Tennessee Federal Criminal Defense
Our Tennessee federal criminal defense lawyers represent clients in Nashville, Memphis, and throughout Tennessee. If you are under investigation, if you have been served with a grand jury subpoena, or if you are facing federal charges, you can call 888-680-1745 for a free and confidential consultation.
Are you an individual or company in Tennessee facing a high-stake federal government investigation? Contact Oberheiden P.C. at (888) 680-1745 for professional legal assistance. Whether the authorities have launched an investigation against you or have already been arrested, we have federal criminal defense lawyers who can guide you throughout the process and represent you for favorable results.
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If you’re under investigation by federal authorities, you should be extremely careful about what you say or do. As a business, you risk losing your registration or licensure, incurring significant financial liability, and other substantial penalties. For individuals such as business owners and company executives, they risk many years in prison as well as exorbitant fines. To mitigate these risks, the best choice is to hire an experienced federal attorney who can establish the right defense strategies and fight for a desirable outcome.
Whether you’re in Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, or any other part of Tennessee, Oberheiden, P.C. is a well-known and trusted federal criminal litigation law firm that provides proven representation services. We have represented various clients throughout this great state and countrywide in criminal allegations involving: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the DHHS Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Department of Justice, and other federal agencies.
Dr. Nick Oberheiden, the founding partner, leads Oberheiden, P.C., and he is extensively experienced in high-stake federal issues and federal litigation. He doesn’t work alone; he has a team that includes senior attorneys who have successfully solved a lot of cases and consultants who previously worked for various federal agencies. They can use their combined experience and other resources at their disposal to work on your behalf.
Here’s What You Need to Know If the FBI, IRS, OIG, or DEA is Targeting You in Tennessee
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If the authorities want to dig deeper into a criminal allegation and you’re involved, you should take that matter extremely seriously. An undesirable result can bring devastating consequences that can change your life for the worse. If federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA, IRS, or HHS-OIG want to investigate you, or you have received a subpoena or target letter, hire an attorney immediately. Waiting can put you at further risk, and some things you may do or say by yourself can jeopardize your situation. Our attorneys here at Oberheiden P.C. can guide and help you avoid dangerous pitfalls in the federal investigative maze filled with complexities. At Oberheiden P.C.:
- We have an extensively experienced team in all matters concerning federal investigations and litigation – In federal criminal defense, experience counts twice as much, and our team doesn’t disappoint. We don’t assign any of our cases to paralegals or junior associates; we only work with senior attorneys who have solved thousands of cases for our previous clients and can do the same for you. We have former prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s office, former DOJ staff, former FBI agents, and many others.
- We fight to avoid formal charges in every aspect – We understand the trial process can be long, time-consuming, and costly, that’s why we try our best to avoid charges. We stay on the lookout for chances to avoid prosecution, and our expert attorneys have successfully handled many cases this way.
- We concentrate on even the smallest details relevant to your case – Every detail, even the tiniest one, counts when it comes to federal criminal defense in Tennessee. We understand that and that’s why we employ extensive thoroughness in case assessment. With the necessary information on hand, we can better develop customized defense strategies to use in your situation.
- We assist our clients in making informed choices – The process of federal litigation is complicated, encompassing a wide range of factors. The more complex it is, the more pitfalls it has. Our Tennessee federal criminal defense attorneys are available to guide individuals and businesses through responding to a subpoena or target letter, responding to investigative agents’ questions, handling information that can incriminate you, and many other things. By making confident and informed decisions, you can avoid further jeopardizing your case.
- We don’t surrender – While it’s true some cases may be difficult to solve based on the circumstances, we do not surrender. We continue fighting to the very end to ensure our clients get the best possible results. Combining our legal experience and our no-surrender approach is a powerful strategy that we’ve seen delivering fantastic outcomes over the years.
Put our highly experienced team on your side
Dr. Nick Oberheiden
Founder
Attorney-at-Law
Lynette S. Byrd
Former Department of Justice
Brian J. Kuester
Former U.S. Attorney
Former DA
John W. Sellers
Former Senior Trial Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice
Local Counsel
Joanne Fine DeLena
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Joe Brown
Former U.S. Attorney & Former District Attorney
Local Trial & Defense Counsel
Amanda Marshall
Former U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Aaron L. Wiley
Former Federal Prosecutor
Local Counsel
Roger Bach
Former Special Agent (OIG)
Michael Koslow
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
Chris Quick
Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)
Ray Yuen
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
How Can We Help You Here at Oberheiden P.C.?
We have federal criminal defense attorneys who have represented and defended company owners, nurses, physicians, other lawyers, company executives, accountants, politicians, and many other individuals as well as entities in a wide range of fields. We’ve handled allegations involving the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the DHHS Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), among others. Our Tennessee federal criminal attorneys are highly experienced, including:
- Former DOJ trial attorneys
- No junior lawyers, associates or paralegals
- Former healthcare fraud prosecutors
- Over 2,000 federal cases solved with no charges
What Does the Federal Prosecution Process Involve?
There are three main stages involved in the federal prosecution process. At each stage, we strategize suitably to increase the chances of getting our desired results. Whether you’re at the start or the final stage, you can be assured of our personalized representation. Here is an in-depth look at these three major stages.
