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White Collar Crime & Government Investigations


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Overview

Carlton Fields handles all aspects of criminal defense representation and civil cases involving allegations of criminal conduct or similar wrongdoing. We have significant experience in the areas of business, tax, and securities frauds; trade secret theft; money laundering; Medicare and Medicaid frauds; bank fraud; forfeiture matters; and immigration crimes. Our team, which includes more than 20 lawyers with high-level experience as assistant U.S. attorneys, assistant state attorneys, and federal and state public defenders, has tried hundreds of criminal cases to judgment in bench and jury trials.

We regularly:

  • Defend clients accused of crimes at trial.
  • Defend during grand jury and other government investigations.
  • Defend clients charged with crimes or targeted in civil enforcement actions.
  • Counsel clients before federal and state courts and agencies including the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
  • Conduct internal investigations for individual and corporate clients, rooting out fraud and abuse, and helping them design prevention and detection programs.
  • Represent individuals and businesses victimized by crime, presenting to both federal and state authorities clients for possible criminal prosecution.

Experience

  • Acquittal of military and law enforcement equipment industry executive after a three-month trial related to the accusation that 22 industry executives conspired to bribe the defense minister of Gabon in order to win contracts to provide body armor, weapons, and military gear in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). This case was the largest prosecution of individuals under the FCPA since the Department of Justice began enforcing the Act. It marked the first large-scale use of undercover tactics in a FCPA case.
  • Acquittal after one-week jury trial of Colombian seaman accused in Operation Panama Express of importing cocaine into the United States.
  • Acquittal after nonjury trial of health care lawyer on indirect criminal contempt charges.
  • Acquittal, following a four-week federal jury trial, of target of two-year-plus international marine hose investigation brought by the Department of Justice.
  • Acquittal, following a six-week federal jury trial, of attorney and senior aide to then- governor of Puerto Rico, whom the Department of Justice charged in two indictments alleging various tax fraud and public corruption violations.
  • Dismissal of federal criminal indictment charging mail and wire fraud related to alleged boiler room operation, following a two-week federal jury trial that resulted in a hung jury.
  • Dismissal of indictment charging tax law violations prior to trial.
  • Represented two federal air marshals who fatally wounded a passenger who claimed to have a bomb aboard a commercial airline flight at Miami International Airport. This case represents the only instance where a federal marshal discharged a firearm in the line of duty (no criminal charges filed).
  • Represented executives after more than three years of investigation by the Federal Drug Administration and the Department of Justice into off-label use of medical devices (no criminal charges filed).
  • Represented founder and CEO of public technology company after more than two years of investigation by the Department of Justice into possible FCPA violations (no criminal charges filed). 
  • Acquittal of quality control executive following 10-week federal jury trial on charges of conspiracy, fraud, and theft regarding importation of mislabeled shrimp in case brought by the Federal Drug Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and U.S. Customs Service; co-defendants convicted at same trial. 
  • Represented health care executive in three-year antitrust investigation conducted by Department of Justice criminal antitrust division (no criminal charges filed).
  • Conducted internal investigation at request of parent company of major Florida public utility in response to anonymous allegations that managers were providing false information to state regulators in high-profile rate case.
  • Dismissal of federal criminal indictment relating to alleged mortgage fraud conspiracy following a five-month trial that ended in a hung jury that voted 10-2 for acquittal.
  • Multiple representations of executives in SEC investigations involving fields such as banking, finance, telemarketing, and manufacturing (no enforcement actions or criminal securities charges brought).
  • Negotiated resolution of probation and home confinement for pharmacist in large oxycodone distribution conspiracy, when application of Federal Sentencing Guidelines called for a much more severe result.

All Insights

High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The FAA and Pilot DUIs

High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The FAA and Pilot DUIs

December 22, 2022

Know Before You Blow! In this episode, we explore the consequences and repercussions of DUIs for FAA pilots. As professionals who hold a high level of responsibility and trust, pilots are held to strict regulations when it comes to alcohol and drug use.

High Crimes and Misdemeanors: Busted by the Feds: The Anatomy of a Federal Criminal Prosecution of a Drone Pilot

High Crimes and Misdemeanors: Busted by the Feds: The Anatomy of a Federal Criminal Prosecution of a Drone Pilot

November 1, 2022

From military innovation to aerial photographer, drones have soared into civilian life and both recreational and commercial use. But don’t let their small size fool you — these small but mighty aerial vehicles are still considered aircrafts subject to FAA rules and regulations and — you guessed it — federal criminal prosecution. In this episode, Carlton Fields aviation attorney Ed Page discusses the types of conduct and violations that can lead to criminal charges and real-world examples that have brought drone enforcement to new heights.

ABA Sound Advice: Conducting Civil Rights Audits: Benefits and Best Practices

ABA Sound Advice: Conducting Civil Rights Audits: Benefits and Best Practices

August 15, 2022

Two former AUSAs with Carlton Fields discuss the role of outside counsel in a civil rights audits, also known as a corporate culture review. Class Action Subcommittee Co-Chair Jack Clabby talks with his colleague, Simon Gaugush, a former Civil Rights Coordinator for the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. What is a civil rights audit or corporate culture review, and why might a company conduct such an audit? Who should conduct these reviews and how are outside counsel being retained? What are the possible implications, and what should a company do after the audit? Jack and Simon discuss best practices for taking an introspective look at policies, practices, and services with transparency and accountability.

High Crimes and Misdemeanors: Unruly Passengers on Flights

High Crimes and Misdemeanors: Unruly Passengers on Flights

August 12, 2022

Incidents involving unruly passengers are skyrocketing. As a result, the FAA has adopted a zero-tolerance policy for passengers who engage in unruly behavior. In this episode, Carlton Fields aviation attorney Ed Page discusses the penalties for such behavior – both civil and criminal – and the types of cases rising in the unfriendly skies.

High Crimes and Misdemeanors: Federal Criminal Aviation Cases From 2021

High Crimes and Misdemeanors: Federal Criminal Aviation Cases From 2021

March 23, 2022

Join Carlton Fields attorney Ed Page, former federal prosecutor and active pilot and flight instructor, as he discusses federal criminal aviation cases from the past year, including the main tools used by the Department of Justice to prosecute violations and key takeaways and trends in the aviation industry.

DFS Continues Focus on Cybersecurity: Issues Ransomware Guidance and Signals Increased Enforcement Actions

DFS Continues Focus on Cybersecurity: Issues Ransomware Guidance and Signals Increased Enforcement Actions

July 15, 2021

The New York State Department of Financial Services is continuing its focus on financial institutions’ cybersecurity, issuing new guidance, probing cybersecurity as part of routine examinations, and signaling increased enforcement actions. This alert discusses this new guidance and its impact on financial institutions.

Record-Breaking SEC Whistleblower Awards Signal the Need for Robust Anti-Retaliation Policies

Record-Breaking SEC Whistleblower Awards Signal the Need for Robust Anti-Retaliation Policies

May 11, 2021

Last year saw a significant increase in whistleblower reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Given this environment, companies should analyze their compliance program to implement and communicate strong anti-retaliation policies.

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Disclaimer

The information on this website is presented as a service for our clients and Internet users and is not intended to be legal advice, nor should you consider it as such. Although we welcome your inquiries, please keep in mind that merely contacting us will not establish an attorney-client relationship between us. Consequently, you should not convey any confidential information to us until a formal attorney-client relationship has been established. Please remember that electronic correspondence on the internet is not secure and that you should not include sensitive or confidential information in messages. With that in mind, we look forward to hearing from you.