Michigan Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers
Our federal criminal defense lawyers represent clients facing serious charges in Detroit, Grand Rapids, and all of Michigan including the Eastern and Western Districts. If you are under investigation, if you have been subpoenaed to appear before a grand jury, or if you are awaiting trial on federal charges, call 313-462-7972 now for a free and confidential consultation.
Oberheiden, P.C. is a federal criminal defense law firm with a nationwide presence. Our attorneys have centuries of combined experience on both sides of federal criminal matters, and our defense team is available to represent clients in federal cases in Michigan’s Eastern and Western Districts. Regardless of the scope of the allegations against you, and regardless of whether you are currently under investigation or your case has been scheduled for trial, our attorneys can help, and we encourage you to contact us immediately to discuss your defense. When facing allegations of federal crimes, executing a successful defense strategy requires a comprehensive understanding of the factual, legal, and procedural aspects of your case. With our attorneys’ extensive experience in federal criminal matters, we are able to quickly assess our clients’ exposure, and we can begin working immediately to build a compelling case for terminating the government’s investigation or acquitting you of all charges. In all cases, prompt intervention is critical, and our attorneys can be on the ground in Michigan at a moment’s notice if that is what it takes to protect you against a conviction at trial. Founder Attorney-at-Law Former Department of Justice Former U.S. Attorney Former Senior Trial Attorney Local Counsel Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Local Counsel Former U.S. Attorney & Former District Attorney Local Trial & Defense Counsel Former U.S. Attorney Local Counsel Former Federal Prosecutor Local Counsel Former Special Agent (OIG) Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI) Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI) Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)Put our highly experienced team on your side
Dr. Nick Oberheiden
Lynette S. Byrd
Brian J. Kuester
Former DA
John W. Sellers
U.S. Department of Justice
Joanne Fine DeLena
Joe Brown
Amanda Marshall
Aaron L. Wiley
Roger Bach
Michael Koslow
Chris Quick
Ray Yuen
Cases We Handle
We represent public figures, politicians, licensed professionals, company executives, business owners, and other high-profile and high-net-worth individuals who are being targeted by the Department of Justice (DOJ), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Office of Inspector General (OIG), U.S. Attorney’s Office, and all other federal agencies. We handle cases involving all federal white-collar crimes, including:
Fraud
Fraud allegations can take a variety of different forms, and individuals and organizations can face prosecution for fraudulent acts targeting the federal government, banks, other privately and publicly-held businesses, and consumers. We have particular experience defending clients against allegations of:
- Bank Fraud
- Healthcare Fraud
- Insurance Fraud
- Mail Fraud and Wire Fraud
- Mortgage Fraud
- Securities Fraud
Financial Crimes
Financial crimes range from money laundering to bribery of public officials. These cases are usually highly-complex and the outcomes are heavily dependent upon the facts at hand. Our Michigan federal criminal defense attorneys have successfully represented clients facing allegations of:
Other White-Collar Offenses
Other white-collar offenses under federal law run the gamut from the “inchoate” offenses of attempt and conspiracy to running large-scale drug manufacturing and distribution operations and making terrorist threats against the United States. At Oberheiden, P.C., our attorneys call upon their experience as prosecutors and defense counsel to protect clients charged with:
What to Do After a Federal Arrest in Michigan: Dos and Don’ts
When facing a federal investigation or federal prosecution in Michigan, making informed decisions means both knowing what you can do to aid in your defense and how to avoid mistakes that could put the outcome of your case in jeopardy. So, what do you need to do to protect yourself? Here are some recommendations from Oberheiden, P.C.’s team of highly-experienced Michigan federal criminal defense attorneys:
DO: Speak with a Federal Defense Attorney Immediately
First and foremost, you need to immediately engage experienced legal representation. When facing a federal investigation, prompt intervention is critical; and, if you have received a grand jury subpoena or have already been charged, you do not have any time to waste. Our Michigan federal criminal defense lawyers can explain everything you need to know, and we will begin working with you on your defense strategy right away.
DON’T: Give a Statement or Answer Any Questions
At this point, you should not make any statements to federal agents or prosecutors except on the explicit advice of legal counsel. Even if you are asked for an “interview” as a potential witness or federal agents claim that they simply want to ask you some questions, you need to assume that anything you say will be used as evidence in the government’s case against you.
DO: Protect Your Constitutional Rights
As the target of a federal criminal investigation or a defendant in a federal criminal case, you have clear and undeniable constitutional rights. If you are searched or your property or records are seized improperly, if you are coerced into making an admission, or if you have been denied your right to counsel, then any evidence obtained in violation of your rights may be inadmissible in court.
DON’T: Cooperate with Federal Agents in Any Way
While you should do your best to be polite, you should also stand firm in refusing to cooperate in the government’s investigation. Let the agents handling your investigation know that you are refusing to answer any questions and that you are exercising your constitutional right to speak with a Michigan federal criminal defense attorney.
DO: Start Working on Your Defense Immediately
As we already mentioned, if you are at risk for a federal conviction, you need to begin building your defense strategy immediately. Federal agents and prosecutors will be working to convict you with virtually unlimited resources, and you need to make sure you have every opportunity to resolve your case in your favor.
