Lowther | Walker’s white-collar defense lawyers hold over 30 years of experience defending business owners, executives, and healthcare professionals on charges relating to financial crimes.
Our attorneys have won landmark white-collar defense victories in the federal courts.
Our national resources and courtroom-proven white-collar experience allow Lowther | Walker to serve white-collar clients with distinction. We’ve represented high-profile individuals and businesses in federal courts across the country. Our attorneys are battle-tested, ready to meet your legal challenges.
Your white-collar defense team is available 24/7. Whether you receive an urgent document request or have a question about your case, we respond expertly and promptly.
Lowther | Walker’s defense attorneys bring an unparalleled depth of experience in white-collar criminal defense, earned through decades of practice in federal courts across the nation. We are nationally recognized for our sophisticated representation in fraud investigations and for our analysis of government contracts and compliance programs.
Our white-collar lawyers include attorneys Joshua Lowther and Murdoch Walker, who represent individuals and corporations facing charges under the following federal laws:
If you’re facing healthcare fraud charges, Lowther | Walker can intervene immediately. We’ll communicate with CMS, FDA, and investigators at the DOJ and have in-depth experience responding to healthcare audits, federal investigations, and criminal proceedings against medical professionals.
Here are the expanded practice area descriptions, written in the aggressive, intervention-focused voice of Lowther | Walker, incorporating the 2025-2026 enforcement landscape and relevant federal agencies.
Lowther | Walker defends multinational corporations and executives facing cross-border investigations by the DOJ and SEC. We specialize in dismantling allegations of bribery and accounting violations under the FCPA. Our team includes former federal agents who can conduct internal forensic audits to challenge the government’s evidence of “corrupt intent” or “illicit payments” to foreign officials. We intervene early to mitigate reputational damage and negotiate directly with the Fraud Section of the DOJ.
If you have received a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) or subpoena regarding a Qui Tam (whistleblower) complaint, time is critical. Lowther | Walker defends against aggressive “treble damage” lawsuits and criminal referrals involving Medicare, Medicaid, and defense contracts. We have a track record of convincing the U.S. Attorney’s Office to decline intervention in whistleblower suits, effectively ending the government’s pursuit of your assets before the case becomes public.
Wire fraud is the federal government’s “catch-all” weapon for criminalizing business disputes. Lowther | Walker aggressively challenges the prosecution’s use of 18 U.S.C. § 1343, forcing them to prove specific “intent to defraud” rather than simple mismanagement. Whether the allegation involves electronic transfers, email communications, or complex fintech transactions, we position our clients to avoid indictment by attacking the legal sufficiency of the government’s “scheme” theory during the grand jury phase.
Federal prosecutors frequently bundle mail fraud charges (18 U.S.C. § 1341) with other white-collar indictments to increase sentencing exposure.
Our defense team scrutinizes the use of the USPS or private carriers to dismantle these charges. We represent business owners and executives in investigations involving alleged insurance fraud, investment schemes, and logistics fraud, ensuring that a simple commercial dispute does not escalate into a federal prison sentence.
We defend corporate officers, board members, and financial advisors against SEC enforcement actions and parallel criminal proceedings by the DOJ.
Lowther | Walker handles high-stakes inquiries into insider trading, disclosure violations, and accounting irregularities. We understand the complex interplay between civil SEC subpoenas and potential criminal liability, providing a unified defense strategy that protects your professional license and your liberty simultaneously.
Allegations of “spoofing,” “pump and dump” schemes, or wash trading require a defense team that understands market mechanics better than the regulators. Lowther | Walker defends traders and financial institutions against the CFTC and DOJ. We employ forensic data experts to analyze trading patterns and refute the government’s claims of artificial price influence, challenging the statistical models often used by federal prosecutors to secure convictions.
Contractors facing scrutiny from the Department of Defense (DoD), GSA, or NASA need immediate counsel to avoid suspension and debarment. Lowther | Walker defends against allegations of bid-rigging, procurement fraud, and TAA non-compliance. We communicate directly with the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and suspension officers to protect your ability to do business with the federal government while we fight the underlying criminal or civil allegations.
Our client faced an 87-count indictment for alleged Medicare fraud. After pre-trial motions exposing prosecutorial overreach, the DOJ dismissed all charges.
Our client was a former investment advisor charged with wire fraud and faced a 15-year guideline range. We negotiated a plea to a single count, an 18-month sentence (released after 12 months).
Our client was under IRS-CI investigation into alleged $800K underreporting. We presented corrected returns and a good-faith defense. Investigation closed with no charges.
Federal white-collar crimes carry severe punishments. Penalties depend on the type of crime, the amount lost, and the intent. Below are examples of penalties for white-collar offenses:
Wire Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343): Up to 20 years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000 (or more if a financial institution is involved).
Tax Evasion (26 U.S.C. § 7201): Up to 5 years imprisonment and fines up to $250,000 for individuals or $500,000 for corporations.
Money Laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1956): Up to 20 years imprisonment and fines up to $500,000 or twice the value of the laundered funds.
Securities Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1348): Up to 20 years imprisonment and fines up to $5 million for individuals or $25 million for companies.
Identity Theft (18 U.S.C. § 1028): Up to 15 years imprisonment and fines, plus mandatory restitution to victims.
Insurance Fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1033): Up to 10 years imprisonment and fines; penalties increase if the crime involves endangering another person or major financial loss.
Bringing decades of national legal experience to your case, our white-collar attorneys can address your questions and immediately respond to investigators pursuing charges against you.
Call Lowther | Walker via 1-404-806-7997 and book a free, no-obligation consultation with a white-collar attorney.
