Tampa Bay Federal Criminal Defense Lawyers

The Tampa federal criminal defense attorney team at Evergreen Attorneys is ready to help you in your hour of need. We are proud to provide exceptional federal criminal defense to our white collar clients all across the United States. We have handled cases in 24 states and are ready to defend you against government overreach today.

If you call Evergreen Attorneys today for help in your federal criminal case you will speak with a senior partner; not some green associate attorney. That means you will speak with either Zachary Newland or David Boyer. Our two founders. If we decide that you need representation and your case is a good fit for our office, one of our attorneys will be ready to fly to meet with you in person within one business day. That is our guarantee at Evergreen Attorneys. Personal representation for federal criminal defense cases at the highest level in Tampa Bay today.

When you are facing a federal criminal investigation or federal criminal charges you need more than just a prayer. You need hope and a plan for your defense. Evergreen Attorneys are ready to help you with your federal criminal case in Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, and the greater area of middle-Florida. Call our white collar crime attorney office today at 303-948-1489 or fill out a contact form online if you are ready to take the first step towards reclaiming your future.

Hiring the right Tampa federal criminal defense attorneys can mean the difference between freedom and an unwanted vacation to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Tampa Federal Criminal Investigations

Federal criminal investigations can start with a number of different agencies. The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) can all start federal investigations.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that if you are facing a federal investigation it is not too late to avoid federal charges. Many people mistakenly believe that a federal investigation means a federal criminal charge is going to be filed. That is a reactive way to practice federal criminal defense that we at Evergreen Attorneys disagree with.

If you are facing a federal investigation in Tampa, the first thing you need to do is take a deep breath. If you received a subpoena, a target letter, or a civil investigative demand it is not the end of your professional career. We are going to provide a quick breakdown of some of the most common investigative tools we see in our Tampa federal criminal defense cases at Evergreen Attorneys. As always, call us if you want specific actionable legal advice about your situation.

I received a civil investigative demand in Tampa. What does that mean?

For example, we have an entire page dedicated to explaining “what is a civil investigative demand” here: https://evergreenattorneys.com/criminal-defense/civil-investigative-demand-cid/

A Civil Investigative Demand (CID) is a tool used by government agencies to investigate potential violations of laws and regulations. Similar to a standard subpoena, a CID aims to gather and obtain evidence. Unlike a subpoena which is often issued in the course of ongoing litigation, a CID is an administrative order that operates before any lawsuit is filed.

• CIDs are issued to compel an individual or entity to produce documents, answer written questions, or provide oral testimony.

• These orders are used to preemptively uncover evidence of illegal activity. By obtaining relevant documents and testimony early in the investigative process, courtroom actors can determine whether sufficient grounds exist to proceed with formal legal action.

• Because these tools do not require prior judicial approval, CIDs can pose a significant advantage for investigators to efficiently gather relevant information.

What should you do if you or your business received a Civil Investigative Demand in a Tampa federal criminal investigation? First, do not try to ignore it. That will only make the situation worse. All too often we see people receive these scary documents, ignore them, and then their situation spirals out of control. Acting like an ostrich (placing your head in the sand) is not a defense.

Second, you need to contact a Tampa Bay federal criminal defense lawyer who has experience with answering civil investigative demands. Many Florida lawyers practice exclusively in state court; they defend DUIs, basic drug cases, and even serious violent felonies. The tools those lawyers know and use are incredibly different than the tools a Tampa Bay federal white collar crime attorney uses. At Evergreen Attorneys, we have a skillset based on years of experience to protect you when responding to a civil investigative demand. Often times, you need to be prepared to litigate and negotiate the scope of the production (i.e., the records you will turn over). Your Tampa federal criminal defense lawyer also needs to make sure that you preserve any privilege (including attorney-client privilege) in the response to a CID. Evergreen Attorneys are ready to help you respond to a CID in Tampa.

A Federal Target Letter Showed Up in the Mail. What are my next steps?

A federal target letter is a different type of document that often is delivered to people in the pre-indictment phase of a federal criminal investigation. Again we have an entire article about federal target letters you may read here: https://evergreenattorneys.com/target-letter/federal-target-letter/. If you or your company received a federal target letter in Tampa Bay or St. Petersburg, Florida, read below for an introduction to how you can get your life back on track.

• A target letter is a serious legal document sent by a federal prosecutor or the Department of Justice (DOJ) to signal that you are under investigation for a federal crime. Target letters are often issued after authorities have gathered substantial evidence suggesting that a crime has been committed. Prosecutors issue these letters in cases that involve serious federal offenses, such as white-collar crimes, financial crimes, federal program violations, and professional practice issues.

• While receiving a target letter does not automatically mean you will be charged with a crime, it is a strong signal that you are under scrutiny. These letters are part of the formal pre-indictment process, serving as notice of the government’s intent to proceed with an investigation or prosecution. In many cases, the letter may also include a request for the recipient to meet with federal investigators or to testify before a grand jury.

