Baton Rouge Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys

Our Nationally-Recognized Defense Attorneys and Former DOJ Prosecutors Represent Clients Facing Serious Federal Criminal Charges in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Call 225-277-2415 Now for a Free Case Assessment.

Attorney Nick Oberheiden
Baton Rouge Federal Criminal Defense
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Federal charges for fraud, drug crimes, conspiracy, white-collar offenses, and other crimes carry the potential for severe penalties. Individual charges often carry years or decades of imprisonment and tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines, while defendants charged with multiple offenses can face a de facto life sentence and insurmountable financial liability. Avoiding these consequences requires a strategic defense presented by a team of experienced Baton Rouge federal criminal defense attorneys who have a proven record of success in high-stakes criminal litigation.

At Oberheiden, P.C., the defense team at our criminal defense law firm is known for its experience in complex federal cases. Our attorneys have collectively handled thousands of federal cases as defense attorneys and prosecutors, as many attorneys in our firm served for years with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) before entering private practice. Our team also includes the Honorable Joe Kendall, the only former federal judge who is currently representing clients in private practice.

Baton Rouge Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys for Clients Facing Federal Investigations and Charges in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

If you are under federal investigation or facing federal charges for criminal offenses, your future is on the line. A criminal law indictment could have drastic and far-reaching consequences, and a conviction in state and federal courts could be absolutely devastating. At this point, you need to devote yourself to defending yourself to the fullest extent possible, and this starts with engaging the federal criminal defense team at Oberheiden, P.C. When you choose our firm to represent you:

We Will Start Defending You Immediately. If you have the federal government’s attention, you do not have time to waste. Our Baton Rouge federal criminal defense lawyers will intervene immediately to determine the scope of the allegations against you and figure out if prosecutors are close to securing the evidence they need to take your case to court.
We Will Put a Team of Senior Attorneys on Your Side. We take a team approach to representing our clients. While you will work closely with one of our firm’s senior attorneys (we do not employ associates or paralegals), all members of our firm who have relevant experience will contribute to helping you present the strongest possible defense.
We Will Pursue a Favorable Pre-Trial Resolution. If you are innocent, we will work hard to prove it as quickly as possible. If the prosecutors handling your case do not have the evidence they need to secure a conviction at trial, we will expose each and every hole in the government’s case with the goal of securing a favorable pre-trial resolution as quickly as possible.
We Will Address the Collateral Consequences of Your Federal Case. Even if you are not convicted, facing allegations of federal criminal conduct can still negatively impact your life, career, or business in a variety of ways. In addition to defending the allegations against you, we will work to minimize the collateral consequences of your federal case as well.
We Will Stop at Nothing to Protect You. As our client, protecting you is our top priority. If it takes going to trial or fighting your case on appeal, we will stop at nothing to protect you.

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)

Clients We Represent

As a federal criminal law firm focused on representing clients in high-stakes and high-profile cases, our clients run the gamut from executives at large publicly traded corporations to individual licensed professionals accused of fraud-related crimes. Our experience in thousands of federal criminal cases encompasses representation of clients including, but not limited to:

Accountants, attorneys, and other licensed professionals
Alleged drug dealers
Bankers and financial company executives
Board members
CEOs, COOs, and CFOs
Investment brokers and advisors
Pharmacists
Physicians
Politicians and public figures
Shareholders, partners, and limited liability company (LLC) members
Other high-net-worth individuals

Cases We Handle

Our Baton Rouge federal criminal defense lawyers represent clients in Baton Rouge, Louisiana facing charges for all types of federal offenses. This includes offenses under Title 18 of the United States Code (Crimes and Criminal Procedure) and other federal statutes. While all of our attorneys have extensive courtroom experience, we have successfully resolved most of our clients’ cases prior to trial, including numerous cases in which we have terminated our clients’ federal investigations without charges being filed.

Our criminal defense practice includes representing individual and corporate clients in cases involving allegations of:

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

What Should You Do if You are the Target of a Federal Investigation?

If you are being targeted in a federal investigation, if you have received a grand jury subpoena, or if you are the subject of a criminal indictment, the importance of taking action to protect yourself immediately cannot be overstated. The longer you delay, the longer federal prosecutors will have to get out in front of you, and the less time you will have to build a defense strategy that is capable of protecting you against a conviction and harsh sentencing at trial.

With this in mind, what should you be doing if you are in the federal government’s crosshairs for healthcare fraud, securities fraud, tax evasion, distribution of controlled substances, public corruption, or any other alleged federal offense?

1. Exercise Your Right to Remain Silent.

As the target of a federal investigation, you are not required to voluntarily disclose incriminating documents or information. Make sure you understand the scope (and limits) of your right to remain silent, and refuse to give in to pressure to help the government convict you.

2. Understand Your Obligation to Respond.

While you have the right to remain silent, if you have received a target letter or subpoena – or if you have already formally been charged – you also have a duty to respond. Once again, understanding the scope of this duty is critical, as you need to strike a careful balance between complying and preserving your available defense strategies.

3. Know the Deadlines in Your Case.

Missing a deadline to respond to a subpoena or failing to appear before a grand jury can have consequences even if you are not guilty of the crime (or crimes) alleged. Make sure you are aware of all deadlines that are currently pending, and ensure that you have a plan of action in place.

4. Examine All Possible Defenses.

Innocence is not the only defense to federal criminal charges. Even if you cannot prove your innocence, if prosecutors cannot prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, then you are entitled to walk free. From lack of intent to violations of your constitutional rights, you have numerous potential defenses available, and you need to examine all of them in order to choose your path forward.

