When Federal Agents Arrive With a Warrant
One of the ways in which you might find out that you are under investigation is when federal agents show up at your home, or potentially workplace, with a search warrant. If agents have a search warrant in hand, then they are legally permitted to search the premises described in the warrant. If agents arrive without a warrant, however, you are not at all required to let them in, and you shouldn’t allow them to search anything before you contact your attorney.
Coming face to face with federal agents who already have a warrant can be daunting, but it is important to remain calm, and contact an attorney as soon as you can. You need a licensed federal defense lawyer on your side immediately if you are searched, as you need to know what to say and do both throughout the course of the investigation and for what comes after if you want to protect your freedom. A skilled lawyer will help you utilize your rights to your advantage, and he or she will know what it takes to protect against the investigative strategies used by agents.
Need Help With Your Case?
Don't face criminal charges alone. Our experienced defense attorneys are ready to fight for your rights and freedom.
- 100% Confidential
- Response Within 1 Hour
- No Obligation Consultation
Or call us directly:
(212) 300-5196First Steps You Should to Take if Federal Agents Come to Your Home With A Warrant
In the event that you are facing a federal investigation, there are really only two steps you should remember.
Todd Spodek
Lead Attorney & Founder
Featured on Netflix's "Inventing Anna," Todd Spodek brings decades of high-stakes criminal defense experience. His aggressive approach has secured dismissals and acquittals in cases others deemed unwinnable.
You're eating breakfast with your family on a Saturday morning when four FBI agents knock on your door, announce they have a federal search warrant, and begin entering your home. Your spouse is panicking, your children are frightened, and the agents are heading toward your home office where you keep personal financial records and your laptop.
What should I do right now while federal agents are actively searching my home with a warrant?
First, stay calm and do not physically interfere with the agents — obstructing a federal search warrant can result in separate criminal charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1519 or contempt provisions. Ask to see the warrant and read it carefully, paying close attention to the scope of what locations and items they are authorized to search, because under the Fourth Amendment agents cannot exceed the boundaries described in the warrant. You are not required to answer any questions or make any statements, and you should clearly invoke your Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and your Sixth Amendment right to counsel. Contact a federal criminal defense attorney immediately, as anything you say or do during the search can be used against you, and an attorney can later challenge the warrant's validity or the scope of the search through a motion to suppress under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 12(b)(3).
This is general information only. Contact us for advice specific to your situation.
| Step 1 | Contact a lawyer as soon as you can. You have the right to an attorney and need to exercise that right so that everything you say and do afterwards is a function of your defense strategy, aimed at protecting your best interests. |
| Step 2 | You need to exercise your right to remain silent. Don’t speak a word to federal agents unless you are asking to exercise your right to an attorney. Before you have a lawyer present, the only word coming out of your mouth should be “lawyer.” Don’t risk providing agents with any information they could use against you, even if you are confident that you don’t have anything to hide. An attorney can make certain that you are protected from false allegations and the possibility of wrongful conviction. |
