A Federal investigation can last upwards of 5 years due to most Federal Statute of Limitations prohibiting the Government from charging or indicting someone after that time period. It is not unusual to see an indictment that lists dates of offenses 3-5 years prior to an arrest.
A Federal investigation can last upwards of 5 years due to most Federal Statute of Limitations prohibiting the Government from charging or indicting someone after that time period.
Typically, Federal investigations take no longer than one – two (1-2) years. Federal investigations can be extremely frustrating because it is difficult to get a straight answer from the Government on whether or not the investigation is closed. As the saying goes “the investigation continues.”
On that note, it is extremely important you never let your guard down if you have been contacted by a Federal Agent about an investigation. An agent may come to your door to ask you questions and then you may hear nothing from the agency for over a year until you are arrested.
It is imperative that you NEVER speak to a Federal agent without first speaking to an experienced Federal criminal lawyer. The agent will tell you that he/she is not there to arrest you and that makes many people feel it’s all right to be interviewed. In fact, the answers you give may be a key piece of evidence that the United States Attorney uses to Indict you later on. You’ve then “hung yourself with your own rope”.
An experienced Federal criminal attorney can evaluate whether it is in your best interests to speak to a Government agent and will be able to determine if you are a “target” or a “witness”. This is crucial because it may prevent you from being charged with any crimes that may arise from the investigation.
In any case, just because you haven’t heard from the agent that originally contacted you for an extended period of time does not mean the case just went away. You should always have an experienced Federal criminal lawyer monitoring the situation.
If you’ve been charged with a crime or have been contacted by a federal agent, call the office of Ray Lopez at 813-221-4455.
Written by Ray C. Lopez, P.A.
Ray Lopez has practiced since 1990, with prior experience as a Hillsborough County assistant State attorney and lawyer for the Tampa Police Department. He handles all criminal charges, from traffic violations and misdemeanors to serious felonies and federal drug charges. He practices in all state and federal courts of the Tampa Bay area and throughout Florida, as well as criminal appeals, juvenile court, administrative hearings, and civil forfeiture proceedings.
View all posts by: Ray C. Lopez, P.A.
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