Calm Through Complexity. Strategic Defense for Complex Allegations.
Federal prosecutors do not file white-collar charges on impulse. Investigations into fraud, embezzlement, tax fraud, and money laundering often run for months or years before a target receives the first subpoena or learns of a grand jury proceeding. By that point, agents have already reviewed financial records, interviewed witnesses, and constructed a case designed to withstand trial. The professionals and business owners who contact us understand that a clean record and a respected reputation will not, by themselves, prevent an indictment. Whether you need a fraud defense lawyer to challenge wire fraud or healthcare fraud allegations, an embezzlement attorney to respond to a federal investigation, or strategic counsel for tax evasion or securities fraud charges, what matters is how quickly you engage experienced defense counsel. The earlier a defense team can evaluate the government’s evidence and begin developing a response strategy, the more options remain available.
How We Defend White Collar Cases
White collar defense requires a different skill set than general criminal practice. These cases turn on documentary evidence: financial records, emails, contracts, tax filings, and transactional data that can span years and fill dozens of boxes. Our defense attorneys handle every stage of a white collar matter, from the moment a client receives a target letter or grand jury subpoena through trial and sentencing, if charges are filed.
We represent individuals and businesses facing allegations of mail fraud, wire fraud, healthcare fraud, securities fraud, embezzlement, tax evasion, and money laundering under both Massachusetts state law and federal statutes. For clients under investigation but not yet charged, early intervention is critical. We engage with prosecutors and agents during the pre-indictment phase to present mitigating evidence, challenge the government’s theory, and, where possible, resolve matters before formal charges are filed.
Cooperation decisions carry lasting consequences. We advise clients on whether, when, and how to engage with government investigators, including the risks and potential benefits of proffer agreements. Simply agreeing to cooperate without understanding the scope and limitations of the protections offered can create new exposure. Every recommendation is grounded in the specifics of the client’s situation, not assumptions about how these cases “usually” resolve.
Why Clients Choose Cohen Cleary
At Cohen Cleary, our practice teams combine deep subject-matter experience with disciplined execution and responsive client service. We do not take a one-size-fits-all approach. Every matter is handled with careful preparation, clear communication, and a strategy tailored to the client’s goals and the realities of the forum.
Clients choose Cohen Cleary because we deliver:
Practice-Focused Legal Experience
Our attorneys work in defined practice areas, allowing us to develop practical insight into the legal, procedural, and regulatory nuances that matter most in each case. This focus allows us to anticipate issues, avoid unnecessary delays, and position matters for efficient resolution.
Clear Guidance and Proactive Communication
We prioritize clarity at every stage. Clients receive straightforward explanations of their options, timely updates on developments, and practical advice grounded in real-world outcomes.
Strategic Advocacy with Trial Readiness
Whether a matter calls for negotiation, mediation, or litigation, our attorneys prepare every case with discipline and foresight. We pursue efficient resolution when possible and are fully prepared to advocate aggressively when necessary to protect our clients’ interests.
Regional Knowledge and Local Presence
With offices throughout Massachusetts and experience across New England courts and agencies, we bring local insight and regional reach to every matter.
Client-Centered Service
We treat every matter with urgency and respect. Our clients rely on us for responsive service, sound judgment, and steady counsel through complex legal challenges.
In our criminal defense work, this approach helps clients navigate white collar investigations and prosecutions with clarity, efficiency, and confidence.
Protecting What Is at Stake Beyond the Criminal Case
White-collar charges rarely exist in isolation. A federal fraud indictment often triggers parallel proceedings: SEC enforcement actions, IRS civil audits, professional licensing board investigations, and civil lawsuits from alleged victims. Each of these tracks operates on its own timeline, with its own evidentiary standards, and a misstep in one can create exposure in another. We tell our clients that managing a white-collar case means managing all of its fronts simultaneously.
For licensed professionals, including attorneys, physicians, accountants, and financial advisors, a conviction or even a sustained investigation can result in license suspension or revocation. Asset forfeiture proceedings can freeze accounts before trial, and restitution orders can follow a defendant for years after sentencing. We build defense strategies that account for these collateral consequences from the outset, not as afterthoughts.
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Federal Court Defense
Cohen Cleary defends white collar cases in Massachusetts and Rhode Island state courts and in federal district courts where applicable. Our attorneys practice regularly in Bristol, Plymouth, and Norfolk County courts and are familiar with the procedural requirements and case management practices of the federal courts in the District of Massachusetts, including the federal courthouse in Boston. We also represent clients facing charges in Rhode Island Superior Court and the District of Rhode Island. For clients with multi-jurisdictional exposure across state and federal proceedings, we coordinate defense strategy to ensure consistency and prevent conflicts between parallel tracks.
Speak with a Massachusetts White Collar Defense Attorney
If you are under investigation, have received a grand jury subpoena, or are facing white-collar criminal charges, early legal counsel can change the trajectory of your case. Contact Cohen Cleary, with offices in Taunton and Plymouth, to discuss your situation in a confidential consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About White Collar Criminal Defense
What should I do if I receive a grand jury subpoena or target letter?
Contact a white-collar defense attorney before responding. A target letter from a federal prosecutor indicates that you are the focus of a criminal investigation and that charges are being considered. A grand jury subpoena for documents or testimony requires a legal response within a specific timeframe. Both situations demand immediate, careful evaluation of your rights and strategic options. Anything you produce or say in response can be used in the prosecution’s case.
Can white collar defendants actually go to prison?
Yes. Federal sentencing guidelines for fraud, embezzlement, and tax crimes frequently produce recommended sentences measured in years, not months. The loss amount attributed to the defendant is one of the primary drivers of sentencing severity under the federal guidelines. Massachusetts state courts also impose incarceration for financial crime convictions, particularly in cases involving breach of fiduciary duty or vulnerable victims.
Should I cooperate with investigators?
Cooperation can reduce exposure in some cases, but it is not a decision to make without counsel. Proffer agreements, sometimes called “queen for a day” agreements, allow a target to provide information to prosecutors under limited protections. However, the protections are narrower than most people assume, and statements made during a proffer can be used against you in specific circumstances. We evaluate cooperation decisions based on the strength of the government’s case, the client’s individual exposure, and the realistic likelihood of a favorable outcome.
What is the difference between state and federal white collar charges?
Federal charges carry higher maximum penalties and are prosecuted by U.S. Attorneys with significant investigative resources, including the FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the SEC. Federal cases also involve the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which calculate recommended sentences based on loss amount, number of victims, and other factors. Massachusetts state charges for larceny, embezzlement, and fraud are prosecuted in state courts under different statutory frameworks and sentencing structures. Some conduct can result in both state and federal prosecution.