1. Federal Investigation
For the federal government to charge you, it must collect all the necessary evidence to prove you committed the offense. This happens during the federal investigation stage. Numerous agencies may be involved, and they often start as civil investigations. They change to criminal if it’s determined the persons involved committed the crime purposefully. As we mentioned earlier, the charge process can be long, time-consuming, and costly, and that’s why our Tennessee federal criminal defense attorneys are always keen on terminating the government’s investigations before they transition to charges. And, they do this without bringing any civil or criminal liabilities to our clients.
2. Getting Subpoenaed to Appear Before a Grand Jury
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Terminating the federal government’s investigation isn’t always successful, and prosecutors may seek an indictment to file formal charges. For them to do that, they’ll need first to subpoena you to appear before a grand jury, present their gathered evidence, and prove that indeed there are reasonable grounds to take you to trial. While you’re not entitled to an attorney at this stage, it’s critical you prepare with him/her before making this appearance. As the suspect, you can also request to speak to your legal counsel away from the presence of the grand jury.
3. Criminal Trial
When the prosecutors prove there is “probable cause” to charge you, the case gets set for trial. Although going through the trial process is a real possibility, our federal criminal defense attorneys can work their best to achieve a favorable resolution before you’re taken to trial. We’ve had charges dropped entirely and convinced various judges to reduce felonies to misdemeanors, helping different clients avoid imprisonment. We have even fought for and achieved many “not guilty” verdicts for our clients’ cases that have gone to trial.
Q&A with Oberheiden P.C.’s Tennessee Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys
Q: What does it mean to be suspected as a “coconspirator?”
Even if you didn’t commit the substantive federal offense, you could still be charged under statutes 18 U.S.C. § 1349, 21 U.S.C. § 846, 18 U.S.C. § 371, and others concerning federal conspiracy. To face charges as a “coconspirator,” the prosecutors will try to establish that you planned with other individuals to commit the federal crime in question. While conspiracy charges may seem minimal, note that they carry substantial penalties. Sometimes you can be penalized the same way you would have been if you went through with perpetrating the actual crime. Therefore, don’t underestimate the importance of legal counsel if federal authorities want to charge you with conspiracy.
Q: What’s the meaning of burden of proof in criminal cases?
The burden of proof simply means “beyond a reasonable doubt.” To provide an in-depth answer, it means that for you to be convicted of the crime in question, the prosecutors must prove with over 99% certainty that you’re guilty. Although the standards to prove “beyond a reasonable doubt” are remarkably high, prosecutors are extremely good at what they do and can prove it. That’s why you should hire a highly qualified and experienced attorney for effective defense.
Q: What is a target letter?
A target letter is a type of communication sent out by federal prosecutors with the U.S. Department of Justice indicating that you are the focus of a federal investigation. When you receive a target letter, chances are you will soon be indicted for a crime. However, that is not always the case. There may still be an opportunity for a Tennessee federal criminal defense attorney to discuss the case with prosecutors to avoid an indictment.
Q: What should I do if I receive a subpoena?
If you recently received a subpoena, it may be tempting to reach out to the prosecutor listed on the subpoena to learn more about their investigation. However, the best option is to first contact a Tennessee federal criminal defense attorney. At this point, you know very little about the investigation, and responding without a better understanding only risks you saying something that could be taken out of context. By consulting with a Tennessee federal criminal defense attorney, you can learn more about the federal investigation, your perceived role, and how to respond effectively to the subpoena without raising additional suspicion.
Q: How should I respond to investigative agents regarding a federal offense?
Seek legal counsel immediately and do not answer any of their questions. Even though the questions seem normal and non-risky, these investigative agents can trick you into saying things that they can use against you. Don’t take that risk, hire an attorney to guide and help you avoid pitfalls along the way.
Q: When should I reach out to a Tennessee federal criminal defense attorney?
As soon as federal agents contact you or you learn that you are potentially involved in a criminal investigation. While many people wait until charges have been formally filed, this is a mistake. There are important things that a Tennessee federal criminal defense attorney can do before the filing of charges to advocate on your behalf. For example, an attorney may be able to reach out to federal investigators early on to clear up any misunderstandings or otherwise convince them not to pursue charges. Even if you received a subpoena that doesn’t clearly indicate you are the focus of an investigation, it is crucial to consult with a Tennessee federal criminal defense attorney before responding, as a poorly thought-out response could result in shifting the focus of the investigation onto you.
Q: Will I go to prison for the federal charges I’m facing?
Your risks of imprisonment depend on the facts and circumstances relevant to your specific situation. Contact us for a thorough case assessment and prison time risk determination.
Do you need federal legal representation for a criminal issue in Tennessee? Here is our team of federal criminal defense attorneys.
Contact Us to Speak to a Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer in Tennessee
To learn more about how we can help with your federal criminal investigation or charge, get in touch with us here at Oberheiden P.C. We have senior attorneys available 24/7 to talk to, and they can help you better understand your case. Call (888) 680-1745 or request your free consultation online.
Other state pages can be found here.