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FEDERAL CRIMES, CRIMINAL LAW &
FEDERAL COURTS
Mr. Wyatt is licensed in all federal courts in Oklahoma and now licensed in the U.S. District Court for the E.D. of Texas (Beaumont, Lufkin, Marshall, Plano, Sherman, Texarkana, and Tyler areas) and in the U.S. District Court for the N.D. of Texas (Abilene, Amarillo, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Lubbock, San Angelo, and Wichita Falls areas).
Federal criminal law and procedure differ from the state court systems. First, the U.S. Attorney (not the County District Attorney) prosecutes federal crimes. Second, there must be a federal interest or nexus for the alleged violation to be a federal crime.Third, these crimes are generally investigated by any of the federal law enforcement agencies such as the:
Federal Bureau of Investigaiton --
FBI;
Drug Enforcement Administration -- DEA;
Secret Service;
IRS Criminal Investigation Division -- IRS - CID;
Homeland Security;
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms -- ATF;
Immigration Customs Enforcement -- ICE;
U.S. Postal Inspector:
U.S. Marshal Service;
Transprotation Security Administration -- TSA;
Inspector General Offices; and
other federal law enforcement agencies. If convicted, a defendant will be
sentenced to custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (not the state Department
of Corrections).
Among other crimes, federal crimes may include white collar crimes, drug crimes, computer and Internet crimes, pornography, cyber sex crimes, banking crimes, securities crimes, all types of frauds involving the mails or telephones or the Internet, immigration crimes, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit these or other crimes.
The highlighted links are routinely federal criminal matters. Click any of the areas below for more information.
General Criminal Law
Aircraft and Airline Crimes (TSA investigations)
Public Corruption & Bribery Crimes
(Bid-rigging, Bribery & Government Corruption, Campaign Contribution
Violations, Campaign Finance Violations, Extortion, Government Contract Fraud,
Kickbacks, Procurement Fraud, Misuse of Public Authority, False Statements to
Government Agencies, Federal Program & Contract Fraud, Mail Fraud & Wire
Fraud, Money Laundering, Racketeering ("RICO"))
Sex
& Pornography Crimes
(rape, child porn, indecent
exposure, lewd molestation,
traveling, enticement,
sexual communications, etc)
Terrorism
Theft Crimes (larceny, burglary, robbery and
embezzlement)
Weapons & Firearms Violations
White Collar Crime
(mail and wire fraud, tax crimes,
embezzlement, securities fraud,
bribery, counterfeiting,
computer crimes, forgery)
Our firm defends clients by jury trial, trial to the judge, or plea negotiations.
The U.S. Sentencing Guidelines apply to all convictions after November 1987; therefore, knowledge in the use and application of the "advisory" Guidelines can make a significant difference in representing the federal criminal defendant. (Recently the Supreme Court held that the Guidelines are "advisory" only (not mandatory), but district judges are required to consider the Guidelines in determining the appropriate punishment). Mr. Wyatt regularly practices in the federal courts, and the firm follows developments in federal criminal procedure, the Sentencing Guidelines and substantive federal criminal law matters.
Attorneys in the Wyatt Law Office are licensed in the State of Oklahoma and for federal practice are licensed in all Oklahoma federal courts, i.e., Western District of Oklahoma (located in Oklahoma City), the Northern District of Oklahoma (located in Tulsa), and in the Eastern District of Oklahoma (located in Muskogee). Bob Wyatt has appeared in federal cases in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Muskogee, Austin, and Denver. Mr. Wyatt is eligible for admission in other federal courts either on a case-by-case basis (pro hac vice) or by regular admission since the federal laws are identical in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Recent & Noteworthy Investigations & ResultsSplit Verdict -- Not guilty 44 counts in police corruption allegations. After a three-and-a-half week jury trial in Tulsa (August 2011), Officer Jeff Henderson was found not guilty of 44 counts of drug possession and distribution, witness tampering, perjury, conspiracy, and civil rights violations. The court merged four of the perjury charges into other counts. One count of bribery was dismissed by the judge during trial, but the jury found Mr. Henderson guilty of two misdemeanor civil rights violations and guilty on 6 counts of perjury. Wyatt intends to appeal. (See Tulsa World for articles).
Federal drug case dismissed. After Wyatt's defense investigation of federal drug charge involving allegations that the client possessed 11 pounds (5 kilos) of meth with intent to distribute, government dismissed rather than face trial.
