Arkansas Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
Our Arkansas federal criminal defense attorneys represent clients in Little Rock, Fort Smith, and throughout Arkansas. Are you under investigation, dealing with a grand jury subpoena, or facing federal charges? You can call 501-267-9880 for a free and confidential consultation.
Trained at Harvard Law School and UCLA Law, Nick is a Ph.D. level lawyer, whose latest book was supported by United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer, the Chief Justice of Brazil, and other legal authorities. Nick is the kind of brain you want on your team to battle advanced prosecutors. His legal advice is marked by precision, depth of knowledge, reliability, and success.
Dr. Nick Oberheiden is the nationally recognized federal attorney known for defending clients in difficult federal criminal defense cases. Nick has been described as a “federal litigation superstar,” “true lifesaver” and “simply unrivaled.”
Nick handles a wide variety of federal criminal matters throughout Arkansas. He represents business owners and professionals in white-collar investigations and federal prosecutions around the country. For example, Nick has successfully represented healthcare business owners, CEOs, physicians, and lawyers. He has also been a successful attorney for current federal law-enforcement agents as well as current state and federal prosecutors in complex criminal investigations. Federal prosecutors turn to Nick when they need reliable legal advice in personal situations. This shows Nick’s excellent reputation— and skill set. Serving clients in:
- Little Rock (72205)
- North Little Rock (72117)
- Fayetteville (72703)
- Fort Smith (72903)
- Mountain Home (72653)
- Sherwood (72120)
- Lake Village (71653)
- Texarkana (71854)
- Jonesboro (72401)
- Hot Springs
- Bentonville
- Van Buren (72956)
- Conway (72034)
- And more.
Dr. Nick Oberheiden is your first line of defense, providing all the key components and features you want on your team. He has been featured by media outlets in all 50 states and appeared on local and national stations. He’s talked about federal litigation, federal criminal cases, and issues of constitutional and national significance. On air, Nick displayed his analytic talents by correctly predicting the outcome of every single upcoming federal litigation case discussed.
Call for a confidential consultation today. Speak to Nick directly (not a secretary!) at 501-267-9880.
How Does the Arkansas Federal Criminal System Work?
Most criminal lawyers advertise for a wide variety of cases. They can be anything from drunk driving, DUI, assault, and rape to murder, shoplifting, and so on.
Not Nick. Nick does not practice in Arkansas state courts. For years, Nick has made a name for himself by only taking federal cases. The reason? It’s simple. Just like you don’t want a dentist to operate on your knee, you want the right lawyer to “operate” on your federal case.
If you are under federal investigation, you want a lawyer who handles federal law enforcement cases. You want someone who stands in front of federal judges daily. You want someone who negotiates non-prosecution agreements with federal prosecutors for a living. Just like tooth and knee procedures, state and federal cases are very different.
Federal Agencies. Appearing before federal law enforcement agencies in charge of prosecuting federal offenses is serious. These agencies include the FBI, the IRS, the DEA, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Justice. It is not like getting a misdemeanor in traffic court.
Federal Offense Types. Nick’s practice focus lies on federal white-collar investigations and offenses. Nick has represented hundreds of people and businesses. He’s worked federal healthcare fraud cases (DEA opioid fraud, Medicare fraud, illegal kickbacks, False Claims Act investigations, Civil Investigative Demand, Stark Law cases, etc.) in Arkansas and nationally. Nick has convinced even the toughest DOJ prosecutors and federal judges to believe his client. These cases included money laundering, federal fraud, federal theft, wire fraud, mail fraud, mortgage fraud, bank fraud, securities fraud, bribery, public corruption and computer crime cases. In more than 90% of all federal criminal investigations, Nick and his team avoided criminal charges.
Call for a confidential consultation today. Speak to Nick directly (not a secretary!) at 501-267-9880.
Put our highly experienced team on your side
Dr. Nick Oberheiden
Founder
Attorney-at-Law
Lynette S. Byrd
Former Department of Justice
Brian J. Kuester
Former U.S. Attorney
Former DA
John W. Sellers
Former Senior Trial Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice
Local Counsel
Joanne Fine DeLena
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Joe Brown
Former U.S. Attorney & Former District Attorney
Local Trial & Defense Counsel
Amanda Marshall
Former U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Aaron L. Wiley
Former Federal Prosecutor
Local Counsel
Roger Bach
Former Special Agent (OIG)
Michael Koslow
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
Chris Quick
Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)
Ray Yuen
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
How Do You Pick a Federal Lawyer?
You need to think about the right lawyer for your case early on. Selecting a capable lawyer may be one of the most important decisions you make. Our Arkansas federal criminal defense lawyers offer unequaled careers in their field. They hold distinctions within the federal litigation and federal criminal justice system. That means you are obtaining a level of legal experience that most other lawyers don’t have. Follow these guidelines to find the right lawyer.
First, you want to make sure that your lawyer is not a generalist. His or her practice should be limited to what matters to you: federal defense. The best murder defense lawyer in town may lack the nuanced knowledge for a healthcare case or the messy questions of Medicare billing. Second, ask the lawyer candidate point-blank for a detailed summary of case outcomes. This should cover their last 100 federal criminal cases. Third, if your case involves a specialized area of law, like illegal kickbacks, ask your lawyer candidate specific questions (and insist on specific answers) about how many cases the lawyer has resolved without charges being filed.
At the end of the day, it comes down to performance. You need to trust that this specific lawyer is the one you want fighting for you. Ask yourself: Is this the federal lawyer that federal prosecutors, judges, and juries will respect and admire?
