Criminal Defense Lawyers

Federal Grand Jury Subpoena

What to Do If You Receive a Federal Grand Jury Subpoena

Introduction

If you receive a federal grand jury subpoena, that means that you or someone you know or were affiliated with is the target of a federal criminal investigation by the Department of Justice. Receiving a federal grand jury subpoena is an extremely serious matter that requires immediate attention from an experienced federal criminal defense attorney. At Spodek Law Group, our team of skilled federal defense lawyers, led by founding attorney Todd Spodek, has extensive experience representing clients who have been served with federal grand jury subpoenas. We understand the high stakes involved and are committed to providing aggressive legal representation to protect your rights and interests.

What is a Federal Grand Jury?

Federal grand juries in the United States are comprised of citizens who are chosen by the courts. The process of choosing a grand jury is somewhat similar to the process of picking a petit or trial jury. However, grand juries normally sit for an extended period of time and review numerous cases compared to a petit jury that sits for the duration of a single trial.Grand jury secrecy is important. Grand juries also have the power to issue subpoenas for documents and witness testimony that will help it evaluate the case. These subpoenas are issued at the request of the government. The subpoenaed materials are then returned to the grand jury in order to further its investigation.There are hundreds of grand juries throughout the United States. Some federal districts have more than one sitting at one time while smaller districts will employ only one. Grand juries meet on a schedule that is determined by the district in which it sits. Some may meet every two weeks or every month depending on the criminal case-load that exists in their particular district.

What Does It Mean to Receive a Federal Grand Jury Subpoena?

Receiving a federal grand jury subpoena means that you are either a target, subject or witness in a federal criminal investigation.

• A “target” is a person as to whom the prosecutor or the jury has substantial evidence linking him or her to the commission of a crime and who, in the judgment of the prosecutor, is a putative defendant.
• A “subject” of an investigation is a person whose conduct is within the scope of the grand jury’s investigation. In terms of criminal exposure, a “subject” falls on the spectrum somewhere between a “target” and a “witness.”
• A “witness” is an individual who may have information that law enforcement believes might be relevant in a criminal investigation to help prove either the guilt or the innocence of another individual.

Irrespective of status as grand jury witnesses, subjects, or targets, the end result of a grand jury‘s investigation is to end up with an indictment against a defendant or defendants. After all, it is the job of the grand jury to evaluate information to then decide against whom felony charges should be brought. Because an indictment is thus always the end goal of the process, anyone involved in the grand jury process must understand the danger of ending up being charged.

Why Clients Trust Spodek Law Group for Federal Grand Jury Subpoenas

When you‘ve been defending clients for as long as we have, there’s no trick we haven’t seen, likely no tactics we haven’t countered and no strategy we haven’t circumvented many times before. Our clients place great trust in us because we understood that trust must be earned, not given. Here are a few reasons why clients facing federal investigations so commonly choose to place their trust in Spodek Law Group:

1. Experience – We are a small firm that packs a hefty punch in the form of a high level of combined experience at the federal level. We can confidently guide you through the byzantine corridors of federal regulations so that you can avoid a federal investigation in the first place. If it is already too late for that, we can leverage our federal experience to make a decisive difference in the outcome of your case.
2. Government Insights – At our firm, your defense team will include former federal prosecutors who joined our firm after distinguished careers with the Department of Justice (DOJ). Their presence on your defense team ensures that we will be able to see your case from the government’s perspective, providing you with a critical advantage when we develop and execute your case strategy.
3. Outcomes – We don’t play around with the lives or livelihoods of our clients. A great many of our cases have been dismissed or abandoned with no civil or criminal liability; and in other cases our clients have enjoyed outcomes far more favorable than they had dared to hope for. In addition to fighting for favorable outcomes, we also strive achieve these results with a minimal investment of time and expense for the clients whom we serve.
4. Our Teamwork – A group of individuals working independently is like an open hand, while a cohesive team is more like a clenched fist. If you are facing a federal grand jury subpoena, you can be sure that the government has assigned a team of investigators, federal agents, and prosecutors to your case. At Spodek Law Group, we will respond with a team of our own that effectively combines our lawyers’ experience and intellectual capital to provide you with the strongest possible defense.
5. Commitment – No one understands better than we do how high the stakes are – a botched defense effort can result in millions of dollars in fines, company bankruptcy, and even time in prison. At Spodek Law Group, we consider it our solemn duty to stand by you in these tough times, so that you can enjoy the peace of mind of knowing that we are doing everything that can be done to secure a favorable outcome for you.

Steps to Take After Receiving a Federal Grand Jury Subpoena

Given the risks involved with responding to a federal grand jury subpoena (or failing to adequately respond), what steps should you take upon being served? When we represent clients in federal grand jury proceedings, our steps include (but are not necessarily limited to):

1. Communicating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office – Upon receiving a federal grand jury subpoena, one of the first steps we take is to open a line of communication with the Assistant U.S. Attorney assigned to the case. This allows us to gain insight into the nature and scope of the investigation and potentially negotiate the terms of our client’s response.
2. Simultaneously Preparing Our Client’s Substantive Response and a Motion to Quash – While communicating with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we will also begin preparing our client’s substantive response to the subpoena. This includes identifying and compiling responsive documents and preparing our client to testify if necessary. Concurrently, we will assess potential grounds for challenging the subpoena and, if warranted, prepare a motion to quash.
3. Providing Testimony, Documents, or Both As and When Required – Ultimately, if we are unable to successfully challenge the subpoena, our client will need to provide testimony, documents, or both as required by the subpoena. We will be with our client every step of the way to ensure full compliance with the subpoena while also protecting our client’s legal rights.