Brian Steel is making it clear he is not intimidated by the federal government’s courtroom reputation. The high-profile defense attorney recently appeared on Killer Mike’s Conversate podcast. The discussion turned to one of the most talked-about realities in federal prosecutions: the government’s towering conviction rate. During the exchange, the Atlanta rapper referenced the widely cited statistic that federal prosecutors win somewhere around 94 to 95 percent of their cases.
Steel did not hesitate to push back. "Not with us," he replied, cutting in before the thought could even finish.
Steel is regarded for his courtroom discipline and refusal to fold under pressure. He spoke candidly about his view that the American justice system is not simply flawed but structurally designed in ways that disproportionately impact poor communities and people of color.
The moment landed as both a flex and a statement of confidence, with Killer Mike acknowledging Steel’s courtroom résumé and reputation for taking on complex, high-stakes cases. The attorney has built a name around representing clients in serious federal matters. He often steps in when the odds appear heavily stacked against the defense.
Steel has famously taken on a few high-profile cases in recent memory, including serving as an attorney for both Young Thug's RICO trial and Diddy's trial.
Brian Steel Sits Down With Killer Mike
"The system is broken, and racist, and preys on poverty," Steel said during the interview. "And [the system] prays on making money on the back of people. We lock those people up and we paralyze them from meeting their potential."
The perception Mike referenced is rooted in real data. Federal conviction rates are widely understood to be high, but the numbers are shaped largely by plea bargaining. According to figures from the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the overwhelming majority of federal defendants never make it to trial at all. Roughly 97 percent resolve their cases through guilty pleas rather than jury verdicts.
"We have to tell the kids they are powerful," Steele said while advocating that everyone should know their rights. "They are the future."
That dynamic plays a major role in why the government’s win percentage looks so dominant on paper. Prosecutors also tend to bring charges only when they believe the evidence is strong enough to secure a conviction, further reinforcing the imbalance.
Steel’s response, though brief, reflects a broader defense-side critique of how conviction statistics are framed. Trial outcomes, evidentiary challenges, and negotiated pleas all live under the same statistical umbrella, even though they represent very different legal paths.
For Steel, the takeaway was simple. Federal numbers might intimidate some defendants, but in his view, they do not dictate how every case ends once it is tested in court.
