White-Collar Crime Defense in Rhode Island and Massachusetts

The most valuable work often happens before any charge is filed. We leverage proffer sessions, grand jury practice, and direct engagement with prosecutors to understand the government’s theory and shape it before it hardens.

We respond to grand jury subpoenas, manage document productions, assert applicable privileges, and advise witnesses on their rights before they speak to investigators or testify.

Federal white collar cases often run alongside civil enforcement actions. We coordinate the defense across all tracks to avoid a misstep in one proceeding damaging another.

We leverage every Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment issue that the record will support. When relevant, we file motions to suppress evidence, challenge the sufficiency of the indictment, and bring other pretrial motions that narrow or eliminate the government’s case before trial.

We negotiate directly with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and state prosecutors to facilitate proffer agreements, plea negotiations, and cooperation arrangements with a clear-eyed view of what the government has and what they’re willing to do with it.

When trial is the right answer, we try the case in court.

Do not speak to them. You are not required to answer questions from federal investigators, and anything you say (even if you believe it’s helpful or exculpatory) can be used against you. Politely decline to speak without an attorney present and call us immediately.

A grand jury subpoena is a court order, and ignoring it can lead to contempt. You may be able to narrow it, move to quash it as unreasonable or oppressive, or assert a privilege, so your response requires careful legal guidance. We review the subpoena, assess which privileges apply, manage the document production process, and advise you on your rights before you produce anything or testify.

Yes, and the earlier you talk to an attorney, the better. The pre-charge phase is when the most important decisions get made: what you say to investigators, what documents you preserve or produce, whether to proffer, whether to approach prosecutors proactively. The government has been building its case; we help build your defense.

A criminal case is prosecuted by the government (the U.S. Attorney’s Office or a state prosecutor) and can result in prison, fines, and a criminal record. A civil enforcement action is brought by an agency such as the SEC or the FTC, by the Justice Department under the False Claims Act, or by a state AG, and typically seeks monetary penalties, restitution or disgorgement, and injunctive relief. They often run simultaneously, and a mistake in one proceeding can damage the other. We handle both.

A proffer is a meeting between a target or subject of an investigation, their attorney, and federal prosecutors and agents, held under a written proffer agreement. The agreement usually bars direct use of your statements in the government’s main case, but it typically allows the government to follow leads from them and to use them to impeach you, so the protection is narrower than immunity. Done right, a proffer can shape the government’s case before it’s filed. Done wrong, it can make things significantly worse. We evaluate whether a proffer is in your interest before recommending it.

Federal white-collar cases are among the most resource-intensive in criminal law. We’ll give you an honest assessment of scope and fees at the first conversation, which is free. We’d rather you understand what you’re looking at from the start.