A suspect may obtain a letter during a federal criminal investigation alerting them that they are the “target” of a federal inquiry. Although they can be utilized in any federal investigation, including narcotics investigations, these letters are frequently employed in white-collar investigations. You shouldn’t disregard these letters since the government won’t “forget” about you.
In conclusion, receiving a “target letter” informs you that the government suspects you of having knowledge of or involvement in criminal activities. The letter, which is optional, serves as official notification that you will be asked to testify before a federal grand jury or that you are likely to face criminal charges. If you get a target letter, you’ve probably already gotten or will soon get a subpoena to testify before a federal grand jury.
The first step you should take is to contact a federal defense attorney. You can do that by calling Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088. You can also keep reading to get answers to some of the questions you likely have about how target letters are used.
What details are included in a target letter?
The alleged crimes under investigation by the grand jury and the Department of Justice are often described in a target letter. Frequently, only federal statutes are listed in the letter, so it is not a good idea to interpret them on your own.
In most cases, the letter includes the contact information for a federal agent or federal prosecutor. However, refrain from contacting them without first seeing a federal defense lawyer. A deadline to contact the government is commonly included in a target letter. It is important to follow that deadline and hire counsel as soon as possible because failing to do so could result in serious repercussions.
If I receive a target letter, what do I do?
Call a federal defense attorney right away if you get a target letter. It is typically in your best advantage to do so even though you are not legally compelled to do so if you receive a target letter. If you work for a company that is also under investigation, you might want to hire your own defense attorney. By employing its own counsel, a business is ensuring that its best interests are safeguarded; you should do the same. Because the interests of the business may not be in your best interest, relying on an attorney who represents the business to speak on your behalf can be problematic.
Some criminal defense lawyers are not familiar with the implications or results of a target letter. When you call a criminal defense lawyer, make sure to find out how much expertise they have with federal criminal matters. This is due to the fact that receiving a target letter necessitates making several options rapidly.
A target letter recipient is frequently someone who poses little risk of escaping and who the government believes would gain from working with federal investigators. An opportunity to collaborate promptly may be lost due to a delay. Your case can take one of two paths after receiving a target letter. The initial course of action is to avoid speaking with the police, await the grand jury’s indictment, and then pursue the matter.
The alternative is to decide to promptly collaborate, appear for an interview, or “proffer,” and assist in their inquiry. You and your attorney will attempt to take responsibility, mitigate to minimize the sorts of charges to be filed, and reduce any potential offense level scoring specified in the Federal Sentencing Guidelines during the proffer with the federal case agent and an Assistant United States Attorney.
If and when a target chooses to appear before a grand jury, speak with federal investigators, or decide to go to trial, Chambers Law Firm has experience with federal criminal matters and can provide clients with information on each step of the federal criminal process. Who is more qualified to guide you along the way than someone who has experience in defending and prosecuting federal cases? No one. Contact us now at 714-760-4088 to get started.
