ZMO Law PLLC is a New York City law firm. Our New York City federal criminal defense lawyers fight for defendants in life-altering cases in U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York.

We focus on clients accused of child pornography, other sex crimes, healthcare crimes, and federal fraud charges as well as serious state offenses like sexual assault. We also bring carefully selected civil lawsuits on behalf of victims of sex crimes and civil rights abuses, including wrongful convictions.

We are client focused and trial ready. That means we listen carefully to our clients and are always ready to take our cases to trial.

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New York Sex Crimes Lawyers

When you’ve been accused of a sex crime, it impacts every area of your life, from your professional standing and livelihood to your family and community relationships. ZMO Law PLLC has been fighting for people accused of sex crimes in both state and federal courts since 2002.
Lead attorney Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma and our legal team can help you address criminal charges ranging from possession of child pornography to sexual assault, sex trafficking, statutory rape, and internet sex crimes. Although every case is different, our track record includes acquittals, dismissals, and agreements that don’t involve jail time. With so much at stake, you need a New York sex crimes lawyer who’ll go the extra mile for your future. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.

New York Federal Crimes Lawyers

Federal courts use the federal sentencing guidelines, which tend to recommend very long baseline sentences. A skilled and experienced New York City federal crimes lawyer can help when you’re charged with crimes like large-scale fraud, firearms offenses, and terrorism.
At ZMO Law PLLC, we provide defense representation for federal charges ranging from white collar crime and drug trafficking to terrorism, sex crimes, and healthcare fraud. When it comes to federal criminal cases, we have a solid history that includes acquittals, plea bargains that avoid prison time, and successful conviction reversals. If you’ve been arrested or believe you are about to be, call our federal criminal defense lawyers now. As with sex crimes, prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.

New York Civil Rights Lawyers

We advocate for victims of civil rights abuses committed by police officers, detectives, prison guards, and other government officials. We handle cases involving excessive force, false arrest, malicious prosecution, deliberate indifference to prisoner health and safety, and illegal restrictions on free speech. These claims can be brought against state actors under Section 1983 and, less frequently, against federal officials under statutes such as the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Civil rights litigation is especially complicated, presenting obstacles like qualified immunity, which often shields officials from lawsuits. Similarly, the Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1996 imposed strict limits on prisoner lawsuits, making them difficult to pursue. Our civil rights lawyers are just as tough, however. Through both settlements and trial verdicts, ZMO Law PLLC has won millions of dollars for clients whose rights were violated by New York City police and corrections officers. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes.

New York Criminal Appeals Lawyers

Was a loved one just sentenced to years in prison? Were you pressured into a guilty plea you wouldn’t have made on your own? Did you lose a trial? Fortunately, there are many recognized grounds for appealing a state or federal conviction. You need a New York criminal appeals attorney who’s ready to stand by your side from beginning to end.
Our appellate attorneys handle criminal appeals in New York state and federal courts for fraud, sex crimes, child pornography, white collar cases like health care fraud and money laundering, and more. We also challenge wrongful convictions years or decades after they occurred: past successes include the full exonerations of Felipe Rodriguez after 27 years of wrongful imprisonment for murder, Antonio Yarbough after nearly 22 years for a triple homicide, and James Pugh after more than 30 years for the murder of a young mother. Prior results to do not guarantee any particular outcome in a future case.

New York Healthcare Crimes Lawyers

Healthcare practitioners often face criminal charges for billing fraud, submitting false insurance claims, kickback schemes (violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute), and prescription drug diversion. Doctors in particular can be charged with sexual misconduct after a routine patient examination or reckless endangerment or even manslaughter when patients die from overdoses.
ZMO Law PLLC defends doctors, dentists, nurses, and other medical practitioners facing criminal charges related to their healthcare work. Partner Tess Cohen formerly served as chief of the Prescription Drug Investigation Unit at the New York City Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor, so our New York healthcare crimes lawyers bring direct experience as well as strong legal acumen to every state and federal case. Contact us now to discuss your case.

New York Victims’ Rights Lawyers

While our trial lawyers defend people accused of sex crimes and related criminal acts, we also represent victims in certain cases. As a victim, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries even if your assailant isn’t prosecuted. In some cases, you can recover damages from third parties whose negligence enabled the assault, such as strip clubs, churches, or schools.
Many victims assume that the prosecuting attorneys are ‘their’ counsel, but most prosecutors focus on securing a conviction, not helping you seek justice through compensation. You need and deserve a New York victims’ rights lawyer who cares about your future and will fight for the result you need to get your life back on track.

Our attorneys represent defendants accused of computer-based crimes in the U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of New York, and the state criminal courts in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Westchester County.

We have defended bankers, lawyers, doctors, teachers, public officials, and other professionals under federal investigation for white-collar crimes like health care fraud, medicaid fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, insurance fraud, and bank fraud and RICO violations.

Our federal defense lawyers also have experience representing people facing federal prosecution for organized crime, terrorism, and drug-trafficking offenses including smuggling and distribution of heroin, cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), ketamine, fentanyl, GBL, and marijuana.

If you have questions about legal representation in the state or federal court system, call (212) 685-0999 now.

Our Attorneys

How Much Does It Cost to Hire ZMO Law PLLC?

A lot. For criminal cases, we charge hourly fees billed against a retainer that you approve beforehand. During the initial consultation, we discuss your budget and the anticipated scope of work before establishing a retainer amount that works for your financial situation. We do not take on clients who cannot afford competent private lawyers and happily refer clients to resources that might be available if they cannot afford a good lawyer.