With hundreds of federal cases, FBI, OIG, DEA, IRS, and Justice Department investigations, federal defense attorney Dr. Nick Oberheiden is among the most demanded and well-known boutique attorneys in the country. You may have already heard that he takes excellent care of his clients. In fact, clients of Nick don’t deal with secretaries or paralegals. No junior lawyer will experiment on your livelihood. If you hire Nick, you get Nick.
An Arkansas Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Answers Your FAQs
Q: What should I do if the FBI shows up at my house?
If the FBI shows up at your house to talk about an open case, they might be researching your role in a federal crime. This isn’t always the case. However, they at least think you have information related to an open investigation. Do not discuss anything with FBI agents without first speaking with a knowledgeable Arkansas federal criminal defense attorney. This applies even if the agents assure you that you are not under investigation. FBI agents can (and will) use anything you tell them against you if you do end up being the focus of their case. Do not be afraid to politely decline an FBI agent’s invitation. If they need to speak with you, you need to speak with a lawyer first.
Q: What is a target letter?
The Department of Justice uses target letters for a few reasons related to the investigation and prosecution of federal crimes. Receiving a target letter means one of two things. The federal government believes you committed a federal crime or have important information about a crime. In either case, you want to be cautious in how you respond to a target letter. A federal investigation is dynamic. A reckless response to a target letter can shift the focus of an investigation onto you or your business. If you received a target letter, consult with an Arkansas federal criminal defense attorney. An attorney will review the letter, explain what it means, and advise you of your options.
Q: What is a grand jury subpoena?
A grand jury subpoena is a type of subpoena issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a grand jury proceeding. A U.S. Attorney issues a subpoena during the course of an investigation into a federal crime. Most often, a grand jury subpoena seeks tangible evidence that the U.S. Attorney believes is relevant to the case they are working. Receiving a grand jury subpoena does not always mean you are under federal investigation. However, you will need to either challenge it or provide the government with the requested documents. Recently received a grand jury subpoena? Contact an Arkansas federal criminal defense attorney to discuss your options.
Q: What should I do if I’m indicted?
If you are indicted for any federal crime, reach out to a dedicated federal criminal defense attorney. By the time you learn of the case against you, chances are it’s been going on for months, if not longer. The sooner you contact an attorney, the more options your lawyer will have. This means a higher chance to resolve the case in the most favorable way possible. Sometimes, a skilled federal criminal defense lawyer can successfully reach out to prosecutors before charges are filed.
The relationship between the state and the federal government is complex. This also relates to which offenses are prosecuted in federal court. In many cases, federal prosecutors have the option to charge someone in federal court but choose not to. This is because state prosecutors take the case. Federal prosecutors tend to hand-pick the cases that are the most serious, most noteworthy, or are otherwise important. There is also a relatively large class of crimes that can only be brought in federal court. These include violations of federal statutes for which there is no state equivalent. Recently learned you are facing federal criminal charges? Reach out to an Arkansas federal criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
Q: Should I try to negotiate a plea agreement or take the case to trial?
The decision to work out a negotiated plea agreement or take a case to trial is a personal one. Don’t make it without an expert federal criminal defense lawyer examining your case. Federal crimes can carry significant exposure, but being indicted does not mean you will be found guilty. An attorney may be able to step in early on and convince the prosecutor to drop some or all of the charges. In some cases, a negotiated plea agreement will be the best option. In others, the federal prosecutors may have a hard time proving you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If indicted, contact a dedicated Arkansas federal criminal defense law firm right away.
Q: Why did the federal government charge me and not the state prosecutor?
The state and federal government’s relationship is complex. This is also true regarding which offenses are prosecuted in federal court. In many cases, federal prosecutors have the option to charge someone in federal court but choose not to. This is because state prosecutors take the case. Federal prosecutors tend to hand-pick the cases that are the most serious, most noteworthy, or have other important implications. There is also a relatively large class of crimes that can only be brought before federal court. These include violations of federal statutes for which there is no state equivalent. Facing federal criminal charges? Reach out to an Arkansas federal criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.
Q: What is at stake in a federal prosecution?
Federal crimes vary in the amount of exposure they carry. However, judges must use the United States Sentencing Commission’s guidelines when deciding a sentence for a federal crime. The sentencing guidelines provide each offense with a numerical value. The higher the point value, the longer the prison sentence. Once the base point level is determined, the judge will then consider whether enhancements or reductions apply. These are also outlined in the sentencing guidelines. The federal sentencing system is quite formulaic. Despite that, having an experienced Arkansas federal criminal defense attorney’s assistance helps. If you face federal charges, contact an Arkansas federal criminal defense lawyer today.
Call 501-267-9880 for a Free Consultation
Dr. Nick Oberheiden limits his practice to federal law. He is admitted in all federal courts throughout Arkansas. If you would like to speak with Nick or meet him, call him on his mobile phone, including on weekends, at 501-267-9880. You can also contact him online. All consultations are free and 100% confidential.
Other state pages can be found here.
Additional Pages for Arkansas
- Arkansas white collar criminal defense
- Arkansas healthcare fraud defense
- Arkansas Medicare fraud defense
- Fayetteville federal criminal defense
- Fayetteville healthcare fraud defense
- Fort Smith federal criminal defense
- Fort Smith healthcare fraud defense
- Little Rock federal criminal defense
- Little Rock healthcare fraud defense
- Paragould federal criminal defense
- Springdale federal criminal defense
- Springdale healthcare fraud defense
