Carlton Fields Adds Former Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida

Simon Gaugush’s Experience Deepens Firm’s White Collar Crime and Government Investigations Practice

Tampa, Fla. – Carlton Fields is pleased to welcome white collar crime attorney Simon Gaugush to its Tampa office. Gaugush, who spent more than a decade as a federal prosecutor, focuses his practice on white-collar criminal defense, opioid-related litigation, corporate internal investigations, cyber offenses, False Claims Act (qui tam) cases, and complex civil litigation.

Previously, Gaugush was the deputy chief of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, one of the busiest districts in the country. During his tenure at the U.S. attorney's office, Gaugush prosecuted and oversaw investigations and prosecutions of crimes related to all types of white-collar offenses (including health care, tax, mortgage, bankruptcy, wire, mail, securities, access device, and program fraud), kickback offenses, complex opioid cases, money laundering, cybercrime, export violations, obstruction of justice, environmental crimes, international and domestic drug trafficking, large-scale immigration fraud, child exploitation, public corruption, and civil rights matters.

Prior to joining the U.S. attorney's office, Gaugush was in private practice, handling a variety of criminal and civil matters in federal, state, and administrative proceedings involving the False Claims Act, toxic torts, kickback violations, health care fraud, deceptive trade practices, and commercial disputes.

“Simon’s diverse experience makes him an ideal addition to our white collar practice, and we welcome him to the firm,” said Adam P. Schwartz, chair of Carlton Fields’ White Collar Crime and Government Investigations practice. “White collar crime investigations are becoming more sophisticated, and the Department of Justice’s efforts to put a laser focus on these matters are intensifying. Simon’s deep knowledge in this regulated area further strengthens and expands our already solid group of former prosecutors.”

Carlton Fields’ white-collar attorneys — more than 10 lawyers with high-level experience as assistant U.S. attorneys, assistant state attorneys, and federal and state public defenders — have tried more than 1,000 criminal cases to judgment in bench trials and more than 1,200 criminal cases to jury verdict, and they have handled more than 475 criminal appeals. According to Chambers USA, Carlton Fields is “held in high regard for its criminal defense and government investigations work and excels in an array of areas including healthcare, tax and securities fraud cases.”

Gaugush received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law and his B.A. from American University.