For civil cases seeking compensation for sexual assault, wrongful conviction, or use of excessive force, there may be no up-front cost to you: instead, we take our attorney fees from your financial recovery. This contingency arrangement means you don’t pay unless we win compensation for you, though in some cases you might be responsible for costs. You also may be held liable for the other side’s costs if we lose the case.

The exact costs of representation vary based on the particulars of your case. For example, criminal defense involves in-depth investigation, hours of research, and careful trial preparation. Civil rights cases usually involve extensive discovery followed by litigation. We’re transparent about fees from the beginning, so you can make an informed choice about legal or defense representation.

What Should I Do If I’m Arrested by the Police?

If you’re arrested by the NYPD, FBI agents, or one of the other state or federal agencies, we recommend that you remain calm and polite, but invoke your right to remain silent and your right to an attorney. Although being caught in the criminal justice system can be frightening, don’t resist arrest or argue with officers. Once you’re in custody, continue to refuse to answer questions until your lawyer arrives.

You should never make any statement to law enforcement without your attorney present. Their job is to convict you, not to let you talk your way out of trouble. Anything you say can be used against you in court. Innocent explanations can be twisted or taken out of context to build a case against you. Police officers are trained interrogators who know how to get people to talk, and what seems like ‘clearing things up’ can actually make your situation worse.

Time is critical in criminal cases, so we’re available 24/7. If you’ve been arrested, contact ZMO Law at (212) 685-0999 immediately so we can begin protecting your rights and building your defense.

Reviews

Zachary is a brilliant attorney - he has a keen understanding of the law, with years of experience and practices with diligence and integrity. It was a pleasure to work with and learn from Zach, as he provided thoughtful and meticulous guidance. Zach is undoubtedly a devoted and passionate advocate for his clients, who operates with confidence, reliability, and the utmost professionalism. — Vidya P.

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Reviews

Zachary is an excellent lawyer with great concern for his clients and equally great skills and thinking outside the box. I met him as an adversary and chose to keep him as a friend. He is both able and dedicated. In his areas of practice, he is outstanding. — Joel A.

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Reviews

I highly recommend Zachary as a defense attorney. I hired him on a very serious jury case and the bottom line is we won. It is the best decision of my life at a critical point in my life. Zach was very professional, personable, a diligent expert, a masterful strategist but most importantly he took the time to understand my perspective. — Ronald C. (Photo Courtesy of Steven Klapisch, Esq.)

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Reviews

I met Zack while I was representing a client in a high profile murder case in 2007. Zack represented a witness who was subpoenaed against his will. Although our interests were adverse, Zack was the consummate professional--calm and well versed in the relevant legal issues. He acted as an outstanding advocate for his client. I would recommend Zack to potential clients without hesitation. — Mark Bederow

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Zachary is a top-notch lawyer who fights vigorously to advance his clients' interests. I have referred cases to him in the past and will continue to do so in the future. — David Feldman

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Reviews

I have had the opportunity to see Zachary in action while he was conducting a federal trial for which he was lead trial counsel. He's a highly talented trial attorney skilled in the art of cross examination. I recommend him highly. — Ryan Blanch

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March 2, 2026

Law360: When Murder Charges Reach People Who Didn’t Kill

Tess Cohen, chair of the New York City Bar Association’s Mass Incarceration Task Force, critiques the felony murder doctrine and its role in driving extreme sentencing and racial disparities by bypassing the essential legal principle of intent, arguing that it prevents judicial discretion and results in life-altering punishments that are fundamentally unaligned with a defendant’s ...

January 16, 2026

NOTUS: The Case Against Nicolás Maduro Will Rely on a Myriad of Corrupt, Jailed Venezuelan Officials

Prosecutors preparing the criminal case against ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in Manhattan are expected to rely heavily on testimony from corrupt, jailed drug traffickers and military officials who have cut deals with U.S. authorities as cooperating witnesses. Many of these informants have credibility issues, a point underscored by defense attorney Tess Cohen, who noted ...

January 16, 2026

AMNY: A ‘snatch and grab’: Why legal observers question legality of Maduro capture, and how that’s expected to play into court arguments

As Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro faces U.S. prosecution after his capture and arraignment in New York, legal experts expect his defense to challenge the manner of his “snatch and grab” seizure and raise head-of-state immunity and evidentiary issues. Defense attorney Zachary Margulis-Ohnuma told amNY Law that Maduro’s team may argue the U.S. action was unlawful ...

January 16, 2026

Reuters: Maduro’s immunity claim tests US power to prosecute foreign leader

U.S. prosecutors and a federal court are facing a rare legal test after Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro pleaded not guilty in New York to narco-terrorism and related charges and asserted head-of-state immunity. The central question is whether Maduro can claim traditional immunity protections, with U.S. officials arguing he isn’t recognized as Venezuela’s president and defense ...

December 3, 2025

Buffalo News: Judge dismisses charges against ZMO Law client in 1993 Tonawanda murder

In court just last week, Erie County prosecutors asked a judge to reinstate James Pugh’s convictions for a 1993 City of Tonawanda homicide. As Pugh’s retrial was about to begin, the District Attorney’s Office asked for the opposite – that the charges be dropped. On Tuesday, the judge said yes to the latter. State Supreme ...

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Client Focused. Trial Ready.

New York City Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers

Federal Criminal Defense and Civil Rights