• The primary purpose of a target letter is to inform the recipient about the government’s investigation, allowing them to respond before formal criminal charges are filed. The letter may also include a request for the individual to provide information or testify, presenting an opportunity for the person to provide a defense or explain their actions.

We firmly believe that receiving a target letter is not the end of the world; it does not mean that a grand jury will indict you or your company tomorrow. The white collar crime attorneys at Evergreen Attorneys believe that receiving a target letter is a chance to confront allegations head on. If you received a target letter from federal investigators in Tampa, this may be your last best chance to avoid the filing of federal criminal charges. For example, your federal criminal defense lawyers can ask to meet with the investigators to explain questions that they might have about the propriety of your decisions. It can also represent an opportunity for you or your company to cooperate against the actual wrongdoers instead of being swept up in charges yourself.

Federal target letters in Tampa are scary. There is no way around that. The team at Evergreen Attorneys is here to turn that scary document into an opportunity for you to get the best outcome possible in your federal investigation.

What do I do with a Tampa federal grand jury subpoena?

Receiving a subpoena to testify in front of a federal grand jury in Tampa is a serious matter. Unlike receiving a CID or target letter, a grand jury subpoena means that the formal judicial process of investigating and likely charging federal criminal violations has started.

To put it simply, a federal grand jury subpoena is a formal demand for a person to provide either testimony or documents that is issued by a federal court judge at the request of federal prosecutors. Tampa federal grand jury subpoenas are governed by the Federal Rules of Criminal procedure. Specifically, Rule 17 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure sets out the boundaries on when these subpoenas may be issued and under what circumstances.

There are also rules set out in the Department of Justice Manual governing federal grand juries in Tampa Bay. Reading the DOJ Manual on grand juries is a good starting point for novice attorneys (read: state court attorneys) or people just looking to learn a lot more about their situation. Here is a direct link if you want to educate yourself: https://www.justice.gov/jm/jm-9-11000-grand-jury#9-11.140.You should always keep in mind that these “DOJ Manual Rules” may not be binding or able to be enforced in your Tampa Bay federal criminal case. They are merely provided here so that everyone facing a Tampa grand jury subpoena can educate themselves on the process.

If you or your company fail to respond to a Tampa federal criminal grand jury subpoena there can be incredibly severe consequences. One common result is that you may face contempt proceedings under Fed. R. Crim. P. 17(g). You could also face obstruction of justice criminal charges depending on the particular circumstances surrounding your non-compliance.

It is important that you seek out experienced federal criminal defense counsel immediately if you receive a grand jury subpoena in Tampa. Experienced federal defense lawyers can help you navigate the response process, attempt to get the government to withdraw the subpoena, and make sure that your rights are protected. Often times, the people or companies who receive the subpoenas may not be the actual targets of the federal criminal investigation in Tampa. In that instance, your Tampa white collar crime lawyer can help you effectively and quickly present whatever evidence you have to avoid being entangled in the investigation.

Contact Evergreen Attorneys today at 303-948-1489 if you received a Tampa federal grand jury subpoena.

Tampa Federal Criminal Defense is What We Do

Our law firm at Evergreen Attorneys focuses on white collar crime and federal criminal defense. We regularly defend accused professionals including doctors, lawyers, accountants, and CEOs across the country when they are charged with white collar crimes by the federal government.

Many other law firms will take all kinds of cases: divorce, real estate, personal injury. That’s simply not what we do. We handle federal criminal defense and lots of white collar crime accusations at Evergreen Attorneys. We do it at a high level because it’s what we do every single day in federal courts all around the country. If you are under investigation, charged with a crime, or needing to seek legal guidance because you are scared, contact the Tampa white collar lawyer team at Evergreen Attorneys today. We will discuss how to craft an aggressive defense plan to make sure that federal prosecutors are not deciding how the next years of your life are spent behind bars.

Tampa Bay has seen an uptick in federal criminal investigations over the past decade. Much of this can be attributed to the explosive population growth in the greater area. However, some of this is also due to the fact that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida is simply notoriously aggressive. Most criminal investigations today can be made into federal cases. However, the federal government on the whole must prioritize which types of cases to bring, against what type of defendant, and in what circumstances. Simply put, the Tampa Bay U.S. Attorney’s Office is known for being hyper aggressive in which cases they file even among federal prosecutors.

The Tampa federal criminal defense lawyers at Evergreen Attorneys are here to help you find hope and a plan in your darkest hour.

Contact Tampa Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys Today

Tampa federal criminal defense cases are different. You deserve, not need, deserve a federal white collar lawyer who knows what it takes to win these cases. Evergreen Attorneys are proud to defend against federal criminal investigations and charges in Tampa and are ready to talk to you about your case today.

If you are or a loved one are seeking assistance with a federal case, contact the Tampa federal criminal defense lawyers at Evergreen Attorneys  today at (303) 948-1489 or [email protected] for a free consultation.