Pittsburgh Federal Defense

Aggressive Criminal Defense Team with Former U.S. Department of Justice Attorneys Representing Clients in Federal Investigations and Prosecutions in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Attorney Nick Oberheiden
Pittsburgh Federal Criminal Defense
Team Lead envelope icon

Pittsburgh address – by appointment only:
429 Fourth Ave. Suite 300
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
888-680-1745

Being targeted in a federal criminal investigation is an extremely serious matter. U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors, and attorneys from other federal agencies, fiercely pursue charges against individuals and entities suspected of federal crimes. Prosecution for federal offenses is no small matter. They can result in substantial financial penalties and long-term imprisonment. It’s important to remember that the longer a case lasts, the more likely it is to lead to trial. It can then become more difficult to convince the government’s attorneys that their efforts are misguided.

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Yet, at Oberheiden, P.C., we have a tremendous record of securing positive results at all stages of federal criminal cases. We routinely intervene in federal cases early. This gives us the ability to implement our goal of preventing charges from ever being filed. What about trial? Make no mistake, we consider ourselves trial attorneys above all else. We have an extensive trial record. When we need to go to court to protect our clients, we lay the groundwork in advance. We then put in place a trial strategy designed to challenge as much of the government’s evidence as possible. The government has the burden of proof, but the federal court process can also work to a prosecutor’s advantage. Our goal is to turn the tables in our client’s favor. We have represented numerous clients in trials resulting in no criminal guilt found.

Facing a Federal Investigation: What You Need to Know

Investigations are most often conducted by:

Department of Justice (DOJ),
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),
Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
Office of Inspector General (OIG),
Department of Homeland Security (DHS),
Department of Defense (DOD),
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS),
U.S. Attorney’s Office (USAO), or other federal agencies.

If you are under investigation, you must take steps to establish an active role in the process. If you allow the matter to go unchecked, the process may lead to indictment and federal charges. You need to avoid costly mistakes as well. Sharing too much information, or ignoring your legal disclosure duties to the government (i.e., in response to a grand jury subpoena), can damage your ability to mount a successful defense.

About Oberheiden, P.C.

Pittsburgh Federal Defense Oberheiden, P.C. is a federal criminal defense law firm representing clients across the country. We represent clients in Pittsburgh and throughout the state. Our team approach allows each client to benefit from years of experience. Our senior attorneys have 70+ combined years of experience with the DOJ. We do not assign cases to junior or associate attorneys. They may lack the experience needed to take on prosecutors who have built careers serving the federal government.

Federal Criminal Investigations: Q&A with the Defense Lawyers at Oberheiden, P.C.

Q: Does past government experience really matter in a federal criminal investigation?

Yes, absolutely. Why federal officials decide to investigate and how they gather evidence are long-standing DOJ policies. Our federal criminal defense attorneys worked within these policies for years. We use their experience to make informed decisions during the entire process.

Q: What will happen if I ignore my investigation?

As the process goes on, it will become increasingly difficult to ignore your situation. If you choose to do nothing, expect the government to continue to pursue the case. All that’s needed is the evidence to secure an indictment and take you to trial. The risks of your situation are too great to ignore. It is imperative to hire experienced attorneys to intervene as soon as possible.

Q: What are some of the most common allegations that trigger federal investigations?

Any serious federal offense has the potential to trigger an investigation. In large cities, such as Pittsburgh, healthcare fraud, tax fraud, and securities fraud are all common. Suspected drug crimes, computer crimes, and various other white-collar offenses are also prosecuted. When the government focuses on one of these types of offenses, prosecutors often file related charges, like:

Mail fraud,
Wire fraud,
Money laundering, and
Conspiracy.

Q: How likely is it that my case will be resolved prior to trial?

We cannot adequately assess the risks in your case until we have a firm grasp of the details involved. However, most clients who contact us during an investigation will move ahead facing no formal charges. If you are charged, we may be able to convince the DOJ to dismiss charges, or negotiate a plea. Negotiating may protect you from the risk of facing a federal case before a judge or jury.

Q: What are some potential defenses to federal criminal charges?

Targets of federal investigations and criminal defendants typically have several defense options. You have Constitutional protections preventing prosecutors from using illegally-obtained evidence. In addition, we assert other types of defenses on behalf of our clients including:

Challenging the government’s evidence of intent (a key element in federal criminal cases)
Challenging the government’s evidence of other substantive details of the alleged crimes
Challenging misguided readings of the facts or law involved in the case
Asserting affirmative defenses and safe harbors that insulate our clients from criminal culpability

5 Reasons to Choose Oberheiden, P.C.

This is why clients in Pittsburgh trust the criminal defense team at Oberheiden, P.C.:

Our notable experience as former federal prosecutors
Our track record in avoiding charges
Our team approach that assigns multiple senior attorneys for each client
Our commitment to protecting our clients’ interests
Our unparalleled trial results in complex federal cases

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)

Contact Our Savvy Federal Criminal Defense Team in Pittsburgh Now

For information on how we can help defend you against the government’s accusations, contact us today. We will arrange for a free and confidential case assessment with our defense team as soon as possible. If you choose to engage our services, we can begin working to build your defense right away.

Oberheiden, P.C.
Compliance – Litigation – Defense
888-680-1745
Federal-Lawyer.com

Additional Pages for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

This information has been prepared for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While this information may constitute attorney advertising in some jurisdictions, merely reading this information does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, any prior result described or referred to herein cannot guarantee similar outcomes in the future. Oberheiden, P.C. is a Texas limited liability partnership with its headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Oberheiden limits his practice to federal law.