Last week, a New York man made news by sitting on the edge of a skyscraper window as the FBI raided his apartment.
Perching somewhere dangerous is an example of what not to do when federal agents raid your home or business. But what should you do?
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It’s rare for federal agents to show up without a warrant, but you should ask for one anyway.
If they don’t have one, don’t let them in, and don’t consent to a search. If they force their way inside anyway, your lawyer can challenge their right to use every piece of evidence they find.
If they do have a warrant, you should read it thoroughly. Every warrant lists what the government is searching for and where the judge has given them the right to look. If law enforcement does the opposite, your defense lawyer can challenge that evidence too.
You may not be arrested yet, but you’re already in big trouble. The FBI generally does not raid homes or businesses without a great deal of investigation in advance. Local and state police may jump the gun at times, but the feds have the resources to conduct their investigations for years if they want to.
You’re looking for a criminal defense attorney with extensive experience handling federal cases (like us).
You want to have a professional on speed dial from here on out.
If the agents ask you any questions, say, “I respectfully decline to answer and assert my 5th Amendment right to remain silent.”
If you don’t assert your rights, the prosecution can use your silence against you later.
Don’t get nervous. Don’t start talking. There is nothing you can say that will stop the process. You won’t suddenly convince federal law enforcement you’re innocent. The only thing you can possibly do is incriminate yourself, so remain silent.
Once you’ve retained an attorney, your lawyer can reach out to federal prosecutors to get a sense of what might be going on with your case and can begin crafting a legal strategy to protect you and your rights.
You will not get through a federal investigation without help. Contact us to schedule a free case review today.
See also:
How Immunity Works in a Federal Criminal Case
What is a Target Letter?
How Does Bail Work in a Federal Criminal Case?