5. Plan, Then Execute Immediately.

Once you have outlined a defense strategy, you need to execute on that strategy immediately. If a pre-trial resolution is on the table, you will want to seize the opportunity before the U.S. Attorney’s Office becomes committed to trying your case in court.

What Can Our Federal Criminal Defense Team Do to Help?

So, you know what you need to do. Now, what can our Baton Rouge Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys do to help?

Intervene Promptly. Once you engage our firm to represent you, a skilled criminal defense attorney from our firm will intervene in your case to address any improper investigative or prosecutorial practices and determine the scope and status of the government’s case against you.
Avoid Charges. If at all possible, we will seek to resolve your case without charges being filed. We can do this at two stages: (i) during the government’s investigation, and (ii) during grand jury proceedings.
Secure Bond. We have close to a 100% success rate in obtaining bond for our clients in federal criminal cases. If you are eligible for bond, we can use this experience to your advantage.
Dismiss Charges. Contrary to popular perception, there is a lot that can be done between an indictment and the date of trial. We have been successful in undoing indictments and having clients’ charges dismissed during pre-trial proceedings.
Negotiate a Plea. If a dismissal is not on the table and you face the risk of conviction at trial, we will work to secure the leverage needed to negotiate a plea deal that is as favorable as possible. We will use the available evidence (or lack thereof) to convince the U.S. Attorney’s Office that you are entitled to a favorable deal.
Fight for You in Court. If it is in your interests to go to trial, we will utilize our attorneys’ collective courtroom experience to fight for a “not guilty” verdict at trial. Our Baton Rouge federal criminal defense lawyer will fight for your freedom in front of the judge or jury, and we will do everything in our power to protect you against a federal conviction.

Baton Rouge, LA Federal Criminal Defense: FAQs

What should I do if the FBI shows up at my house?

If FBI agents show up at your door, you may need to let them in if they have a warrant. However, you should not speak with them about their investigation. Often, FBI agents tell the person they are speaking to that they are not under investigation in hopes of eliciting an incriminating statement. Once those words come out, they can’t be unsaid. If the FBI knocked on your door, regardless of the outcome, it is important you consult with an experienced Baton Rouge federal criminal defense attorney to get to the bottom of what the federal government is looking into.

What is a grand jury?

A grand jury is a group of citizens who act as an “investigative body” that hears a federal prosecutor’s case and determines if there is probable cause to believe the target of the investigation committed the alleged offenses. Federal grand juries are conducted in secret, without a judge or defense counsel. This means that, if you are the target of a grand jury investigation, you won’t be aware of it unless the grand jury finds that you more than likely committed the crimes in question. If you were recently indicted on federal criminal charges, or received a grand jury subpoena, reach out to an accredited Louisiana federal criminal defense attorney today for immediate assistance.

What is a grand jury subpoena?

While the name would seemingly indicate that a grand jury subpoena is issued by a grand jury, that isn’t the case. A grand jury subpoena is a type of subpoena used by federal prosecutors in the investigation of a federal crime. Grand jury subpoenas are used in grand jury proceedings, which is where they get their name. When a federal prosecutor issues a grand jury subpoena, they believe the recipient has information critical to their investigation. In some cases, the subpoena compels the recipient to testify at a grand jury proceeding. If that is the case, the person must testify without a lawyer by their side. If you’ve been served with a grand jury subpoena, you must consult with an experienced Baton Rouge federal criminal defense lawyer before speaking with prosecutors about the case.

What is at stake in a federal prosecution?

Federal prosecutions range in severity. However, in any federal criminal case, the stakes are high. If you are convicted of a crime in federal court, you can face jail time, probation, and astronomical fines. In addition, you may also face professional sanctions as the result of a conviction, including the loss of financial certifications or medical and legal licenses. However, just because the federal government is bringing a case against you does not mean that you are guilty of the crimes charged. You are innocent unless and until the government can prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The government will undoubtedly be prepared with its case; you should be as well. The first step is reaching out to an experienced Baton Rouge, LA federal criminal defense lawyer.

How can a Louisiana federal criminal defense attorney help me?

Having an experienced and effective attorney is vital for anyone who faces federal criminal charges. Depending on the stage in the government’s case, an attorney may be able to limit the scope of the investigation to prevent the government from bringing charges, negotiate on your behalf with federal prosecutors, suppress harmful evidence from trial, or advocate for a more lenient sentence. Federal prosecutors are highly experienced; if you want to protect your interests, you need a Baton Rouge federal criminal attorney of the same caliber.

How should I pick a Baton Rouge, Louisiana federal criminal defense lawyer?

If you recently learned that you are under investigation for a federal crime or—worse yet—that you’ve been indicted, your choice of attorney is one of the most important decisions you will make. When selecting a Baton Rouge federal criminal defense lawyer, you want an attorney who has extensive experience both in and out of the courtroom. While most federal criminal cases settle, you do not want your options limited by your attorney’s comfort level in the courtroom. It is also important to assess the type of cases an attorney has handled. Many federal crimes are exceedingly complex and require not only knowledge of the law, but also of the underlying business. For example, your typical criminal defense lawyer may be ill-suited to handle the nuances of an extensive white collar criminal investigation.

Get Started with Your Free Case Assessment From a Baton Rouge Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you are under investigation or facing federal charges in Baton Rouge, contact our Baton Rouge federal criminal defense attorney immediately to schedule your free case assessment. To request an appointment, call 225-277-2415 or tell us how to reach you online now.