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by otterley 1572 days ago
IAAL, but am not providing legal advice here.

If this is a criminal case (I assume it is, given the FBI's involvement), the presiding judge has pretty wide discretion to set the terms of the punishment for a conviction, subject to the specific penalties imposed by law and federal sentencing guidelines. Unlike in a civil case, monetary penalties are intended to be punitive, not restorative. The best your attorney can do is make the case as best as they can and plea bargain with the AUSA to get the penalty as low as possible; and failing that, beg the court for mercy, and be thankful if you manage not to go to prison.

You can also plead innocence, go to trial, and hopefully avoid conviction altogether.

(BTW, this post can be admitted into evidence if it comes to the AUSA's attention.)