Union Bribery Defense in Long Island, New York & New Jersey
Why have thousands of clients chosen Oberheiden P.C.?
- Only Sr. Attorneys– We don’t employ paralegals, Jr. Attorneys, or Secretaries. You will work directly with a Sr. Attorney who will keep you apprised on a regular basis regarding the details of your case.
- We Know The Government’s Playbook– Many of our attorneys previously worked for the government as federal prosecutors. Understanding the tricks, goals, and strategies of the opposing side gives us an advantage as we prepare our defense.
- We Have Secret Weapons– Our team of Former FBI, IRS, DEA, OIG, and Secret Service agents will use their experience in espionage, business investigations, and cyber forensics to find the nuanced details that can sometimes be the difference between a win or jail time.
- Unrivaled Results– While we have many tools at our disposal, our greatest asset is our high level of experience fighting the government. This experience has given us the privilege of winning over 2,000 cases on behalf of our clients.
I encourage you to compare our experience, results, and team with any local or national firm.
When you’ve been defending clients for as long as we have, there’s no trick we haven’t seen, likely no tactics we haven’t countered and no strategy we haven’t circumvented many times before.
If your reputation, livelihood, freedom, or career is at stake, call us today for a free consultation.
We will help you clearly understand what your options are and the best path forward.
Call now to confidentially discuss the details of your case: 212-970-9468
Dr. Nick Oberheiden
30 Wall Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10005
212-970-9468
We Defend Company Executives, Union Leaders, Public Officials, and Others in Bribery Cases in Long Island, New York and New Jersey
Team Lead
Contact NickOrganized labor has long played a central role in the economies of New York and New Jersey. Unions help laborers secure fair wages and protect their rights, and negotiations between union leaders and employers help ensure a tenable labor marketplace for all parties involved. But, bribery and corruption have long played a role in labor relations as well, and federal, state, and local authorities are continuing to crack down on union-related criminal activity in the Tri-state Area.
At Oberheiden P.C., we defend individuals and organizations facing bribery and corruption charges in Long Island, New York and New Jersey. This includes company executives, union leaders, public officials, and others. Not only do our defense lawyers and consultants have extensive experience in private practice, but they also have vast prior experience as prosecutors and investigative agents working for the federal government. This includes experience working inside the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and multiple other agencies.
When the DOJ, FBI, and other agencies investigate cases of suspected union-related bribery and corruption, the consequences can be severe for all parties involved. Under federal anti-corruption statutes, individuals convicted of offering, paying, soliciting, and accepting bribes can face criminal fines and years or decades of imprisonment. These investigations can lead to a multitude of charges; and, even if federal authorities have a specific target in mind (i.e., a union boss or public official suspected of accepting bribes), multiple individuals can end up facing charges for conspiracy, corruption, tax evasion, and other related crimes.
With this in mind, if you are under investigation for suspected union bribery or corruption, or if you are concerned that you might get swept up in a union-related bribery investigation, it is critically important that you engage defense counsel promptly. Our defense lawyers and former federal agents are available around the clock, and we can get to work on your defense immediately if necessary.
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)
Our firm handles union-related bribery and corruption cases throughout Long Island, New York and New Jersey. If you are being targeted as a company executive, union leader, public official, or other individual suspected of criminal activity, we can defend you against charges including:
Offering payoffs to company executives, coercing union leaders, negotiating sweetheart deals, paying kickbacks, filing false ERISA reports, and various other forms of illegal activity can lead to criminal charges for those involved. Bribery and corruption are serious crimes under federal law that carry substantial penalties.
Bribing a Public Official
Bribing a public official, or attempting to bribe a public official, for union-related purposes is a crime under federal law. Company executives and union leaders alike can face charges under 18 U.S.C. Section 201(b)(1), and those who get convicted can face statutory fines and up to 15 years behind bars.
Bribing a Bank Officer
Bribing or attempting to bribe a bank officer is also a federal criminal offense. For purposes of 18 U.S.C. Section 215(a)(1), “bank officers” include employees, officers, directors, and other representatives. If a company executive, union leader, or other individual is accused of paying or attempting to pay a bribe to a bank officer for purposes related to union financing or an organized labor dispute, he or she can face fines and up to 30 years of federal imprisonment.
Criminal Abuse of Union Power
Criminal abuse of union power can involve using a position of authority within a union for personal gain or leveraging union membership for illegal benefits. Examples include making personal use of union funds or property, receiving unauthorized compensation or benefits, negotiating for no-show jobs, and soliciting kickbacks from vendors and other third parties.
