What Should I Do If Federal Agents Contact Me? Chris Combs and Andrew Russek of the Combs Waterkotte criminal defense firm sit down to discuss how to respond if you are contacted by federal investigators.
Interview Transcript
Scott Michael Dunn: Speaking of these agencies, what should somebody do if a federal agent contacts them/approaches them?
Andrew Russek: Contact an attorney immediately. Again, as Chris said, once the federal government has zeroed in on you, it’s not something that they forget about. They have resources to follow you for years.
We see cases sometimes where people are being monitored and followed for months and years, and by the time the feds come knock on your door, there’s already a file extremely thick with your information in it. They can access your phones. They’ll offer you to come in for an interview.
At that point, you need an attorney just to sit down with you and discuss what you’re at risk for, what your options are, because you’ve probably – there’s a file with your name on it, on a desk somewhere.
Chris Combs: And there’s – we always say this at Combs Waterkotte: call a lawyer. That should be the first thing you do before making any statements. But when you’re talking about being investigated by a federal agency, people often forget that lying to a federal agent is a crime in and of itself.
So you get contacted by any type of federal agent, you need to put a lawyer between yourself and the federal government. Because anything you say, again, that is untruthful, you can catch another charge on top of what you’re being investigated for, for lying.
So you have to put a lawyer between yourself and the United States government.
Scott Michael Dunn: Well, that’s the difference, right? Like, in the conversation from the go, at starting point with contact with a federal agent.
Chris Combs: You should never say anything.
Scott Michael Dunn: You cannot speak a lie from that point forward at all.
Chris Combs: I mean, you should literally not say a single word when being investigated – if you are approached or detained by the feds. Another thing is, a lot of times, people are terrified, right?
Your door gets kicked in at five in the morning by the US Marshals or SWAT, and they have you sitting there as they’re rummaging through your house with a search warrant.
And some of these agents are trying to get information, and– we have clients that think, “Oh, I have to do this. I’m absolutely screwed. I have to give them information.”
That is the worst thing you could possibly do. Because if you’re going to give them information, there’s a time and a place for that, where you can actually receive credit to get a downward departure in your sentencing guidelines.
But you’re not getting credit when you’re just spouting off information without a lawyer looping in a federal prosecutor.
If you’re facing federal charges and need an expert criminal defense lawyer, contact Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP or reach out online for a free, confidential case review. We will fight for your rights and freedom.