DON’T: Ruin Your Chances of Asserting a Successful Defense
From voluntary speaking with federal agents to waiting too long to seek legal advice, there are numerous mistakes that can potentially jeopardize your defense. To ensure that you are not unwittingly exposing yourself to prosecution, you need to speak with a Michigan federal criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Q&A with the Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers at Oberheiden, P.C.
Q: Will the government be able to use all the evidence it has against me?
It depends. Usually, federal prosecutors will attempt to use all evidence they have against you at trial. In some cases, however, federal law enforcement agents may have seized evidence in violation of your constitutional rights. Taking a statement from you without the presence of your attorney or illegally searching your home or business are examples of this. In other situations, the federal government may come across certain evidence during its investigation that is inadmissible at trial based on other evidentiary rules. Reach out to a dedicated Michigan federal criminal defense attorney if you have been recently indicted to discuss your situation and your options.
Q: What should I do if I receive a subpoena?
Depending on the type of subpoena you received, you may need to either appear at a specific location on a certain date or, more likely, you need to produce the requested evidence for the U.S. Attorney’s inspection. In the latter case, subpoenas are usually very broad, potentially covering thousands of documents, and even more in some cases. Although you generally need to comply with a subpoena, determining what exactly you need to provide to the U.S. Attorney is often unclear. You want to ensure that you do not give the government the idea you are hiding something, but you also do not want to provide the government information that could shift the focus of its investigation to you or your business. Therefore, if you received a subpoena, you should reach out to an experienced Michigan federal criminal defense lawyer to review your options.
Q: How can I avoid answering questions if federal agents are pressing me for information?
Federal agents with the DOJ, DEA, FBI, and other agencies use a variety of different strategies to solicit incriminating statements from targets and defendants. One of these strategies is simply to be relentless in asking for information. While federal agents may make it seem as though you have no choice but to cooperate, you need to stand firm in refusing to help the government build its case against you.
Q: If I am still under investigation, do I need an attorney?
Another common tactic used by federal agents is to tell targets of federal investigations that they do not have any reason to hire an attorney. They may say that the government’s investigation is still ongoing, and they will likely make clear that you are not yet facing federal charges. Once again, this is a tactic to get you to cooperate when you are not required to do so. The goal is to put you in a position where you are dealing with highly-trained federal agents without the benefit of legal advice.
Q: Should I try to negotiate a plea agreement or take the case to trial?
If you were recently indicted, the most important thing to understand is that there is a lot standing between where you are now and a conviction. You are presumed innocent, and the burden to prove you guilty rests with the prosecution. It is impossible to make an intelligent decision to plead guilty to an offense until you’ve gone over the evidence with an accredited Michigan federal criminal defense attorney. Additionally, while cooperating with federal prosecutors in hopes of securing a favorable plea agreement makes sense in some situations, this should not be done without the assistance of a Michigan federal criminal defense lawyer. Contact an experienced Michigan federal criminal defense before speaking with prosecutors about a negotiated plea agreement if you’re facing criminal charges.
Q: What are my chances of going to prison?
The penalties for which you are at risk are entirely dependent upon the facts and circumstances involved in your case. As a result, we cannot assess your risk of facing prison time until we speak with you directly. However, what we can say is that it is often possible to avoid incarceration even when the Federal Sentencing Guidelines call for prison time, and we have protected numerous clients against federal imprisonment in this type of scenario.
5 Reasons to Choose Oberheiden, P.C. in Michigan
Clients in Michigan and nationwide trust Oberheiden, P.C.’s federal criminal defense team when their future is on the line. Here are just some of the reasons why:
1. Nationwide Reputation
We have a hard-earned nationwide reputation for providing strategic defense representation in complex federal cases. Our defense team has successfully represented clients in federal jurisdictions across the country, and our attorneys have been interviewed by media outlets in all 50 states.
2. We Focus 100% on Federal Cases
We focus 100% of our time and effort on federal criminal defense. While most trial attorneys spend the majority of their time in state court, we exclusively represent clients in federal matters.
3. More than 2,000 Investigations and Many Trials Handled
Together, our attorneys have handled more than 2,000 federal investigations and many criminal trials. We use this experience to provide custom-tailored legal representation that is backed by real-world results.
4. Our Team Includes Several Former Federal Prosecutors
Along with career federal defense lawyers, our defense team includes several attorneys who are former DOJ trial attorneys, former U.S. Attorneys’ Office prosecutors, and former Special Assistant United States Attorneys. Together, these attorneys have decades of prior experience prosecuting federal criminal cases.
5. Your Initial Consultation is Free and Confidential
When you contact us, we will schedule your initial consultation as soon as possible. This consultation is completely free and confidential, and it is your opportunity to ask any questions you may have about our experience or what we can do to defend you.
Contact Us to Discuss Your Federal Case in Michigan
If you need legal representation for a federal case in Michigan, please contact us to schedule your free initial consultation. To speak with a member of our federal criminal defense team in confidence, call 313-462-7972 or get in touch online now.
Other state pages can be found here.
Additional Pages for Michigan
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