Federal white-collar crimes are non-violent, financially motivated offenses prosecuted under federal law. These include wire fraud, mail fraud, securities fraud, bank fraud, money laundering, embezzlement, tax evasion, identity theft, healthcare fraud, insider trading, public corruption, and RICO violations.
A case becomes federal when it involves interstate commerce, federal agencies, federally insured institutions, or crosses state lines. Federal prosecutors from the Department of Justice handle these cases, which carry significantly harsher penalties than state-level charges and are investigated by agencies like the FBI, IRS, SEC, and DEA.
Warning signs of a federal investigation include receiving a grand jury subpoena, being contacted by federal agents requesting an interview, having your business records subpoenaed, learning that colleagues or associates have been questioned about you, or receiving a target letter from a U.S. Attorney’s office. You might also notice unusual activity, such as accounts being frozen or audits being initiated.
If you suspect you’re under investigation, immediately cease all communication with investigators and retain experienced federal defense counsel. Everything you say can be used against you, and federal agents are trained interrogators who may use subtle tactics to obtain incriminating statements.
These designations reflect the government’s view of your involvement. A target is someone the prosecutor has substantial evidence against and believes committed a crime. A subject is someone whose conduct falls within the scope of the investigation but against whom there is not yet sufficient evidence to charge. A witness has information relevant to the investigation but is not suspected of wrongdoing.
Your status can change as the investigation progresses. If you receive a target letter, indictment is probable and immediate legal representation is critical. Even subjects and witnesses should consult counsel before speaking with investigators.
Federal white-collar crime penalties are severe and often include lengthy prison sentences, substantial fines, restitution to victims, forfeiture of assets, and supervised release.
Wire fraud and mail fraud each carry up to 20 years imprisonment (30 years if targeting financial institutions). Money laundering can result in 20 years per count. Securities fraud carries up to 20 years, while tax evasion can mean five years per count plus fines up to $250,000.
The Federal Sentencing Guidelines calculate punishment based on the amount lost, the number of victims, and aggravating factors. A $1 million fraud could mean 8-10 years before any adjustments. First-time offenders face mandatory minimums in some cases, and white-collar defendants rarely avoid prison time in federal court.
Never speak to federal agents without an attorney present, even if you believe you’re innocent or only a witness. You have an absolute constitutional right to decline questioning and request counsel. Federal agents may claim they “just want to clear things up” or that having a lawyer “makes you look guilty”—these are tactics to obtain statements. Lying to federal agents is itself a crime (18 U.S.C. § 1001) carrying five years imprisonment, even if the underlying investigation reveals no wrongdoing. Anything you say can be misinterpreted, taken out of context, or contradicted by other evidence. Politely decline to answer questions, state that you wish to consult with an attorney, and contact experienced federal defense counsel immediately.
A federal grand jury subpoena is a court order requiring you to testify or produce documents as part of a criminal investigation.
There are two types: subpoena ad testificandum (compelling testimony) and subpoena duces tecum (demanding documents). You must comply with a subpoena, but you should never respond without legal counsel.
An attorney can review the subpoena’s scope, negotiate to narrow overly broad requests, assert applicable privileges, prepare you for testimony, and ensure you don’t inadvertently incriminate yourself. The Fifth Amendment protects you from self-incrimination, but asserting it requires strategic judgment. Ignoring a subpoena results in contempt charges, while complying without counsel can lead to prosecution.
Money laundering under 18 U.S.C. § 1956 requires knowledge that the funds represent the proceeds of an illegal activity, but prosecutors need only prove you knew the money came from “some form” of unlawful activity—not the specific crime. “Willful blindness” satisfies the knowledge requirement if you deliberately avoid learning the truth. Courts have found defendants guilty for ignoring obvious red flags, conducting transactions in ways designed to avoid reporting requirements, or accepting implausible explanations for the source of funds.
Additionally, 18 U.S.C. § 1957 prohibits transactions involving criminally derived property exceeding $10,000 and requires only that you knew the funds were from “some unlawful activity.” Unknowing involvement is a defense, but the government’s burden is lower than many assume.
Effective defenses depend on the specific charges. Defenses can include:
Constitutional defenses may involve Fourth, Fifth, or Sixth Amendment violations.
A cooperation agreement (also called a plea agreement with cooperation) is a negotiated arrangement where you plead guilty and provide substantial assistance to the government in exchange for reduced charges or a sentencing reduction under Federal Sentencing Guideline § 5K1.1 or Rule 35(b).
Cooperation might involve providing information, testifying against co-conspirators, or participating in recorded conversations. Benefits can be significant, sometimes reducing decades-long sentences to single-digit years. Cooperation carries serious risks. You may be required to testify in multiple proceedings, face retaliation from co-defendants, and lose the right to appeal certain issues.
The government determines whether your cooperation is “substantial,” and failure to provide complete information can void the agreement. Never discuss cooperation without experienced counsel evaluating the strength of the government’s case, your exposure, and whether cooperation truly benefits you.
Hire a federal defense attorney immediately upon learning you’re under investigation, before charges are filed. Early intervention allows your attorney to potentially prevent indictment by presenting exculpatory evidence to prosecutors, negotiating a declination or non-prosecution agreement, ensuring you don’t make incriminating statements, and preserving critical evidence. Once charged, your attorney can challenge the indictment, file suppression motions, negotiate plea agreements, and prepare for trial.
Federal white-collar cases are document-intensive and legally complex, requiring attorneys with specific experience in federal court, knowledge of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, relationships with federal prosecutors, and expertise in the relevant area of law. Don’t wait until arrest. Your freedom and future depend on skilled representation from the earliest stage of investigation.
