The attorneys in Riker Danzig’s White Collar Criminal Defense and Investigations Practice Group have extensive government experience and can assist clients with compliance issues, state and federal government investigations, internal investigations and general criminal matters.  The Group regularly represents corporations, and/or their officers and directors, as well as individuals, in connection with criminal investigations and charges by federal and state law enforcement authorities. The group has been ranked in Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business Clients’ Guide since 2022.

The Group is led by former Assistant United States Attorneys Samuel P. Moulthrop and Charles B. McKenna.  Sam served as Chief of the Criminal Division, Chief of the Appeals Division, Deputy Chief of the Fraud and Public Protection Division and Chief of the Environmental Section at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey. Chambers has consistently listed Sam in its Client's Guide recommending white-collar lawyers in New Jersey since 2006.  See Awards and Honors Methodology.

Charlie served as Chief of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark, where he was also the Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney.  On the State side he was the Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the CEO of the Schools Development Authority and Chief Counsel to Governor Chris Christie.  Charlie assists companies and individuals in dealing with complex federal and state investigations, provides counsel on conducting internal company investigations to ferret out fraud and waste, and is an experienced trial lawyer should a matter come down to proceeding in court.

Victor Ashrafi, a former Judge of the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey and also a former Assistant United States Attorney who also served as Chief of the Criminal Division, is also a member of Riker Danzig’s White Collar Criminal Defense Group.

The Group also benefits from the counsel of retired Justice of the N.J. Supreme Court Stewart G. Pollock, who works with the Group with respect to internal investigations and compliance counseling.

Stephanie Wolfe is Counsel in the group and has extensive experience representing clients in government investigations, as well as handling complex litigation.  Prior to joining Riker Danzig Stephanie worked as a litigator at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.

The group is also supported by a number of other attorneys, many of whom are former appellate clerks.

With the full resources of the Firm available to provide experience in all substantive areas of the law, Riker Danzig’s White Collar Criminal Defense Practice Group is able to address all aspects of white collar criminal law issues, including the emerging areas of cryptocurrency and NFT’s.  Riker’s attorneys represent clients in connection with criminal investigations and charges by state and federal law enforcement authorities as well as civil investigations conducted by other agencies such as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the N.J. Department of Banking and Insurance, and the N.J. Attorney General’s Office, among others.  The Group also performs internal investigations for clients and provides counsel with respect to compliance issues.   Riker attorneys have handled matters in numerous areas including tax, securities, healthcare, environment, arms export, public corruption, and fraud.  The Riker attorneys have substantial experience dealing with prosecutors and government regulators.  Our clients also benefit from the strong relationships that we have developed with government lawyers.  We are often able to resolve problems outside of court, but are also prepared to litigate aggressively when in the client’s best interest.

Representative assignments include:

• Representation of bank in connection with internal investigation into fraud committed by borrower
• Representation of company in connection with internal investigation into violations of federal and state environmental laws
• Representation of public utility in internal investigation of fraud scheme perpetrated by mid-level managers
• Various representations of financial services company and a bond rating company in connection with subpoenas issued by grand juries, courts, and in civil litigation
• Representation of company in connection with SEC investigation.  SEC ultimately closed the investigations without filing any complaint
• Representation of individuals in connection with SEC insider trading investigation.  SEC ultimately closed the investigation without filing any complaint
• Representation of individuals before FINRA
• Representation of several medical professionals in connection with federal and state healthcare fraud investigations resulting in no criminal charges filed
• Representation of consumer products company in connection with allegations of “trade based” money laundering and “structuring” of deposits.   Company successfully avoided any criminal charges
• Representation of a number of individuals in connection with a legislative select committee and federal grand jury investigation of public corruption involving an interstate bridge.  No charges were filed
• Representation of company and individual in connection with federal public corruption investigations.  No charges were filed
• Representation of company in connection with state public corruption investigation.  No charges were filed
• Representations of a number of individuals in connection with federal tax investigations into tax fraud and use of foreign bank accounts including those resulting in no criminal charges or non-custodial sentences
• Representations of various clients in connection with claims filed in federal forfeiture cases
• Served as Federal Monitor appointed by U.S. District Judge to supervise probation sentence for corporation convicted of federal offenses
• Representation of companies and individuals being investigated by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and by County Prosecutor Offices.

Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.