sensitive deadlines that can influence the legal options available to a federal defendant. It is beneficial to hire a federal sentencing attorney to ensure that you are doing everything within your power to enforce your constitutional rights. A skilled federal sentencing lawyer will provide you with legal advice and an objective assessment of your case.

The attorney-client privilege will also enable you to communicate with your attorney without fear that your statements or admissions will be used against you at a later point in the case. Every communication you have with your attorney is confidential, and this permits candid and fruitful discussion of the facts related to the charges filed against you.

Federal Sentencing Statistics

In 2024, the Southern District of Florida sentenced 1,377 individuals in accordance with the federal sentencing guidelines. In January of 2026, a total of 139,340 inmates were in federal custody throughout the United States. Approximately 10,613 of those federal inmates are incarcerated in the state of Florida.

About Us

Attorney Barry M. Wax has practiced criminal defense since 1985, and he has handled cases in both state and federal courts. He was the President of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers-Miami Chapter. He also serves as the Director at Large for the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Florida State University and his law degree from the University of Miami School of Law.

FAQs About Miami, FL Federal Sentencing Law

What Are the Federal Sentencing Guidelines?

The federal sentencing guidelines are a set of rules drafted by the United States Sentencing Commission. Federal judges must use these rules to determine the sentences that must be imposed for specific criminal offenses. Factors judges consider include the severity of the offense and the defendant’s criminal history. A scoring system assigns points for relevant factors, and this gives the judge a set of parameters when imposing a federal sentence.

What Percentage of Your Sentence Must Be Served In Florida?

Federal statutes require that inmates serve at least eighty-five percent of their federal sentence. Individuals may earn good behavior credits up to a maximum of ten days for every month served. However, good behavior credits stop accruing once an inmate’s release date hits the eighty-five percent status. Federal sentencing guidelines apply in federal cases, but sometimes a federal defendant will serve their sentence in a Florida state prison.

How Much of a Federal Sentence Must You Serve?

You generally must serve approximately eighty-five percent of a federal sentence. However, federal defendants may obtain up to fifteen percent off their sentence for good conduct time. Individual defendants may earn fifty-four days of good conduct time for every year of their sentence. Also, defendants may earn time off their sentence for completing vocational, educational, and job training programs.

How Long Does It Take for the Feds to Sentence You?

Sentencing under the federal sentencing guidelines takes two to four months after the entry of a guilty plea or an order of conviction. The probation department must prepare a presentence report, which includes a complete review of the defendant’s background, criminal history, and family history. The prosecution and the defense will review the presentence report and may object to specific aspects of the report.

Contact the Law Offices of Barry M. Wax Today

If you are facing federal charges, then you need to focus on what you can do protect your legal rights. Working with a knowledgeable federal sentencing lawyer will permit you to understand the charges filed against you and how you can assert a sound defensive strategy. You do not have to face the anxiety and stress of a federal case on your own.

If you are seeking legal representation, then contact us today to learn more about the services we provide. Our team can help you assess the current status of your case and how you can benefit from having a legal advocate both inside and outside the courtroom. Reach out to our office and stand up for your legal rights.

Serving Miami and South Florida

When you’re facing criminal charges in Miami or throughout South Florida, your future, freedom, and reputation hang in the balance. At the Law Offices of Barry M. Wax, you won’t be just another case number in an overcrowded firm—you’ll receive personal attention from an experienced attorney who has dedicated nearly four decades to defending the accused with both skill and genuine compassion. Since beginning practice in 1985, Barry M. Wax has built his entire career on a simple but powerful principle: providing 100% dedicated focus on your individual needs, because every case matters profoundly to the person standing accused.

Based in Miami and serving clients throughout South Florida—from Brickell and Miami Beach to Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, and Weston—Barry M. Wax brings the invaluable perspective gained from his early years as an Assistant Public Defender with the Miami-Dade County Public Defender’s office. During those formative years, he witnessed how under-informed clients often made critical errors in their own defense simply because they didn’t understand the system. That experience taught him that open, honest attorney-client relationships based on mutual understanding consistently yield the most favorable outcomes, and this philosophy has guided his practice ever since.

Whether you’re confronting federal white-collar charges, state drug offenses, accusations of healthcare fraud, domestic violence allegations, or any criminal matter in South Florida, partnering with a Miami criminal defense attorney who personally handles every case—rather than delegating to inexperienced associates—and who combines decades of courtroom experience with genuine accessibility and compassionate guidance can be the difference between making critical mistakes in your defense and achieving the best possible resolution to protect your future.

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