Santa Ana Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys (FBI, OIG, IRS, DEA)
Santa Ana, California Federal Criminal Defense Team Lead
Santa Ana, California Federal Criminal Defense Team Lead
Former Prosecutor
Santa Ana, California Federal Criminal Defense Team Lead
Centrally located in Orange County, Santa Ana is also at the center of a significant number of federal criminal investigations. If you live or work in Santa Ana and you are being targeted for prosecution by the FBI, OIG, IRS, or DEA, you need to speak with our experienced Santa Ana federal criminal defense attorneys immediately.
Healthcare providers, business owners, company executives, and other individuals in Santa Ana, California, are at risk of being targeted in federal criminal investigations. Federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Office of Inspector General (OIG), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), increasingly target legitimate businesses and licensed professionals. In many cases, these events come as a complete surprise.
If you have just learned that you’re under investigation by the FBI, OIG, IRS, or DEA, it’s critical to get the best criminal defense attorneys on your side. In order to avoid prosecution through the criminal justice system, you must defend yourself. The best way to do so is stopping the federal government in its tracks.
At the law offices of Oberheiden, P.C., a Santa Ana federal criminal defense attorney on our team provides aggressive representation defending against allegations of federal crimes in Santa Ana, throughout California, and nationwide. Our federal criminal defense team is composed entirely of senior attorneys. Our team approach affords each client the full benefit of our attorneys’ notable legal experience. Many of our attorneys served long stints with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) before entering private practice. That gives us unique insights into defense strategies to resolve federal investigations with no criminal charges filed.
A National Federal Criminal Defense Law Firm Serving Santa Ana, CA
When representing clients, our first priority is to intervene in the government’s investigation. This prevents federal agents and prosecutors from continuing to pursue you unchecked. It lets them know you intend to aggressively defend yourself rather than waiting to take your chances at trial. Our Santa Ana federal criminal defense lawyers are often able to resolve clients’ cases prior to indictment. And if you aren’t indicted, it means you can quickly get back to business as usual.
Our aggressive approach to defending physicians, pharmacists, executives, and other clients during federal criminal investigations includes:
- Making Immediate Contact with the Investigating Agency (or Agencies) – As soon as possible after you engage our firm, we’ll make contact with the agency (or agencies) handling your investigation. That will let them know you are represented by legal counsel. Our Santa Ana federal criminal defense attorneys will determine the status of the investigation. We’ll also gather information to find why the government is interested in your business or practice.
- Executing a Strategy for Terminating the Investigation without Charges – What triggered the investigation? What steps have the special agents and prosecutors handling the investigation taken to date? How close are they to filing charges? What issues have they overlooked? These are some questions we will ask to develop a strategy to prevent you from facing criminal charges.
- Preparing for the Possibility of an Indictment and Trial – While we focus our efforts to avoid prosecution, this strategy prepares for the possibility of criminal charges. Why? We let the prosecutors handling your case know we are prepared to litigate if necessary. The strategy allows our skilled Santa Ana federal criminal defense lawyer to secure additional leverage for pre-indictment negotiations.
- Working Closely With Our Clients One-on-One – To provide a custom defense, our team needs to learn as much about the investigation and your business or practice as possible. To do this, we work closely with you one-on-one. Not only during the initial stages of our work, but also on an ongoing basis. We continue to refine and redirect our case strategy based on the situation at hand.
- Never, Never Resigning Our Clients’ Fate – When you engage our federal criminal defense team, we fight for you until the bitter end. We refuse to accept limited options. Our highly experienced Santa Ana federal criminal defense attorneys do not back down. We won’t stop fighting no matter how much pressure federal prosecutors try to exert.
Put our highly experienced team on your side
Dr. Nick Oberheiden
Founder
Attorney-at-Law
Lynette S. Byrd
Former DOJ Trial Attorney
Partner
Brian J. Kuester
Former U.S. Attorney
Hon. Kevin McCarthy
55th Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives (ret.)
