State and Federal Grand Jury Investigation and Defense
Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania
If you are the subject or target of a grand jury investigation, the sooner you can get experienced counsel working for you the better off you'll be. Even a person who is subpoenaed as a witness before the Grand Jury may be well advised to seek legal counsel. If you have been contacted by federal or state investigative agents prior to an arrest, an indictment, or the seizure of physical or documentary evidence, contact the Pennsylvania criminal defense attorneys at Joyce & Bittner for a free consultation about your situation.
If you engage us prior to indictment, presentment, or execution of a search warrant, we can perform many critically important services that may have a profound impact on the future course of the prosecution. We will attempt to clarify or affirm your status as a subject, witness, or target of a complex criminal investigation. We can advise you of your rights and responsibilities if you are summoned to appear before a state or federal grand jury. If you're summoned to testify before a Pennsylvania grand jury, we can accompany you during your appearance and testimony. Under federal law, we can accompany and advise you at the time of your grand jury appearance but cannot be in the grand jury room with you when you testify.
In criminal investigations and grand jury representation, we often will attempt to engage the prosecution in discussion and try to develop a sense of the strength of the case against you and assess your legal risks before you are even charged. At the same time, we can mount an independent parallel investigation to attempt to whittle away at the prosecution's case. These tactics can often result in a rapid narrowing of the issues, and you might never even have to face the most serious charges that the government initially had contemplated. As a former prosecutor who has worked on cases involving grand jury proceedings on both the state and federal level, Anthony M. Bittner will use his knowledge and experience to assist the clients he now defends in such grand jury matters.
Grand juries are most often convened to hear evidence and evaluate investigative information in the most complex criminal proceedings--those involving fraud, sophisticated illegal drug operations, public corruption, or organized crime. Prosecutors are under extraordinary pressure to obtain convictions in these cases because of the substantial commitment of investigative resources and the perceived importance of the criminal case.
We have helped individuals facing various federal and state criminal prosecutions and we are ready to help in others, including:
- Mail Fraud
- Wire Fraud
- Computer and Internet Crimes
- Pornography Prosecutions
- Mortgage Fraud
- Bribery
- Drug Offenses
- Insider Trading
- Bank Fraud
- Illegal Gambling
Whether you're facing state or federal grand jury proceedings, your best course is an early and committed defense. For additional information and a free consultation, contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at Joyce & Bittner in Pittsburgh.
