What to Do If You Are Under Federal Investigation or Facing Indictment in Miami

The Abreu Law Firm (Abreu Law) is based in Coral Gables, Florida. This page is for people in Miami and the Southern District of Florida who think they are under federal investigation, who have been contacted by federal agents, or who face a federal indictment.

Rights when federal agents contact you

You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to a lawyer. Say that you will not answer questions without counsel, then stop talking about the facts.

You can ask for the agents’ names, agency, and a callback number. You can say that counsel will contact them. You do not have to invite agents inside, unlock a phone, or “clear things up” on the spot.

Do not consent to a search of your home, car, phone, or computer to cooperate informally. A warrant is different from consent. If agents have a warrant, do not obstruct. Read it carefully and call counsel.

False statements to federal agents can be a separate federal crime, even when the underlying conduct is disputed. Do not lie, guess, or volunteer a clean narrative you have not checked with counsel. Do not delete messages, wipe phones, or coach other people after contact. Preserve evidence.

Target letter, grand jury contact, and a visit from agents

Sometimes the first contact is a door knock or a phone call. Sometimes it is a letter from a U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sometimes it is a grand jury subpoena.

A target letter is a notice that, in the government’s view, you may be a putative defendant in a federal investigation. It is serious. It is not itself a conviction or an indictment. Counsel can discuss what it means for your situation and how to respond.

Federal prosecutors and investigators often use three labels:

• A target is a person as to whom there is substantial evidence linking that person to a crime and who, in the prosecutor’s judgment, is a putative defendant.
• A subject is a person whose conduct is within the scope of the grand jury’s investigation.
• A witness is often used in ordinary speech for someone who may have information. That label is not a safe harbor. Status can change.

Agents are not always required to tell you your status in an informal conversation. Ask counsel to confirm status with the U.S. Attorney’s Office when that is appropriate.

Before indictment and after indictment

An investigation may occur before charges. An indictment is a formal charging document returned by a grand jury. The steps, deadlines, and court appearances differ by stage.

Early contact with counsel, including before an indictment when that is possible, can matter for how a federal investigation is handled.

If you have already been charged, see the companion page on what happens after a federal indictment in Miami. For detention and release questions, see federal detention hearings in Miami. For sentencing vocabulary later in a case, see federal sentencing guidelines explained. For the firm’s federal practice overview, see federal criminal defense lawyer in Miami and Coral Gables.

What this firm does

The Abreu Law Firm handles federal criminal investigations and cases from its Coral Gables office. That work includes federal narcotics, money laundering, extradition-related matters, OFAC-related work, and related white-collar federal matters when they are part of the same investigation or case.

Call (305) 849-2962 to discuss whether the firm can take the matter. A call is not a representation. No attorney-client relationship exists until the firm agrees in writing.

Short FAQ

What should I do if I am under federal investigation or facing a federal indictment in Miami?

Remain silent and contact a federal defense lawyer promptly. Do not explain yourself to agents without counsel. Do not consent to searches to clear things up. If you have already been indicted, ask counsel about arraignment and detention. The Abreu Law Firm in Coral Gables can discuss whether it can take the matter. Call (305) 849-2962. A call is not a representation until the firm agrees in writing.

Should I talk to the FBI or DEA without a lawyer?

You have the right to remain silent and the right to a lawyer. Speaking without counsel can create risk.

What is the difference between a federal investigation and a federal indictment?

An investigation may occur before charges. An indictment is a formal charging document returned by a grand jury. Steps and deadlines differ. Ask counsel which stage applies.

Talk with the firm

The Abreu Law Firm in Coral Gables can discuss federal investigation and indictment matters of the kinds described above. Call (305) 849-2962.

Related guides

• Pre-indictment federal investigation
• Federal detention hearing
• After a federal indictment
• Federal sentencing guidelines
• US–Colombia extradition
• OFAC reconsideration portal

Practice hubs: Federal criminal defense · Extradition · OFAC