Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers
Oberheiden, P.C. is a team of criminal defense trial lawyers who have a significant record of success in federal criminal court. If you are being targeted for federal prosecution and it is not possible to avoid charges, the attorneys at Oberheiden, P.C. will fight aggressively to protect your interests at trial.
Criminal Defense Trial Team Lead
Contact Nick directlyMost people never expect to end up in federal court. Even if you knew you were doing something that was illegal, and even if you danced the fine line of willful ignorance for too long, you assumed that you would always be able to find out, and that things would ultimately work out in your favor.
Then, there are those individuals who had no idea they were at risk for federal prosecution. Most healthcare providers and other business owners fall into this category. They served their patients or customers, did their best to comply with the law, and never entertained the thought of engaging in a criminal enterprise, much less one with the potential to lead to decades behind bars.
But, from drug dealers to physicians, and from stock fraud artists to C-suite executives, these days more and more people are finding themselves in federal criminal court. The stakes are high – fines, prison time, and loss of licensure – and the chances of conviction without legal representation are even higher.
Proven and Trusted Trial Lawyers for Federal Criminal Defense
Founding attorney Dr. Nick Oberheiden and the other attorneys at Oberheiden, P.C. are criminal defense trial lawyers who have successfully represented clients charged with a broad range of federal offenses in U.S. District Courts across the country. Our experienced defense attorneys and former federal prosecutors have vast experience representing physicians, pharmacists, executives, board members, business owners, and other licensed professionals in cases involving allegations of healthcare crimes, drug crimes, securities and tax fraud, and other white-collar offenses. Although we emphasize the pre-trial resolution of clients’ cases and have had particular success preventing charges from being filed during the investigative process, our attorneys routinely appear on behalf of the firm’s clients in federal court.
Our attorneys are licensed to practice in multiple federal jurisdictions across the country, including the U.S. District Courts in the following states:
- Arkansas (entire state)
- Colorado (entire state)
- Illinois (Central and Northern Districts)
- Michigan (Eastern District)
- Missouri (Eastern District)
- Nebraska (entire state)
- New Mexico (entire state)
- New York (Eastern and Southern Districts, including New York City)
- North Dakota (entire state)
- Oklahoma (Western District)
- Texas (entire state)
- Wisconsin (Eastern District)
For matters in other federal jurisdictions, our attorneys are able to represent clients through pro hac vice bar admission and affiliation with other federal bar attorneys nationwide.
Experience and Results in High-Stakes Federal Criminal Trials
In federal cases, it is not unusual for prosecutors from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to pursue multiple charges for related and unrelated criminal offenses. Our criminal defense trial attorneys use their vast criminal trial experience to dissect each element of the government’s case to implement the goal of protecting our clients against conviction using detailed, comprehensive, and custom-tailored defense strategies. In many cases, federal prosecutors will file a bevy of charges hoping that one or more will “stick.” Our attorneys are familiar with this prosecution strategy, and tailor defense strategies to establish that the evidence simply is not on the government’s side.
Contact Oberheiden, P.C. today to speak with our highly-experienced and trial-tested criminal defense trial lawyers about your federal case involving charges for:
- Attempt
- Bank fraud
- Conspiracy
- Drug crimes (including prescription drug crimes)
- Healthcare fraud (including Medicare, Medicaid, and Tricare fraud)
- Insurance fraud
- Mail or wire fraud
- Mortgage fraud
- Money laundering
- Public corruption or bribery
- Securities fraud
- Tax fraud
- Other white-collar federal crimes
In addition to pursuing multiple charges, federal prosecutors will often pursue multiple counts of each charge as well. This can substantially increase defendants’ exposure since laws such as the False Claims Act, for example, impose penalties for each individual “false or fraudulent claim.” A healthcare practitioner or executive who is alleged to have submitted hundreds or thousands of improper reimbursement requests could be facing millions of dollars in fines and decades of imprisonment, and our attorneys have used their experience to protect numerous clients from life-altering consequences.
