How to Avoid Going to Jail Under 18 U.S.C. For Lying to Government Agents

Re:How to Avoid Going to Jail Under 18 U.S.C. For Lying to G... by bradleyjg on Wednesday April 26, 2017 @04:14PM (#14206535)

To summarize:

"Tell the agent that you have an attorney and that 'my attorney will be in contact with you.'"

"Simply state that you will not discuss the matter at all without first consulting counsel and that counsel will be in touch with him."

"Just respond that you will consult with your attorney (or 'an' attorney) and that the attorney will be in touch."

"Simply repeat your mantra that you will not discuss the matter with him in the absence of counsel."

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to Avoid Going to Jail Under 18 U.S.C. For Lying to G... by tlogan on Wednesday April 26, 2017 @04:32PM (#14206707)

And the most important point is:

"You are not qualified to determine whether you have committed some crime or not"

I think this is the most important part. It could be that you did something but you thought it is not illegal at all.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to Avoid Going to Jail Under 18 U.S.C. For Lying to G... by TerminalJunkie on Wednesday April 26, 2017 @05:21PM (#14207112)

Probably a daft question but I'm curious as to what others have to say. If this happens, what kind of attorney or lawyer should you contact? Is simply googling "attorney's near me" and reaching out to the first result good enough? The lawyers I work with are all corporate contract lawyers, not the kind that deal with criminal law.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to Avoid Going to Jail Under 18 U.S.C. For Lying to G... by bradleyjg on Wednesday April 26, 2017 @05:44PM (#14207312)

If the FBI wanted to interview you, your best bet would probably be to ask one of the corporate contract lawyers for a white collar criminal defense lawyer. If you couldn't do that for whatever reason your next best bet would be to shake your network to find another lawyer and ask him for a recommendation for a white collar criminal defense lawyer.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to Avoid Going to Jail Under 18 U.S.C. For Lying to G... by xenophonf on Wednesday April 26, 2017 @05:45PM (#14207324)

Me personally? I'd ask my family law attorney for a referral first (he's the guy who did our wills), and then go straight to the local bar. But you can ask your corporate contract lawyers, friends, colleagues, parents, priest, or mentor for referrals.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to Avoid Going to Jail Under 18 U.S.C. For Lying to G... by pnw_hazor on Thursday April 27, 2017 @12:59AM (#14209282)

Former Asst. US Attorneys who practice criminal defense. Otherwise you are really rolling the dice.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to Avoid Going to Jail Under 18 U.S.C. For Lying to G... by jessaustin on Thursday April 27, 2017 @09:39AM (#14211352)

I'm sure this is good advice, but just stating it like that makes it seem like a protection racket, doesn't it? The only way not to suffer at the hands of these people is to hire them...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to Avoid Going to Jail Under 18 U.S.C. For Lying to G... by lobotryas on Wednesday April 26, 2017 @04:17PM (#14206574)

Even more importantly: never say ANYTHING else. Not whether you have something to hide and not excuses as for why you can't talk right now.

The sentence regarding "my attorney will be in touch with you" should be the only thing you say.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:How to Avoid Going to Jail Under 18 U.S.C. For Lying to G... by erikb on Thursday April 27, 2017 @03:38AM (#14209855)

While it may not be bad advice, it's also interesting to note how a lawyer basically explains that you should always pay a lawyer.

In my very expensive experience with lawyers I have to say that they only care about my needs about 20% of the time, and usually these 20% happen before I sign their contract.

As much as it's probably correct to not fully trust an FBI agent it's also probably correct to not fully trust a lawyer. One needs to be able to defend oneself to a certain degree.

[ Parent | on HN ]