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A federal investigation in New York City requires an immediate, overwhelming response. Lowther | Walker brings decades of specialized federal defense expertise to the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York to secure your freedom and financial assets. Whether you are facing a grand jury subpoena, a target letter, or an active prosecution from the DOJ, FBI, DEA, SEC, or IRS-CI, partners Joshua Sabert Lowther and Murdoch Walker II step in immediately. We do not wait for an indictment; we aggressively dismantle the government’s evidence and shut down the investigation before it destroys your life.
No-obligation. Fully confidential.
Call Us Today: (404) 496-4052
Drug investigation terminated; $3 million seized recovered; probation for tax charges. DEA and IRS-CI searched our medical-doctor client’s pain clinic and residence for evidence of his overprescribing controlled substances to his patients and evading business […]
The Government indicted our client on one count of International Parental Kidnapping and four counts of Extortion. Our client retained us after already having served almost the maximum term of imprisonment of three years on […]
The FBI investigated, and the Government indicted our client, the CEO of a telecommunications company, for financial fraud for forging documents, resulting in a $1.3 billion loss to investors. Although our client admitted the conduct […]
The FBI investigated and the Government indicted our client for Aiding and Abetting another person’s traveling in interstate commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. After completing our investigation […]
The FBI and a local police department investigated our client for defrauding an individual of over $500,000. We convinced the local police department to terminate its investigation and the FBI not to refer the matter […]
Drug investigation terminated; $3 million seized recovered; probation for tax charges. DEA and IRS-CI searched our medical-doctor client’s pain clinic and residence for evidence of his overprescribing controlled substances to his patients and evading business […]
The Government indicted our client on one count of International Parental Kidnapping and four counts of Extortion. Our client retained us after already having served almost the maximum term of imprisonment of three years on […]
The FBI investigated, and the Government indicted our client, the CEO of a telecommunications company, for financial fraud for forging documents, resulting in a $1.3 billion loss to investors. Although our client admitted the conduct […]
The FBI investigated and the Government indicted our client for Aiding and Abetting another person’s traveling in interstate commerce with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor. After completing our investigation […]
The FBI and a local police department investigated our client for defrauding an individual of over $500,000. We convinced the local police department to terminate its investigation and the FBI not to refer the matter […]
When the United States government targets you in New York City, you do not hire a state-court lawyer. You hire a federal defense attorney proven over 1000s of court appearances and hearings. Lowther | Walker exclusively practices federal criminal defense. We understand the distinct rules, harsh sentencing guidelines, and specialized prosecutors of the federal system.
Federal prosecutions in NYC are divided between two of the most aggressive districts in the country. With decades of experience defending clients throughout New York State, we know how investigators in both NYC districts operate.
The SDNY is notorious for targeting high-level financial and corporate crimes. We defend against:
Because the EDNY oversees major international ports like JFK Airport, it heavily prosecutes border-crossing and organized crimes. We defend against:
| Case Stage | What Happens | How a Federal Lawyer Intervenes |
| The Investigation (Pre-Indictment) | You receive a target letter, a grand jury subpoena, or agents knock on your door. | A federal lawyer immediately steps in to shield you, conduct an independent investigation, and attempt to stop an indictment. |
| Arrest & Initial Appearance | The indictment is unsealed. You are arrested or surrender, and face a judge within 48–72 hours. | Your attorney builds an airtight bail package to keep you out of federal pre-trial detention. |
| Discovery & Pre-Trial Motions | The government hands over its evidence. | Your federal lawyer files motions to suppress illegally obtained evidence and dismiss improper charges. |
| Plea Negotiations or Trial | The case proceeds to plea negotiations or a federal trial depending on the evidence. | If prosecutors refuse to drop the case or offer a favorable resolution, we take the fight to a federal jury. |
| Sentencing & Post-Conviction | If convicted, the judge applies strict Federal Sentencing Guidelines. | Your attorney litigates reduced sentences and immediately prepares appeals or habeas corpus (2255) petitions. |
If the FBI, DEA, IRS-CI, or SEC comes knocking, your survival depends entirely on what you do in the first 24 hours. Follow these directives immediately:
Lowther | Walker’s federal defense attorneys are ready any time, 24/7 to answer your call and guide tour defense strategy. Our work begins with a free consultation during which a senior lawyer will listen to your concerns and help answer your questions. The consultation is completely free and confidential.
