Grand Jury Defense

Federal Criminal Defense in the Grand Jury Phase

Most federal crimes are charged by indictment. In other words, the decision to charge an individual or corporation with a particular offense is made by a grand jury on the basis of evidence presented by an assistant U.S. Attorney over a period of weeks, months, or sometimes even years.

If you become aware of potential criminal exposure while a grand jury investigation is underway and before formal charges have been returned against you, the immediate advice of an experienced defense attorney can help you in countless ways. Please contact Stan Schneider and Ned Barnett in Houston, to learn how you can protect yourself through effective preindictment criminal defense strategies.

Our federal defense team has the extensive experience and skill with complex federal cases that can help you behind the scenes of an FBI fraud investigation or drug conspiracy case. An experienced defense lawyer can protect your interests in many ways while the investigation is still in progress.

This includes:

• Clarifying your status as a subject, target, witness or other person of interest in the grand jury proceedings
• Invoking the 5th Amendment of the United States Constitution
• Advising you about your testimony, options for immunity or document production responsibilities if you are summoned to appear before a grand jury
• Monitoring the grand jury proceedings to determine whether your risk of criminal liability is increasing or decreasing
• Mounting an independent investigation on your behalf to make sure that the U.S. Attorney's Office in your district is considering evidence that exonerates you while developing the case against you
• Engaging the prosecution to try and make sure that the most serious potential charges are not returned against you

Many federal criminal defendants never get the opportunity to protect themselves during the grand jury phase because they only learn of the investigation when they are arrested under a sealed indictment for drug charges or federal sex crimes. However, if you happen to receive advance warning from federal investigative agents or a federal prosecutor that you or your business is involved in a criminal fraud investigation, we encourage you to take advantage of the opportunity to help yourself from the earliest possible stage.

Stan Schneider and Ned Barnett collaborate on federal criminal defense matters in federal courts throughout Texas, and across the United States. To learn how these seasoned trial attorneys can go to work for you long before you need to face formal criminal charges, please contact us in Houston.