New York City Criminal Defense Attorney

A New York City criminal defense attorney defends people accused of state crimes in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island, from arrest and arraignment through trial and appeal. If you are charged under the New York Penal Law, the right lawyer can protect your rights, challenge the evidence, and fight for a dismissal, acquittal, or reduced outcome. The stakes in a New York criminal case are your freedom, your record, and your future, and the defense you choose matters from the first day.

Varghese & Associates, P.C. represents clients throughout New York City against misdemeanor and felony charges in the state courts. The firm is led by Vinoo Varghese, a former prosecutor who now devotes his practice to defending the accused. A New York City criminal defense attorney who has stood on both sides of the courtroom understands how the District Attorney builds a case and where it can be taken apart.

Call now for a confidential consultation with a New York City criminal defense attorney. The earlier our criminal defense attorneys are involved, the more they can do.

What Does a New York City Criminal Defense Attorney Do?

A New York City criminal defense attorney protects a person accused of a crime at every stage: advising during a police investigation, appearing at arraignment, litigating bail and suppression motions, negotiating with the District Attorney, and trying the case to a jury when necessary. The goal is always to limit exposure and, wherever possible, to end the case without a conviction. A criminal defense attorney in NYC is your advocate against the full resources of the state.

New York prosecutes crimes through five county District Attorney's offices, one for each borough, and cases move through the Criminal Court and the Supreme Court under the Criminal Procedure Law. Our criminal defense attorneys handle everything from a first-time misdemeanor to a serious violent felony, and the defense begins the moment you are arrested or learn you are under investigation. The sooner a New York City criminal defense attorney is involved, the more can be done to shape the outcome.

Criminal Charges Our New York Criminal Defense Attorneys Defend

Our New York criminal defense attorneys handle the full range of state charges. Each practice area below has its own dedicated page with a deeper discussion of the law, the penalties, and the defenses.

• Felony Defense: representation across New York's class A through E felonies, where a conviction can mean years in state prison.
• Violent Crime Defense: assault, robbery, and other violent felony offenses under Penal Law article 70.
• Weapons Crime Defense: criminal possession of a weapon and firearm charges under New York's strict Penal Law article 265.
• NYC Drug Crime Defense: state controlled-substance charges under Penal Law article 220, distinct from federal drug prosecutions.
• Grand Larceny Defense: theft and property crimes under Penal Law article 155.
• Juvenile Criminal Defense: delinquency and adolescent-offender cases under New York's Raise the Age framework.
• Family Criminal Defense: domestic violence and family-offense charges and orders of protection.
• Self-Defense and Justification: asserting the justification defense under Penal Law article 35.
• Criminal Appeals: challenging a conviction in the Appellate Division and the Court of Appeals.

Misdemeanor or Felony? How New York Classifies Charges

New York divides crimes into violations, misdemeanors, and felonies. A misdemeanor carries up to one year in jail, while a felony, graded from class E up to class A, can carry years to life in state prison. The classification drives everything: bail, plea options, and sentencing exposure. Understanding where a charge falls is the first thing a New York City criminal defense attorney explains to a client.

Many cases turn on the line between a misdemeanor and a felony, such as the value threshold that separates petit larceny from grand larceny, or the aggravating factors that raise a simple assault to a violent felony. Our criminal defense attorneys fight to keep charges at the lowest possible level, because a reduction from a felony to a misdemeanor can mean the difference between prison and probation, and between a permanent record and a chance at a clean future.

Are You Facing State or Federal Charges?

Most crimes in New York City are prosecuted by the borough District Attorneys under state law, but some conduct is charged federally by the United States Attorney. The court, the procedure, and the penalties are very different, and knowing which system you are in is essential. This page covers state defense; if your case is federal, a different playbook applies.

If you have been contacted by the FBI, DEA, or a federal grand jury, or charged in federal court, see our NYC federal criminal defense practice, which handles federal investigations and prosecutions across the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Our attorneys defend clients in both systems, and a New York City criminal defense attorney will tell you plainly which one you are facing and what it means.

The New York Criminal Case Process

A New York criminal case generally moves from arrest and arraignment, through discovery and pretrial motions, to plea negotiation or trial, and, if needed, appeal. Each stage is an opportunity for a criminal defense attorney to challenge the case and improve the outcome. Knowing what comes next removes some of the fear and lets you make informed decisions.

At arraignment, our criminal defense attorneys argue for release and against excessive bail. During discovery, New York's reform statutes require the prosecution to turn over evidence on a strict timeline, and our attorneys hold the District Attorney to it. Pretrial motions can suppress an illegal search, a coerced statement, or a suggestive identification. When the evidence is weak, a New York City criminal defense attorney tries the case; when a resolution serves the client, our attorneys negotiate the most favorable disposition available.

Signs You Are Under Investigation in New York

Common signs you are under investigation include a detective asking you to come in for questioning, police contacting your friends or employer, a request that you provide a statement or a DNA sample, or learning that a complaint has been filed against you. If any of these happen, contact a New York City criminal defense attorney before speaking to anyone.