Going to Trial on Federal Charges: Criminal Defense FAQs
Q: If my trial date is set, is it still possible to negotiate a plea bargain?
Yes, absolutely. Criminal trials are high-stakes for defendants and federal prosecutors; and, as trial dates near, it is not uncommon for both sides to find it in their best interests to negotiate a resolution. As we prepare our clients’ cases for trial, we continually evaluate and re-evaluate settlement opportunities, and our attorneys use their litigation records as leverage to convince prosecutors that their only viable option is to settle.
Defendants and prosecutors can reach plea deals during trial as well. However, once the government presents its case, it is also possible to file motion for judgment of acquittal; and, if this motion is successful, the defendant is entitled to walk free without presenting his or her defense in court. As a result, deciding to accept a plea is something that needs to be done cautiously and with a clear understanding of the realistic potential outcomes of your case, and this requires the advice and counsel of a highly-experienced federal defense attorney.
Q: If federal prosecutors will not accept a plea, does this mean the government has a strong case?
Not necessarily. It means the prosecutors think they have a strong case. While this may or may not be true, if your attorney believes it is worth taking your case to trial, this means that you have a strong case as well.
There are numerous ways to fight criminal charges in federal court. From challenging the government’s investigatory practices to questioning the prosecution’s evidence, and from discrediting the government’s witnesses to asserting affirmative defenses, our attorneys will make use of all available defense strategies to protect you at trial.
Q: What if prosecutors are trying to use evidence that was obtained illegally?
If the prosecution is trying to use evidence that they or federal agents obtained illegally or in violation of your Constitutional rights, your attorney can file a motion to have this evidence suppressed from your trial. For example, if federal agents improperly searched your home or business without a valid search warrant, not only should any evidence from the search be deemed inadmissible, but any evidence obtained as a result of information uncovered during the search should be inadmissible as well (as “fruit of the poisonous tree”).
However, proving that federal agents or prosecutors obtained evidence illegally is not easy, and it also is not always clear what evidence constitutes fruit of the poisonous tree. Once again, this is where having an experienced and trial-tested criminal defense lawyer comes into play.
Q: What do I need to while awaiting trial on federal criminal charges?
If you have been indicted on federal criminal charges, everything you say and do from now until the conclusion of your trial matters. You need to be careful to protect yourself, and this includes avoiding costly mistakes that criminal defendants make far too often. Some of the key steps for improving your chances of acquittal include:
- Seek legal representation immediately. Your attorney will need to get to work on your case as soon as possible.
- Avoid unlawful activity. If you are facing charges as a result of something to do with your business or professional practice, ensure that you have appropriate compliance controls in place.
- Avoid discussing your case with anyone but your attorney. This includes family, co-workers, colleagues, friends, and federal agents.
- Learn more about your case. Our federal criminal defense blog provides a wealth of information about federal criminal law, procedure, and defense strategies.
- Focus on your defense. While it is important to try to maintain your normal life as much as possible, you also need to stay focused on your defense. Contact your criminal defense trial attorney whenever you have questions or information, and always respond to your attorney’s questions as soon as possible.
About Oberheiden, P.C., Federal Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers
Oberheiden, P.C. is a federal criminal defense law firm with a national presence. A Harvard-trained negotiator and graduate of top law schools in the U.S. and Germany, our firm’s founder Dr. Nick Oberheiden has earned a significant record of pre-trial and trial results. Oberheiden, P.C. is one of only a select number of law firms to focus exclusively on federal defense, and our federal defense lawyers have secured favorable results for clients in 21 states and counting.
Get to know the criminal defense trial lawyers at Oberheiden, P.C.
Arrested? Indicted? Schedule a Free Consultation Now
If you are facing federal criminal charges, you do not have time to waste. To get to work on your defense strategy, call Oberheiden, P.C. at 888-680-1745 or request a free initial consultation online now with a proven and winning criminal defense trial lawyers.