The consequences of criminal charges and convictions can be dramatic. Companies can face substantial monetary penalties, remedial obligations, and debarment from future government contracting. Convicted individuals also face the risk of incarceration.

Steese ♦ Evans ♦ Frankel, P.C. has represented corporations, professionals, executives, and employees in all phases of regulatory enforcement and white collar criminal matters - in administrative proceedings, before grand juries, and at trial. Representative matters that our lawyers have handled over the course of their practices include the following:

• Defending a pediatric endocrinologist accused of over 40 counts of wrongdoing, including violation of the Medicare/Medicaid Antikickback Statute. Following a three month jury trial in Minnesota federal court, the physician was acquitted on all but three counts. Based on conduct during jury deliberations, and following an appeal to the Eighth Circuit, the conviction on those three counts was reversed. The Department of Justice decided not to retry the physician on those three counts.
  
  
• Defending Hudson Foods (now part of Tyson) against charges stemming from an e. coli outbreak. Following a several week trial in Nebraska federal court, the company was found not guilty on all counts.
  
  
• Representing a financial institution and various farming conglomerates accused of farm subsidy fraud. The financial institution was dismissed, and the case was resolved against the remaining defendants in a manner that eliminated all criminal components of the case.
  
  
• Representing an employee of Rockwell International accused of submitting false claims on the Space Shuttle project. On the eve of trial, and following a Kastigar hearing, the Department of Justice agreed to pretrial diversion and elected not to try the employee on the charges.
  
  
• Representing the United States Olympic Committee in connection with a grand jury investigation of the process leading to the award of the 2002 Winter Games to Salt Lake City. Although the grand jury did return an indictment against various other individuals, no charges were returned, and no action was taken, against the USOC or any of its employees.
  
  
• Helping a large, international specialty chemical company resolve a federal grand jury investigation into potential RCRA violations in connection with the storage of elemental phosphorous.
  
  
• Helping a publicly traded company resolve accusations of environmental criminal violations in connection with the dumping of hazardous waste in national parks.
  
  
• Representing a large food distributor in various investigations related to the alleged sale of adulterated food products. In one such matter, the Department of Justice declined to pursue charges. In another matter, the Department of Justice agreed to accept a plea to two misdemeanors, thereby allowing the company to retain its USDA certification.
  
  
• Representing a natural gas trader in investigations by the Commodities Futures Trading Commission and the Department of Justice into suspected manipulation of market prices. No action was taken by either the CFTC or DOJ against the trader.
  
  
• Defending a former municipal mayor charged with RICO violations, tax evasion, and other crimes. The official faced up to eight years in jail under the Sentencing Guidelines if convicted. On the eve of trial, the Department of Justice agreed to a plea resulting in six months' incarceration, and agreed to dismiss the RICO charges.
  
  
• Representing a plant environmental manager and an environmental laboratory in unrelated grand jury investigations. These investigations are ongoing.
  
  
• Representing two former employees of Qwest Communications in investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice related to suspected accounting and disclosure violations. Neither the SEC nor DOJ took action against either employee.
  
  
• Representing a former accountant at Qwest Communications in an ongoing action brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission against two former accountants, and the former CEO, CFO, and President of the company. The SEC alleges fraud in excess of $3 billion.
  
  
• Representing a nationally recognized motivational speaker accused of criminal securities fraud. Obtained a pre-trial dismissal of all counts on constitutional grounds, with the dismissal affirmed on appeal.