You answered your own question-it all varies. The cost is in direct proportion to billable attorney hours and what the attorney/attorneys charge. There's a reason the govt will throw piles of paperwork after piles of paperwork. I would imagine a lot of guys have thrown their attorney a decent retainer in anticipation but in the end it's like Assante said when he was playing Gotti..."the Feds are a machine-they don't run out of time or money".