How Can I Respond To A Target Letter For Fraud In Minnesota?

Most people do not understand this, but a target letter is an opportunity to negotiate. You should view it as an invitation to do so.

When you receive a target letter, it means that you are already the target of an investigation. You will want to get an attorney right away, and you will want to work with your attorney to learn what the prosecutors want, what information they already have and what they may hope to accomplish. Then you can formulate an appropriate response.

Federal Prosecutors Do Not Have To Send You A Target Letter

You might get a target letter before there’s been a search warrant, but it’s more likely that investigators have already executed a search warrant. They might have searched your business or interviewed your associates. You may have noticed FBI agents swarming around your work. A target letter will confirm that federal authorities are looking into your actions, but it’s not often the first sign that they are doing so.

Here, it’s important to understand that the feds do not have to send you a target letter. There is no constitutional requirement that they do so. If they are not willing to negotiate, they can simply conduct their investigation until they send you a summons or simply arrest you. This is why you should view a target letter as your chance to negotiate.

Your Response Will Depend On The Specifics Of Your Case

When you receive a target letter, you won’t know everything that the investigators have learned. Indeed, they do not have to share all their evidence with you at this point. Instead, if you and your attorney meet with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, they may lay out a summary of their investigation to date. This is typically a broad overview of what they’re looking at and what they’re looking for.

After this, you and your attorney can discuss your options:

• Offer evidence and explain how there was no crime
• Negotiate toward lesser charges
• Cooperate with investigators to redirect their investigation elsewhere
• Build a trial-ready defense

The important thing to realize is that federal cases are sprawling. It’s not always easy to know what to do or how to deal with them, but a target letter is an invitation to learn more about the prosecution’s information and interests. You and your attorney can then take what you learn and use it to plan your next steps.

A Proactive Defense May Prevent Real Harm

If you and your attorney do not start actively building your defense before your case ends up in court or you face an indictment, your reputation can suffer serious damage. You could face a public indictment and public thrashing.

While state prosecutors may be willing to strike deals after they bring charges, federal prosecutors rarely do that. Federal cases don’t tend to fall apart, so if you don’t accept the invitation to negotiate when you receive a target letter, you may not have that option later.

After you receive a target letter, your wisest course of action is to find an experienced attorney who can help you through your negotiations and who can help you plan your response afterward.