Receiving a Bribe or Illegal Gratuity as a Public Official
Public officials who deal with union matters have a strict duty not to engage in any prohibited financial (or other) transactions. Under 18 U.S.C. Section 201(b)(2), a public official who, “directly or indirectly, corruptly demands, seeks, receives, accepts, or agrees to receive or accept anything of value,” in exchange for influence in his or her government position can face fines and prison time.
Even if an offer of payment comes after the fact, accepting the payment still constitutes a federal crime. This is referred to as accepting an “illegal gratuity,” and it also carries fines and prison time under federal law.
Honest Services Fraud
Honest services fraud is defined in Section 1346 of the federal criminal code. In short, government officials have an obligation to provide “honest services” when performing their duties—essentially, they must perform their duties in compliance with the law. Accepting unlawful bribes and kickbacks offered by companies and unions can be characterized as honest services fraud, and government officials targeted in union-related investigations can face charges under Section 1346 in addition to facing charges under Section 201.
Theft of Government Money or Property
Public officials who use government assets for improper purposes after accepting bribes or kickbacks can face charges for theft of government money or property under 18 U.S.C. Section 641. Violations of this statute carry statutory fines and up to 10 years of imprisonment.
Embezzlement, Forgery, and Other Crimes
All individuals implicated in alleged union bribery and corruption schemes can face other related criminal charges as well. This includes charges for embezzlement, forgery, money laundering, tax evasion, and other crimes.
Conspiracy to Commit Union Bribery or Corruption
Even in cases in which federal prosecutors cannot prove that company executives, union leaders, government officials, or others engaged in corrupt activities, they may still be able to pursue criminal conspiracy charges under 18 U.S.C. Section 371. Federal prosecutors regularly use Section 371 to put charges on the table and establish leverage in talks with suspects, targets, and witnesses. If convicted of participating in a conspiracy to engage in union-related corruption, those charged can face fines and five years in federal prison.
State Labor Law Violations
In New York and New Jersey, state labor laws prohibit corrupt union-related activity as well. State laws, including NY Penal Law Section 180.15, prohibit bribes and other forms of corruption similar to those prohibited under federal law, and targeted individuals can face misdemeanor or felony charges depending on the specific allegations involved.
FAQs: Defending Against Union Bribery Allegations in Long Island, New York and New Jersey
What Agencies Investigate Union Bribery and Corruption Cases?
Several agencies investigate union bribery and corruption cases. At the federal level, the DOJ and FBI are the two main investigative agencies that handle these cases, but the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and various other agencies may play a role in these investigations. At the state level, Attorney General’s Offices work with law enforcement agencies to uncover and prosecute union-related crimes.
I Am Under Investigation for Union Bribery. What Should I Do?
If you are under investigation for union bribery in New York or New Jersey, you need to speak with a defense lawyer who has significant experience in these types of cases. There are several potential defenses available in these cases, but asserting these defenses isn’t easy, and mistakes can have drastic consequences.
I Accepted a Payment from a Union Official. Am I In Trouble?
If you accepted a payment from a union official in New York or New Jersey, you may be at risk for prosecution for bribery or corruption. However, not all payments from union officials constitute illegal bribes or gratuities. Our lawyers can determine if you are at risk; and, if so, we can defend you by all means available.
Are Union Bribery Cases Different from Other Bribery and Corruption Cases?
Union bribery cases differ from other types of bribery and corruption cases in that there are more potential charges on the table. In addition to the laws that prohibit bribery and corruption generally, federal and state labor laws specifically impose penalties for various union-related offenses.
Do I Need a Lawyer if I Am Under Investigation for Union Bribery or Corruption?
If you are under investigation for union bribery or corruption, it is strongly in your best interests to speak with a defense lawyer right away. These investigations can lead to multiple charges all carrying substantial penalties, but it will be possible to avoid these charges with a proactive defense strategy in many cases. Our lawyers have experience on both sides of federal bribery and corruption cases, and we can use this experience to help guide your investigation toward a favorable resolution.
Request an Appointment with a Union Bribery Defense Lawyer in Long Island, New York or New Jersey
If you need defense counsel for a union bribery or corruption investigation in Long Island, New York or New Jersey, we encourage you to contact us for a complimentary initial consultation. Call 212-970-9468 or get in touch online to speak with a senior defense lawyer at Oberheiden P.C. in confidence today.
