What To Do If Contacted By The FBI In Los Angeles?

If you are here because an FBI agent has contacted you or a loved one, we want to help provide some guidance about what you can do next. If your first instinct is to contact an attorney, follow that instinct. At Okabe & Haushalter, our Los Angeles criminal defense attorneys have extensive experience helping clients who have been contacted by federal agents, and we want to make sure you are protected. Here, we want to give you some quick tips about what to do if you have been contacted by the FBI or any other law enforcement agency.

When contacted by the police of FBI, keep these facts in mind

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has long defended the rights of those detained by law enforcement officials. The following is guidance about what to do if the FBI or police contact you for questioning, and we concur:

• You absolutely have the right to talk to an attorney and are usually not required to answer any questions posed by the FBI.
• You need to write down the name, agency, and telephone number of any agent or officer who calls or visits you.
• If an FBI agent asks to speak to you, inform them that you want to consult with your attorney first. Your attorney can respond to any questions on your behalf and set up an interview.
• You are not required to allow an FBI agent into your home without a warrant. If an FBI agent says they have a warrant, asked to see it. If the FBI agent does not have a warrant, do not give them permission to come in.
• If an FBI agent says they have a warrant for your arrest, you have a right to see the warrant. You do have to go with an officer or agent that has a valid warrant, but you do not have to answer any questions until you contact your attorney.
• Any information you give an FBI agent without your attorney present, even if this information seems harmless, can be used against you or somebody else. Lying to a federal officer is a crime, but remaining silent is not a crime.

If you think you have done nothing wrong or that you have nothing to hide, it may be tempting to speak to an FBI agent without an attorney. In fact, that is a standard line that a federal agent may use to try to get you to talk. They may say something along the lines of, “If you have nothing to hide, then you shouldn’t have a problem talking to us.” However, please understand that FBI agents are trained investigators, and anything you say to them could be used against you later on.

Call our Los Angeles criminal defense attorney today

If you or a loved one have been contacted by the FBI, please seek legal assistance as soon as possible. At Okabe & Haushalter, our attorneys have extensive experience helping clients deal with federal agencies concerning criminal investigations. We know that this can be a scary situation, but we are ready to stand by your side and advocate on your behalf. When you need a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney to help you communicate with the FBI, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case today by clicking here or calling 310-430-7799.