Fight for Your Freedom at the Start of Your Federal Case

If you or a loved one has been arrested on federal charges in South Carolina, one of the first—and most important—steps is the detention hearing.

Your future may depend on whether you are released on bond or held without bail while your case moves forward.

Federal prosecutors routinely ask for pretrial detention in cases involving drugs, firearms, fraud, immigration offenses, and other serious charges. In many cases, there can even be a “presumption of detention” that makes detention more likely.

The good news: with an aggressive and experienced attorney, it’s often possible to win release, even in challenging cases.

At the Law Offices of Nathan S. Williams, we help individuals fight for bail at federal detention hearings throughout Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville, and all South Carolina federal courts. As a former Criminal Chief at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for South Carolina, Nathan Williams knows how federal prosecutors argue for detention — and how to beat them.

Contact us immediately at (843) 473-7000 for a Free Confidential Consultation if you or a family member has a federal detention hearing coming up.

What Happens at a Federal Detention Hearing?

A detention hearing is a formal proceeding where the court decides whether to:

• Release you on bond (with or without conditions)

• Detain you without bond until trial

Federal law presumes detention in certain serious cases, especially:

• Drug offenses with potential penalties of over 10 years

• Firearms offenses

• Crimes of violence

• Serious fraud or financial crimes

• Immigration crimes involving repeat illegal reentry or smuggling

However, detention is not automatic. Even where there is a presumption of detention, your defense lawyer can challenge detention by presenting evidence showing:

• You are not a danger to the community

• You are not a flight risk

• There are conditions, such as electronic monitoring, supervision, or a bond, that can ensure your appearance in court

Judges must consider factors like your criminal history, ties to the community, employment, family situation, and the strength of the government's case.

The Importance of Speed

In federal court, you usually have only, at most, three days after your initial appearance before the detention hearing is held. Often, the hearing is taken up at the time of the initial appearance; however, a request for a three-day delay can be made. During that time, it’s critical to:

• Prepare a strong bond package (character letters, employment records, community ties)

• Line up third-party custodians (if needed)

• Investigate the strength of the government’s case to challenge their detention arguments.

• Strategize arguments for conditions of release (home detention, electronic monitoring, etc.)

Early preparation often makes the difference between freedom and jail. Waiting or assuming the bond will be automatic can be a costly mistake.

Why Federal Bail is Different from State Bail

Federal bail works very differently from state bail:

• There’s no cash bond schedule (you can't just pay a set amount and get out).

• The default is risk-based detention, not automatic release.

• Release often requires conditions like GPS monitoring, travel restrictions, home detention, drug testing, and third-party supervision.

• The burden of proof can shift to the defense in cases with a presumption of detention, such as drug trafficking above certain thresholds.

• Oversight is conducted by the probation department, not a bondsman. In South Carolina, this is a significant difference, and a supervising probation officer can be stricter than a typical bondsman.

Federal prosecutors are also often more aggressive in seeking detention, especially for drug, firearm, and immigration charges. In part, this is because their cases are better prepared at early stages than state cases, and in part because they often have a presumption of detention that gives them a better statutory basis for detention than may be available to a state court prosecutor.

You need a lawyer who understands federal procedures and can fight detention immediately.

How Nathan Williams Fights for Federal Bond and Release

When you hire Nathan Williams, you get the advantage of:

• Former Criminal Chief at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for South Carolina – Nathan supervised every federal detention hearing statewide from 2019 to 2022.

• 24+ years of criminal law experience, including over 14 years in federal court handling complex and high-stakes criminal matters.

• Over 100 jury trials – giving him the courtroom skill to argue forcefully and persuasively at your detention hearing.

• Insider knowledge of government strategy – Nathan knows how prosecutors frame risk arguments and how judges evaluate bond conditions.

He has successfully secured bonds for clients in cases involving:

• Large-scale federal drug conspiracies

• Complex wire fraud and financial crimes

• Illegal firearm possession cases

• Immigration reentry charges

• White-collar federal indictments

In many cases, clients initially facing pretrial detention have been released because of early, aggressive action by our firm.

Possible Outcomes at Federal Detention Hearings

Depending on the facts and strategy, outcomes can include:

• Unsecured bond (release on signature)

• Secured bond (release with financial guarantee)

• Third-party custodianship (living with a responsible adult)

• Electronic monitoring (GPS ankle bracelet)

• Home detention or curfew orders

• Pretrial supervision by federal probation

Even in serious cases, creative bond packages can persuade a judge to allow release under strict conditions.

Every day you spend out of jail strengthens your defense, allowing you to work, support your family, and better prepare for trial.

Contact Us Now — Time Is Critical

If you or someone you love is facing a federal detention hearing in South Carolina, do not delay.
The government has already started preparing its arguments for detention — you need an experienced defense lawyer doing the same for your release.

Call (843) 473-7000 today or contact us online to schedule your Free Confidential Consultation. We will review your case immediately, prepare a release strategy, and fight aggressively to win your freedom.

Don't face a federal detention hearing alone. Put a former U.S. Attorney’s Criminal Chief on your side today.