Government Consultant
Mike Pompeo
Of Counsel
Former U.S. Secretary of State
John W. Sellers
Former Senior DOJ Trial Attorney
Linda Julin McNamara
Federal Appeals Attorney
Nicholas B. Johnson
Former Prosecutor
Roger Bach
Former Special Agent (DOJ)
Chris J. Quick
Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)
Michael S. Koslow
Former Supervisory Special Agent (DOD-OIG)
Ray Yuen
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
Experienced Legal Representation for All FBI, OIG, IRS, and DEA Matters
Our firm has a record of getting favorable results on both sides of federal criminal investigations. Our attorneys have successfully resolved matters involving nearly all types of white-collar criminal charges. We also have experience with allegations of drug-related offenses, including prescription drug crimes. Call our Santa Ana federal criminal defense lawyers today at 888-680-1745 for a free and confidential assessment of your investigation involving allegations of:
- Bank Fraud, Insurance Fraud, or Securities Fraud
- Conspiracy or Attempt
- Federal Drug Charges
- Healthcare Fraud
- Internet or Computer Crimes
- Mail Fraud or Wire Fraud
- Money Laundering
- Public Corruption or Bribery
- Tax Violations
- Theft, Counterfeiting, or Embezzlement
- Other White-Collar Crimes
Common Allegations in FBI, OIG, IRS, and DEA Investigations
Learning why you are under investigation is one of the first steps in building an effective defense strategy. This is often much more difficult than it sounds. The agency (or agencies) involved in your investigation can tell you a lot about the charges you may face if your case goes to a grand jury. For example:
If You Are Under Investigation by the FBI…
As the nation’s chief law enforcement agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is responsible for investigating a broad range of federal offenses. If FBI agents have come knocking at your door, you could be under suspicion of:
- Healthcare fraud,
- Corporate fraud,
- Computer and internet crimes,
- Public corruption, or
- Any of a variety of other white-collar offenses.
If You Are Under Investigation by the OIG…
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is much more limited in its actions. Tasked with “protect[ing] the integrity of [healthcare benefit] programs as well as the health and welfare of program beneficiaries,” the OIG primarily focuses on investigating healthcare providers and related entities suspected of Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
If You Are Under Investigation by the IRS…
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) focuses its efforts on enforcing taxpayers’ obligations under the Internal Revenue Code. If you have been contacted by agents from the IRS’s criminal enforcement division, it means that you are suspected of tax evasion or other criminal tax violations.
If You Are Under Investigation by the DEA…
The Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) focus is somewhat limited as well. The DEA is responsible for enforcing the nation’s drug laws. This includes provisions of the Controlled Substances Act that apply to healthcare providers who prescribe and dispense such medications.
FAQs: Defending against Federal Criminal Charges in California
Q: If I know I am guilty, should I cooperate with the government in order to receive a better deal?
First and foremost, you should never assume that you are guilty of a federal crime. You are not guilty until the DOJ proves your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in U.S. District Court. There are a variety of defense strategies your attorney can use to prevent such an outcome.
Second, while being careful to avoid violating the terms of any subpoenas you receive, you must be equally careful to avoid being overly “helpful” to the agents and prosecutors involved. Remember, they are there to try to put you in federal prison. And if you are guilty, no amount of “helpfulness” is going to prevent them from pursuing charges.
Q: What are some of the defense strategies you can use to protect me?
The answer to this question depends on the specific facts and details involved in your case. Generally, some of the defense strategies we most commonly use at Oberheiden, P.C., include:
- Asserting our clients’ constitutional rights in order to have evidence suppressed from trial
- Asserting affirmative defenses, such as the safe harbor protections under the Anti-Kickback Statute
- Challenging the credibility of the government’s witnesses
- Challenging the government’s evidence of intent
- Raising doubt about each and every element the government must prove in order to secure a conviction
Q: Can Oberheiden, P.C., represent me in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California?
If your best option is to present a defense strategy at trial, yes, we can represent you in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. We maintain a national federal criminal defense practice, and our Santa Ana attorneys have defended clients in federal district courts across the country. Keep in mind, however, in most situations, you should be focused on resolving your case before charges are filed.
Contact Us Now to Discuss Your Case
For more information about our defense representation for FBI, OIG, IRS, and DEA matters in Santa Ana, please contact our Santa Ana federal criminal defense attorneys to schedule a free and confidential case assessment. The attorneys on our federal criminal defense team are available 24/7, so call 888-680-1745 or tell us how to contact you online now.
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The only Firm attorneys admitted in California are Nicholas Johnson and Paul Strickland. Local counsel James Bell is also admitted in California. Any other lawyer displayed or mentioned in connection with matters in California are either attorneys admitted in jurisdictions other than California or non-lawyer consultants. Firm attorneys not admitted in California do not advise on California law and they do not practice California law. Upon special request by an informed client, Firm attorneys not admitted in California may assist California licensed attorneys on federal law matters within the confines detailed in our Disclaimer and FTC Disclaimer. Importantly, Firm does not have offices in California.
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