Los Angeles Healthcare & Financial Fraud Defense Attorney

Mr. Friedman is a recognized expert in White Collar Criminal Defense whom other lawyers turn to when they need advice. Mr. Friedman knows the laws and applicable defenses. He understands the important subtleties and nuances of healthcare and financial fraud cases that are frankly lost on general practice criminal defense attorneys. Judges and prosecutors respect Mr. Friedman. He knows how to obtain a successful outcome.

Major Areas of Practice

Our firm focuses on the defense of healthcare and financial fraud charges and related matters in Los Angeles. Some of our leading practice areas include the following:

Healthcare Fraud

Our white-collar criminal defense practice specializes in defending people charged with healthcare fraud in Los Angeles. Since its inception in the mid-nineties, the Law Offices of Stanley L. Friedman has handled significant and noteworthy healthcare cases. Our firm has represented mid-sized medical and healthcare institutions and entities as well as business professionals and individuals who work in the healthcare industry. We have successfully handled complex civil litigation and won high-profile injunctions against the state of California and the United States in cases related to more than a billion dollars in healthcare costs.

We have experience representing healthcare providers charged with the full range of healthcare fraud offenses, including upcoding, billing for services not rendered, kickbacks, referrals, capping and more.

Financial Fraud

Stanley L. Friedman is an experienced and successful white-collar criminal defense lawyer knowledgeable in the defense of a wide range of financial fraud charges, including bank fraud, tax fraud, insurance fraud, securities fraud, Ponzi schemes, advance-fee schemes, embezzlement, counterfeiting, and much more. These cases are highly technical and rely heavily on long, intricate and complex federal statutes and case law. You wouldn’t see a general practitioner if you needed brain surgery, and you shouldn’t go to a run-of-the-mill criminal defense lawyer when charged with financial fraud. See an attorney who has the breadth of knowledge and depth of experience dealing with white-collar crimes as both a prosecutor and defense lawyer for decades.

COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fraud

The pandemic hit everyone hard, not just with life-threatening illness but also economic upheaval the likes of which haven’t been experienced globally since the Great Depression. Government programs like the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) threw a lifeline to many struggling to keep their company alive during the toughest times, but agencies like the Office of Inspector General (OIG), the DOJ and the FBI are quick to pounce on anyone they suspect of getting loans and grants and then not using the funds appropriately. The government has already launched thousands of prosecutions involving billions of dollars. If you get caught in these crosshairs, contact the Law Offices of Stanley L. Friedman to consult with a knowledgeable and successful white-collar criminal defense attorney.

FBI and OIG Investigations

Government agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Office of the Inspector General have years to investigate an alleged crime before they ever file charges. They spend that time collecting evidence and building their case, in part by interviewing large numbers of people, including the person they are building their case against. Despite what government agents will tell you, the worst thing you can do is to voluntarily give statements. Hire a competent defense lawyer at the first sign you might be under investigation.

Money Laundering

Money laundering prosecutions generally proceed under a federal statute found at 18 USC 1956, or section 1957 in some cases. Money laundering essentially involves taking payment for illegal services and then diverting the payment to hide the unlawful source. In the context of a medical practice, money laundering might be charged based on allegedly false billings that are run through a third-party company, or when a doctor operates both a medical practice and a vendor to that practice so that money passes between the two entities. Offshore accounts, though not illegal in and of themselves, often raise the attention of the DOJ or FBI on the lookout for illegal money laundering schemes. As bad as they are on their own, money laundering charges can also go hand in hand with prosecution for tax crimes like tax evasion.

Tax Crimes

The Law Offices of Stanley L. Friedman defends people charged in two main categories of tax offenses: Tax Evasion and Tax Perjury. Tax evasion requires proving the intentional underpayment of taxes, such as by making fictitious deductions or diverting funds to avoid tax scrutiny, which could implicate money laundering charges as well. Tax perjury, on the other hand, involves including a materially false statement on a tax return, such as underreporting income, overstating deductions, or taking improper credits. Both offenses carry significant criminal and administrative proceedings and should be taken seriously. We can help you navigate this complex area and represent you in dealings with the IRS or defend you in court as needed.

Asset Forfeiture

In a criminal case, your assets can be frozen by the government during the proceeding, with your property subject to forfeiture if you are convicted. The government can also take your assets in a civil lawsuit filed directly against the property in what is known as an “in rem” action. You could lose your property without being convicted or even ever having charges filed against you. We can help you understand everything you need to know about a civil or criminal asset forfeiture, including when a “substitution of assets” is allowed and how to fight or appeal a forfeiture.

Grand Jury Subpoenas

Just about any federal felony prosecution starts with a grand jury deciding that the U.S. Attorney has shown them enough evidence to convince the jury an indictment should be issued. As part of this process, you could be issued a subpoena to testify before the grand jury and/or turn over documents to the grand jury, such as medical records, employee records, bank records, or records of cash payments. Why did you get this subpoena? Are you a witness or the target of the investigation? Can you take the Fifth? We’ll help you figure out what is going on, explain the grand jury process to you, and prepare you for your testimony so you’ll know what to expect and be in the best position to deal with the subpoena appropriately and in your best interests.

Civil Investigative Demands

At any given moment, the Department of Justice has numerous ongoing task forces investigating alleged healthcare offenses. Not all of these investigations are criminal in nature; many are instead brought under the federal False Claims Act, and as part of this process, the DOJ might issue an administrative subpoena known as a Civil Investigative Demand. When presented with a CID, it’s critical to respond promptly and appropriately. We’ll help you understand what is required of you and how best to handle your response.

Contact the Law Offices of Stanley L. Friedman for Healthcare and Financial Fraud Defense in Los Angeles

When under investigation or indictment, every decision and action by you either helps or hurts. Time is of the essence. Mr. Friedman has extensive Courtroom and Trial experience. He has witnessed bad decisions by other lawyers that could not be undone. If you are under investigation or charged in a healthcare or financial fraud criminal case in Los Angeles, contact the Law Offices of Stanley L. Friedman. It could be the best decision of your life.