A Dedicated Criminal Defense Lawyer for your Federal Case
Biography
Education: After attending George Mason University (Virginia) and New College in Oxford University (Oxford, England), earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Politics. Ms. Laguzzi then matriculated at Boston University School of Law where she received her Juris Doctorate degree. Upon graduation, and weighing several job offers around the country, Ms. Laguzzi settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Languages: Ms. Laguzzi attended school in Virginia while simultaneously attending The Argentine School of Washington, D.C. in Maryland. As a result, Ms. Laguzzi remains totally bilingual in Spanish and English. She remains proficient in French which she has studied for years, and even lived in France. Her knowledge of languages aids with clients with strong accents or issues with English as a second language. She works with translators of all Asian languages for the benefit of her Asian clients.
Prior Prosecutor Experience: Ms. Laguzzi began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia, where she was personally responsible for thirty to more than seventy (70) cases daily, a higher caseload than most with helped her organizational skills. The cases included those ranging from narcotics to more technical crimes such as, driving under the influence, as well as those with more emotional and psychological issues, such as domestic violence matters. Her vast jury, and waiver, trial experience allows for the best advice and negotiation in this arena. She is also well versed in federal law and can spot issues for appeals and post conviction work that can help reduce sentences, or overturn convictions.
Practice Areas: Ms. Laguzzi’s criminal defense practice focuses solely on federal cases. This includes direct appeals, and post conviction work such as § 2255 and § 2254 Motions. She has won several appeals in the Third Circuit. Her work on § 2255 motions and § 2254 petitions has drastically cut years off of her clients' sentences. It has also secured clients' early release from prison. Sometimes, it has won immediate release from prison for clients.
Her experience, both as a prosecutor and as a criminal defense attorney, allows her to give the best advice to people facing criminal charges. Ms. Laguzzi also helps clients in preparation for sentencing and/or alternative programs. Due to her expertise and reputation, she has frequently received referrals from within the legal community including, Judges, police officers, and court staff. She has been used by non criminal firms to aid in sentencing matters and write sentencing memorandums.
Legal Community Participation: Ms. Laguzzi has served as a Zone 1 Chair division of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and has sat on the Executive Committee for the Philadelphia Chapter of the Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) Association. She is also an active member of the Federal Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section. Notably, Ms. Laguzzi is an investigator for the Judicial Selection Committee, which evaluates judicial candidates by the Philadelphia Bar Association. Ms. Laguzzi has volunteered with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, helping to exonerate wrongly convicted individuals. She was invited into the respected Philadelphia Criminal Inn of Courts. In 2010, Ms. Laguzzi was recruited to a special committee the Supervising Judge of the Philadelphia Courts to identify and rectify problems within the First Judicial District (Philadelphia).
Bar Association Memberships:
Pennsylvania
Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Third Circuit Court of Appeals
United States of America’s Supreme Court
Recent successful outcomes: Commonwealth v. Frank Roselli- a victory in federal court as the result of a 2254 petition led to Mr. Roselli’s resentencing and immediate release from prison. He had originally been sentenced to 25-50 years in state prison. (2020)
United States v. Myra Suren- immediate release from federal court after over twenty years in prison. Her original sentence had been for life imprisonment.
United States v. Victor Gutierrez- facing twenty years in federal prison, I secured a time served sentence for Mr. Gutierrez. He had been in federal custody for twenty-eight (28) months. (2020)
United States v. Gregory Griswold- secured a new trial for Mr. Griswold after a victory in the Third Circuit due to a judicial error at trial. (2018)
United States v. Virginia Gonzalez- argued successfully for a time served sentence on a five year mandatory imprisonment exposure. Ms. Gonzalez was facing up to ten years in prison. Ms. Gonzalez had been in custody for approximately nine months. (2020)