If the prosecutor won't agree to probation, then you have no choice. You can take the plea or go to trial. Your conduct on pretrial release will be...

Most restitution is never paid. If he doesn't have the money, he can't pay it.

Hire a lawyer now. The lawyer can start building defenses and possibly influence the charging decision.

Drug and gun cases can be prosecuted by the feds. It is not unusual for the feds to take over a state case, often because the penalties are worse...

It means he has been charged with a federal crime.

A no contest plea is a conviction. Yes your convictions can be used against you.

It can be in either state or federal court. It doesn't matter that a federal officer discovered the gun.

We don't know what it's for. We don't even know who you are. Ask at the jail. It sounds like you have been charged with a federal crime. When they...

Maybe there was more evidence against you. Maybe you have a worse record. Maybe he is cooperating. There are lots of possible reasons.

He should ask his po. Typically, you cannot associate with felons while on probation.