01 / FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS
Before charges.Before the next decision.
A request from investigators can leave you unsure where you stand. Begin by understanding the request and the decisions it presents.
Identify the request
An interview request, subpoena, search warrant, or target letter serves a different purpose. A grand jury investigates potential crimes and considers whether charges should be brought. A subpoena may seek testimony or records. Receiving one does not by itself tell you how prosecutors view your role.
The Justice Department distinguishes a target from a subject of an investigation. Those terms concern the prosecutor’s assessment and the scope of the inquiry; they are not a finding of guilt. Ask counsel to assess the actual communication rather than infer your status from a phone call or another person’s description.
Make time for a considered response
Before an interview or testimony, a discussion with counsel can address the nature of the request, your rights, and the information needed to evaluate a response. If there is a written deadline, bring it to counsel’s attention promptly. Do not assume that asking for advice changes the deadline.
For a records request, the review may involve who holds the documents, the requested date range, the form of production, and whether privileged material is involved. These questions should be resolved through advice specific to the request.
Talk about the next step
Joshua’s practice includes grand jury subpoenas and pre-indictment negotiations. An initial inquiry should identify the agency, the kind of communication received, and any appearance or response date. Ask how to provide a copy of the request securely.
Preserve the communication and existing records. Avoid altering or deleting material or attempting to coordinate accounts with other people. Whether to speak, produce records, or seek additional time needs individual legal review.
PREPARE FOR A CONVERSATION
A useful place to start.
- The agency and sender’s contact information
- The type of request and its date
- Any written response or appearance deadline
Begin with contact details and dates. Ask the firm how to provide any documents securely.
Your questions.
Does a subpoena mean I have been charged?
No. A grand jury subpoena is an investigative tool. Have counsel review what it requests and how it relates to your circumstances.
Can the firm assist before an indictment?
Yes. Pre-indictment matters are part of Joshua’s practice. Contact the firm with the type of request and any deadline.
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR DEFENSE
A clearer next step.
Contact Joshua Adams about your matter and the availability of representation.
Please do not send confidential information before the firm confirms representation.
Contacting the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship.