DC Conspiracy Case Investigations
In DC conspiracy case investigations, it is not uncommon for investigators to obtain search warrants, serve subpoenas, and interview witnesses. Authorities are trying to gather evidence to show that the person being investigated intentionally entered into an agreement to commit a crime.
If you are the subject of a conspiracy investigation, you should contact a defense attorney as soon as possible. Investigators and prosecutors have years of experience building cases against individuals accused of conspiracy, but you could fight back with the help of a dedicated defense lawyer.
Steps in an Investigation
The first step investigators might take is seeking to interview the lead suspect. The person believed to be the main suspect for the commission of a crime or conspiracy to commit a crime is sometimes the first person that police, federal investigators, or other authorities might contact.
If someone believes they are being investigated, it is essential that they talk to a lawyer before making statements to law enforcement officials or anyone else. Once they answer questions, they are at a disadvantage in being able to challenge the evidence against them later on.
It is common for investigators to conduct background investigations before sitting down for an interview or with the suspect. A common tactic is to question the suspect when they already know the answers. They want to catch the person in a lie and then use the allegations of false statements as evidence against the individual. Before someone sits down for an interview, goes into a police station, or meets with investigators, they should talk to a lawyer first to understand their rights. They do not want to walk into a trap that results in significant harm to their own case and their chance to fight the charges.
Law Enforcement Agencies Involved in Conspiracy Investigations
The law enforcement agencies that might be involved in DC conspiracy case investigations depend on the underlying crime alleged to be the subject of the conspiracy. If the conspiracy is to commit a local DC offense, the investigators are the Metropolitan Police Department or other local police investigators. As an example, if the police investigate a conspiracy to commit drug distribution or conspiracy to commit a local theft offense, the Metropolitan Police Department usually conducts the investigation.
If the underlying offense is a federal offense such as weapons trafficking or conspiracy to commit tax fraud, there is a greater chance that federal investigators are involved. There are many federal investigative agencies that could be involved in a conspiracy case, such as the:
- FBI
- Homeland Security
- IRS
- Securities and Exchange Commission
For example, the IRS has a criminal investigations division that may be involved in a conspiracy to commit tax fraud cases. The Department of Homeland Security could be involved in allegations of weapons trafficking across international borders.
Investigation Tactics and Tools
When law enforcement agents conduct DC conspiracy case investigations, it is not uncommon for the investigators to use undercover agents or confidential informants to gather evidence against suspects. Cooperating witnesses and other informants may have their own criminal exposure in their cases, and they cooperate with federal investigators for their own benefit.
Investigators frequently use the grand jury process to conduct their investigation. They subpoena witnesses and documents to a grand jury to get witnesses under oath in a closed secret hearing with no defense lawyer or judge present. Investigators control the information that is presented and exert considerable pressure on witnesses to get them to cooperate.
They serve subpoenas and require the disclosure of bank records or other kinds of private documents that could be used to file charges alleging bank fraud conspiracies, tax conspiracies, embezzlement conspiracies, and a number of white-collar and blue-collar conspiracy offenses.
Role of the Employer in Conspiracy Investigations
The type of investigation that law enforcement agents conduct depends on the alleged crime they are investigating. For example, if the FBI or other federal agents investigate a conspiracy to commit money laundering, tax fraud, or embezzlement, these kinds of conspiracy investigations frequently involve people’s employers. The people being investigated could even be the employers.
If the conspiracy investigation involves a person’s job, it is not uncommon for investigators to interview or subpoena co-workers, employers, employees, or financial records from the person’s company. Authorities could also execute search warrants at a person’s job to collect documents, computers, cell phones, or other materials for evidence.
How a DC Conspiracy Attorney Could Help
If someone you believe an investigation is underway, it is critical that you contact a lawyer before speaking to anyone, considering what to do with potential evidence, or identifying who might be potential witnesses. An attorney could help you avoid inadvertently engaging in incriminating actions, tampering with evidence, or tampering with witnesses. A lawyer could help you better understand your obligations in DC conspiracy case investigations and avoid putting yourself in a worse position through accidental conversations or actions.
Even if you believe your actions are innocent, they may not be considered innocent under the law by investigators. Contact a committed conspiracy lawyer today to discuss your situation and begin crafting a defense.