People often believe they can clear things up by explaining themselves to detectives. Instead, statements are recorded and used to build the case. Our criminal defense attorneys step in before an interview, protect your right to remain silent, and prevent a manageable situation from becoming a filed charge. Early intervention by a New York City criminal defense attorney can sometimes stop a case before it is ever brought.

How Our NYC Criminal Defense Attorneys Protect Your Rights

Defending a New York criminal case is a staged effort, and the earlier a criminal defense attorney is engaged, the more options remain open.

Investigation and arrest. Our criminal defense attorneys intervene during questioning, protect against self-incrimination, and work to prevent charges or secure release.

Challenging the evidence. A New York City criminal defense attorney litigates suppression motions to exclude illegal searches, statements taken without proper warnings, and unreliable identifications.

Negotiation. Our criminal defense attorneys negotiate with the District Attorney for dismissals, reductions, diversion programs, and alternatives to incarceration where they fit the case.

Trial and appeal. When the state cannot prove its case, a New York City criminal defense attorney tries it to a jury, and preserves every issue for appeal if a conviction results.

Collateral Consequences of a New York Criminal Conviction

A New York criminal conviction reaches far beyond any jail sentence or fine. It can cost you a professional license, a job, housing, student aid, the right to possess a firearm, and, for non-citizens, the ability to remain in the United States. These collateral consequences often outlast the sentence itself. A New York City criminal defense attorney weighs every one of them, not just the immediate penalty, when advising on a case.

For a licensed professional, a conviction can trigger discipline or loss of a license. For an immigrant, even a low-level plea can be a deportable or inadmissible offense, which is why our criminal defense attorneys analyze the immigration consequences of every disposition before a client accepts it. A conviction can also appear on background checks for years, affecting employment and housing long after the case ends. Understanding these ripple effects is central to how a New York criminal defense attorney evaluates whether to fight a charge or resolve it.

Can a New York Criminal Record Be Sealed?

New York law allows many criminal records to be sealed, and some cases end in outcomes that leave no conviction at all, such as a dismissal or an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal. Under the state's sealing statute, eligible individuals can petition to seal certain convictions after a waiting period. A criminal defense attorney can advise whether sealing is available and pursue it on your behalf.

The best protection for your record, however, is to avoid a conviction in the first place. Our criminal defense attorneys fight for dismissals, reductions to non-criminal violations, and diversion outcomes precisely because they preserve your record and your future. When a past conviction is eligible for sealing, a New York City criminal defense attorney can help you clear the path forward.

Vinoo Varghese: Former Prosecutor, New York Criminal Defense Advocate

Vinoo Varghese is a nationally recognized criminal defense attorney and the principal of Varghese & Associates, P.C. As a former prosecutor, he understands how the District Attorney evaluates evidence, charges cases, and prepares for trial, and he turns that experience to the defense of the accused. Vinoo Varghese has appeared as a legal commentator on national outlets including Fox News and CNN, analyzing high-profile criminal cases. He personally directs the firm's defense strategy in its New York criminal matters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a criminal defense attorney for a first offense in NYC?

Yes. Even a first-offense misdemeanor in New York City can result in a permanent criminal record, jail, fines, and collateral consequences for employment, housing, and immigration. A criminal defense attorney can often secure a dismissal, a reduction to a violation, or a diversion program that keeps your record clean. Do not assume a first offense is minor; the outcome depends heavily on having a New York City criminal defense attorney from the start.

What is the difference between a misdemeanor and a felony in New York?

A misdemeanor is punishable by up to one year in jail, while a felony carries more than one year and up to life in state prison, depending on its class. Felonies must generally be prosecuted by indictment and carry far more serious collateral consequences. A central goal of a New York criminal defense attorney is to keep a charge at the misdemeanor level or lower whenever the facts allow.

Can my criminal case be dismissed before trial?

Yes. New York criminal cases are frequently dismissed or reduced through suppression of illegally obtained evidence, discovery violations by the prosecution, speedy-trial motions, and negotiation. A New York City criminal defense attorney reviews every case for the legal and factual weaknesses that can end it early, long before a jury is ever selected.

How much does a NYC criminal defense attorney cost?

Fees depend on the seriousness of the charge, whether it is a misdemeanor or felony, the complexity of the evidence, and whether the case goes to trial. Our criminal defense attorneys are transparent about fees from the first consultation. The cost of skilled defense is modest next to the price of a conviction, a criminal record, and time in custody.

Should I talk to the police if they contact me?

No. You have the right to remain silent and to have an attorney present, and you should exercise both. Anything you say can be used to build the case against you, even statements you believe are harmless. Politely decline to answer questions and contact a New York City criminal defense attorney immediately, before any further contact with law enforcement.

Contact a New York City Criminal Defense Attorney

An arrest or investigation in New York City is frightening, but it is not the end of the story. The right defense, started early, can change everything about how a case unfolds. A New York criminal defense attorney will explain your charges, protect your rights, and fight for the best outcome the facts and the law allow.

Call Varghese & Associates, P.C. for a confidential consultation. Our office is located at 2 Wall Street, Suite 310, New York, NY 10005, in Lower Manhattan and convenient to the courts of all five boroughs.