Being investigated or charged with a federal crime can threaten your freedom, career, finances, business, professional license, and reputation. Federal prosecutors may spend months building a case through grand jury subpoenas, search warrants, financial records, electronic communications, and witness interviews before an arrest or indictment occurs.
Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Michael J. Petro represents clients in Tampa, Chicago, and federal courts throughout the country. With more than 35 years of criminal defense experience, Attorney Petro represents clients from the earliest stage of a federal investigation through trial, sentencing, and appeal.
If federal agents have contacted you, you have received a grand jury subpoena or target letter, or you have been charged with a federal crime, contact federal criminal defense attorney Michael J. Petro before answering questions or producing records.
Federal Charges Attorney Michael J. Petro Defends
Federal prosecutions frequently involve complex statutes, multiple investigative agencies, extensive financial or electronic evidence, cooperating witnesses, and severe sentencing consequences.
Attorney Petro represents clients facing serious federal allegations, including:
- Mail fraud and wire fraud
- Bank and financial institution fraud
- Money laundering
- Mortgage fraud
- Healthcare fraud
- Tax offenses
- PPP, EIDL, and SBA loan fraud
- Embezzlement and theft
- Drug trafficking and conspiracy
- Federal firearm offenses
- Internet and computer crimes
- Public corruption
- False statements
- Obstruction of justice
- Federal asset forfeiture
- Other serious federal offenses
Business owners, executives, professionals, and employees facing financial allegations can learn more about Attorney Petro’s representation in federal white-collar criminal cases.
An indictment is only an accusation. The government must prove every element of every charged offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
Federal Investigations and Grand Jury Subpoenas
A federal case often begins long before charges are filed. You may first learn about an investigation when agents request an interview, serve a subpoena, execute a search warrant, contact an employee or business associate, or obtain financial and electronic records.
Federal investigators may describe you as a witness, subject, or target. That status can change as the government collects documents, interviews witnesses, and develops its theory of the case. Do not assume that an interview is harmless because agents say they only want to ask a few questions.
Attorney Petro communicates with agents and prosecutors, evaluates potential criminal exposure, responds to subpoenas, protects privileged information, preserves favorable evidence, and develops a defense before charging decisions are made.
Learn more about representation during federal investigations and grand jury proceedings.
Challenging Searches and Government Evidence
Federal agents and prosecutors must comply with the United States Constitution and applicable federal law when gathering evidence. The defense must examine how the government obtained its evidence and whether it can lawfully use that evidence in court.
Potential issues may include:
- Whether a search warrant was supported by probable cause
- Whether agents exceeded the authorized scope of a warrant
- Whether a traffic stop or investigative detention was lawful
- Whether electronic searches remained within lawful limits
- Whether statements were obtained in violation of Miranda
- Whether a confession was voluntary
- Whether electronic surveillance was legally authorized
- Whether identification procedures were unduly suggestive
- Whether privileged communications were improperly obtained
- Whether prosecutors disclosed exculpatory evidence
When evidence was obtained unlawfully, Attorney Petro may file a motion to suppress or another pretrial motion seeking to prevent the government from using it. Read about a recent case in which a federal court granted Attorney Petro’s motion to suppress evidence. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Federal Plea Negotiations
A federal plea agreement can determine the offense of conviction, sentencing exposure, restitution, forfeiture, cooperation obligations, and whether the defendant retains the right to appeal.
Before advising a client whether to accept or reject an agreement, Attorney Petro evaluates the government’s evidence, available defenses, mandatory minimum sentences, likely Sentencing Guidelines range, factual stipulations, appeal waivers, and the risks of proceeding to trial.
A prosecutor’s sentencing recommendation generally does not bind the judge. The wording of the agreement matters, and a seemingly routine provision can substantially restrict sentencing arguments or appellate rights.
Learn more about federal plea negotiations.
Federal Criminal Trials
Every person charged with a federal crime has the right to require the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Michael J. Petro has served as lead counsel in more than 45 federal jury trials taken to verdict. Trial preparation may require challenging search warrants, examining financial and electronic evidence, confronting cooperating witnesses, litigating evidentiary issues, preparing jury instructions, and developing a defense theory based on the facts and controlling law.
Attorney Petro prepares each case according to its evidence, legal issues, and the client’s objectives. When a case cannot be resolved on acceptable terms, he is prepared to take it to trial.
Learn more about Attorney Petro’s federal trial representation.
Federal Sentencing
Federal sentencing requires careful analysis of the Presentence Investigation Report, the advisory Sentencing Guidelines, statutory sentencing factors, and the government’s evidence.
Potential disputes may involve financial loss, drug quantity, relevant conduct, role adjustments, obstruction allegations, firearm enhancements, criminal history, mandatory minimum sentences, restitution, forfeiture, and acceptance of responsibility.
Attorney Petro challenges factual and legal errors, develops mitigation evidence, prepares sentencing memoranda, and advocates for a sentence that is sufficient but not greater than necessary. He also evaluates whether a federal prisoner may qualify for resentencing or another available sentence reduction.
Learn more about federal sentencing and sentence reductions.
Federal Appeals
A conviction or sentence does not necessarily end a federal criminal case. Appellate issues may include suppression rulings, evidentiary decisions, jury instructions, insufficient evidence, constitutional violations, sentencing errors, and other legal questions preserved in the district court.
Attorney Petro has handled more than 31 federal appeals in the United States Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeals for the Eleventh, Seventh, and Fifth Circuits. His appellate work has produced significant relief, including reversals, resentencing, and substantial sentence reductions.
Appeal deadlines are strict. Potential appellate issues should be identified promptly after judgment.
Learn more about Attorney Petro’s federal criminal appeals practice.
Contact Federal Criminal Defense Attorney Michael J. Petro
Every federal case requires a defense strategy based on the specific investigation, charges, evidence, controlling law, and the client’s objectives. No two federal cases are the same.
If you are under federal investigation, have received a grand jury subpoena or target letter, or have been charged with a federal crime, do not wait while prosecutors strengthen their case. Contact federal criminal defense attorney Michael J. Petro now.