No-obligation. Fully confidential.
Call Us Today: (404) 496-4052
Do not ignore it, and do not destroy any documents. A subpoena means the government is actively gathering evidence. Attempting to delete emails, shred documents, or alter records will result in an immediate Obstruction of Justice charge, which carries severe federal prison time regardless of whether you committed the underlying crime. Contact a federal defense attorney immediately to negotiate the scope of the subpoena and determine whether you are a witness, subject, or target of the investigation.
A proffer session is an interview where you agree to provide information to the government in exchange for a limited protection: the prosecutors agree not to use your direct statements against you in their case-in-chief. However, they can use your statements to track down new evidence or to impeach you if you later testify differently in court. Never attend a proffer session without experienced federal counsel, as it requires high-stakes strategic planning.
A target letter from the U.S. Attorney’s Office means federal prosecutors believe there is substantial evidence linking you to a crime and that you are the target of a grand jury investigation. This is a serious situation. It’s not a warning, it’s a sign you may soon face federal charges.
Here’s what you should do immediately:
Do Not Ignore It
A target letter signals that the government is actively building a case against you. Ignoring it will not make the problem go away.
Do Not Contact Investigators or Prosecutors Directly
Anything you say can be used against you. Communication should go through an experienced attorney.
Hire an Experienced Federal Criminal Defense Lawyer
Federal cases have different rules, procedures, and sentencing guidelines than state cases. You need a lawyer who regularly practices in federal court.
Preserve All Relevant Documents and Evidence
Destroying, altering, or hiding evidence can lead to additional charges such as obstruction of justice.
Yes. Federal prosecutors in the SDNY and EDNY aggressively use asset forfeiture to freeze bank accounts, seize real estate, and confiscate vehicles they believe are tied to the proceeds of a crime. They often execute seizure warrants before an indictment is even unsealed to cripple a defendant’s ability to fund a legal defense. Immediate litigation is required to challenge the seizure and release funds for your defense.
State and federal courts operate under entirely different rulebooks. Federal investigations are handled by elite agencies (FBI, SEC, IRS-CI) and prosecuted by highly resourced U.S. Attorneys. Furthermore, federal evidentiary rules, grand jury procedures, and the complex Federal Sentencing Guidelines require specialized knowledge. Hiring an attorney who only occasionally handles federal cases puts you at a severe disadvantage against the power of the U.S. government.
An SDNY U.S. Attorney’s Office target letter explicitly warns that a grand jury has substantial evidence linking you to a federal crime, such as wire fraud. A subject letter indicates your conduct falls within an investigation’s scope but lacks formal target status. If you receive a target letter in Manhattan or Brooklyn, retain an NYC federal defense lawyer immediately to negotiate pre-indictment resolutions before grand jury indictments are unsealed.
At 500 Pearl Street (SDNY Manhattan) or 225 Cadman Plaza E (EDNY Brooklyn), a magistrate judge formally presents federal indictment charges, records your non-guilty plea, and conducts an 18 U.S.C. § 3142 bail hearing. Federal prosecutors from the DOJ Fraud Section often demand strict pre-trial detention. Having an experienced New York federal criminal defense counsel helps secure favorable release conditions and unencumbered corporate assets.
Prosecuted by the SDNY Securities and Commodities Fraud Task Force alongside parallel SEC or FINRA civil actions, Rule 10b-5 securities fraud targets insider trading and market manipulation. Convictions carry up to 20 years in federal prison per count. Defense requires dissecting complex trading data and materiality standards with specialized forensic accountants and former FBI New York Field Office investigators.
Under Federal Sentencing Guidelines § 2B1.1, the “intended or actual loss amount” dictates financial crime sentences in SDNY and EDNY courts. Higher dollar figures drastically increase your offense level, leading to longer federal prison terms. Experienced NYC white-collar defense attorneys challenge government financial loss metrics, proving actual economic harm was significantly lower to secure downward departures or non-custodial probation sentences.
The Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b) criminalizes offering or soliciting remuneration to induce Medicare referrals. Prosecuted aggressively by the EDNY U.S. Attorney’s Office and HHS-OIG, violations carry up to 10 years per count. Defending medical directors and clinic owners involves proving safe harbor compliance, lack of corrupt intent, and challenging government billing audits through independent healthcare defense investigators.
