I arrived at the office alone and early, because I had a commercial real estate closing first thing that morning; a legitimate client was purchasing an apartment building. As I went over the documents and figures, two agents that I hadn't seen in three years entered; they were from the Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service. When I refused to testify before a Federal Grand Jury against my drug smuggling clients, they were one ones who served my with a subpoena. Faces from a day that was not high on my list of memorable events.

For anyone who has not experienced the shock of being arrested for what you know are surely to be serious charges, it is an event that I hope you never have to experience. Your emotions  run away with you, and you feel:

• Fear; what's gong to happen to me?

• Disbelief; this cannot be happening. it must be a mistake.

• Acceptance; deal with it.

• Fatalism; I am definitely going away for a long time.

They were nice enough about the arrest, actually giving me the opportunity to lock up the office and leave a note that my lawyer was to be contacted forthwith. Of course, I had to endure the curious stares when I was brought out of my office in handcuffs. As we drove to the downtown Federal Courthouse, they asked me whether I wanted to cooperate at that time. Of course, my attitude at that point in my life was to regard law enforcement as bitter adversaries, and so I declined their offer. In retrospect, I realise that they were giving me a chance, but I wasn't buying what they were selling.

I was placed in a small holding cell, awaiting what is known as a first appearance, where the defendant is brought before a Magistrate, and efforts are made to arrange the terms and conditions of pretrial release, more commonly known as bail. Of course, if the US Attorney can establish that you are either a danger to the community, or a flight risk, you will be confined in a Federal detention centre pending your trial.

My lawyers sent in to represent me someone whom I had worked with in the past when my own clients were arrested, and we worked up the usual summary lawyers prepare for the judge to show my ties to the community, and therefore, likelihood that I would show up for trial if I was allowed to bond out. I also has a visit from Pretrial Services, a division of US Probation that profiled the newly arrested for bond purposes.

I had a moment of regret in the lockup; wondering where all this would lead, and realising that I richly deserved whatever punishment was ultimately visited upon me. This passed, as I put my lawyer hat back on, as remembered that the government had to prove up their case to prevail. Did they really have the witnesses and the evidence?

The time came when they chained me to a half dozen inner-city drug dealers also in custody, and brought me up to the courtroom for my first experience as a criminal defendant. It was show time, and unfortunately, I was to be the main attraction.

Next Week: Day in Court.