(to a Government Agency)
Federal prosecutors frequently charge the offense of Obstruction of Justice and False Statement to a Federal agent where they believe that they have evidence these offenses have occurred.
Are you facing a Federal criminal Obstruction of Justice//False Statement (to a Government Agency) investigation, have you received a “target letter” from an Assistant United States Attorney or a Federal Grand Jury Subpoena, had a Federal Search Warrant executed at your work or home, or actually been arrested by Federal authorities?
At Houlon Berman, we have over 50 years of experience representing clients in criminal matters in Maryland and the District of Columbia. We take pride in the results we get for our clients.
Our Managing Partner, Richard A. Finci, has many years of experience defending Federal criminal cases and is well-known for defending clients before the United States District Court in Greenbelt, Baltimore and the District of Columbia.
Every criminal charge has elements which the Government must prove to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury must reach a unanimous decision, and the jurors must presume that you are innocent unless proven guilty.
If you are charged with Obstruction of Justice, the elements of the offense, each of which the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt, are:
1) the defendant influenced, obstructed, or impeded, or tried to influence, obstruct, or impede the due administration of justice; and
2) the defendant acted corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening communication, with the intent to obstruct justice.
False Statement to a Government Agency requires the proof of the following elements:
1) the defendant [made a false statement] [used a writing which contained a false statement] in a matter within the jurisdiction of the [specify government agency or department]; 2) the defendant acted willfully; that is, deliberately and with knowledge that the statement was untrue; and
3) the statement was material to the activities or decisions of the [specify government agency or department]; that is, it had a natural tendency to influence, or was capable of influencing, the agency’s decisions or activities.
At Houlon Berman, we focus on establishing your defense by attacking each element of the offense, by investigating and attacking the credibility of the witness and the evidence against you and by investigating and proving any affirmative defenses that may be available to you.
Of course, it is well known that many cases end in plea agreements. If your cases is one in which a plea agreement is desirable or otherwise offers you real options that cannot be ignored, at Houlon Berman, we will fight to obtain the best possible plea agreement for you, explain everything that goes into obtaining such an agreement, and make sure that you are fully comfortable with the decisions you will need to make.
Expertise in and understanding of the United States Sentencing Guidelines is critically important in the defense of any Federal Criminal Obstruction of Justice//False Statement (to a Government Agency) charge. Richard Finci has been a member of the Maryland Commission on Criminal Sentencing Policy appointed by the Governor of Maryland since 2004 (which focuses on State Law), has attended many seminars on the Federal Sentencing Guidelines and is an expert in the analysis and application of those Sentencing Guidelines as well as in the tactics and strategy to reduce the sentencing guidelines which you face in your case.