Drug Evidence Suppressed in Federal Court. Wyatt and Scott Graham teamed up arguing and convincing the federal court to suppress evidence obtained after a "routine" traffic stop pursuant to an open air drug dog sniff search. During an illegal search, Troopers found 3,000 Oxycontin pills, multiple fake I.D.s, fake prescriptions, and over $17,000 cash. All evidence suppressed and case dismissed.*
Federal Charges Dismissed.
Client charged with conspiracy to defraud investors in an alleged $1.2 million
advance fee scheme. At a "James" hearing to determine scope of
conspiracy, Wyatt showed that government had no proof against his client.
Government counsel agreed to dismiss the charges against Wyatt's client; all
other defendants still facing charges.*
Minimal Punishment for Federal
Antitrust
Price Fixing Charge.
Client accused of orchestrating gasoline price-fixing scheme with volume of
commerce in excess of $5 million. Jury returned guilty verdict for Sherman
Antitrust Act price-fixing violation, but judge ordered only probation (with
no restitution) based on evidence developed at trial and in mitigation.*
Federal charges avoided for killing bald eagle and for possession of eagle feathers and claws after counsel involved in federal investigation.*
One of Mr. Wyatt's federal trials was recently reviewed in Harvey Silverglate's new book, Three Felonies a Day: How the Feds Target the Innocent (New York, Encounter Books, 2009).
Not Guilty Verdict for Possession of Child Porn. October 2008. Client charged with 5 counts of possession of child pornography. The law enforcement agent testified that my client had confessed to accidentally accessing a child porn web site on two or more occasions and the feds had strong circumstantial evidence guilt because the only time there was child porn (or any porn) on the computer was when the client was recovering from cancer surgeries at his 80 year old mother’s house. The defense presented expert testimony of other “non-porn” searches (which indicated the searches were not my client) on the computer within the times that the Gov’t claims my client was surfing kiddie porn, and we presented evidence of an imperfect alibi (that he was in another city earlier in the day – even though no proof that he was in the second city at the “time” the porn was searched). Client testified.*
Charge Avoided & Investigation Terminated
. September 2008. After thorough criminal investigation by the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Service and recommendations for fraud charges, Wyatt negotiated to avoid charges in an alleged Veteran's Affairs fraud scheme.*Charge Avoided & Investigation Terminated. September 2008. After thorough criminal investigation by the Social Security Administration and recommendations for fraud charges, Wyatt negotiated to avoid charges in an alleged scheme to defraud a vulnerable adult out of Social Security disability benefits.*
Bob Wyatt was recently interviewed by the
National Law Journal for his expertise in the
area of sex crimes and cybercrimes. The article was published on
February 18, 2008.
Child Porn
Charge Dismissed.
Wyatt and McCoy teamed up again in October 2006 -- this time researching,
briefing, arguing, and convincing the federal court to suppress evidence
obtained pursuant to a search warrant in the FBI's nationwide OPERATION CRYING
EYES investigation. After the federal judge's ruling, the U.S.
Attorneys' Office dismissed the 14-count indictment on the eve of trial.*
Acquittal (Not Guilty) on 106 Counts of Fraud & Money Laundering: August 2006. Bob Wyatt and Gloyd McCoy were engaged to represent a grain elevator operator previously charged with and convicted of 106 counts of uttering forged securities and engaging in illegal monetary transactions (effectively money laundering). On behalf of the client, we sought habeas corpus relief and were granted a new trial. At this re-trial, the jury convicted again but the Judge released the client on bond pending appeal because of the issues raised by Wyatt. Wyatt appealed again, this time with the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals directing a Judgment of Acquittal ("not guilty") -- meaning that the client is a free man and the government cannot try him again. United States v. Hunt, 456 F.3d 1255 (10th Cir.2006)*
Fraud Sentence Vacated.
In
December 2003, Bob Wyatt and Gloyd McCoy were engaged to represent a NW
Oklahoma resident who had previously been convicted of 106 counts of uttering
forged securities and engaging in illegal monetary transactions (effectively
money laundering) in federal court in Oklahoma City. Mr. Hunt sought habeas
corpus relief for among other things ineffective assistance of his former
trial counsel and conflict of interest. After a two-day hearing in
January, the U.S. District Court on March 5, 2004, issued an order granting
habeas relief and vacating the client's conviction and sentence.*
Not Guilty Verdict for Interstate Travel for the Solicitation of Sex with a
Minor.
In June 2003, the Wyatt Law Office tried an Innocent Images case to a federal
jury in Oklahoma City winning a "not guilty" verdict on both counts of
using the Internet to entice a minor for sex and for traveling across state
lines to engage in sex with a minor.*
CHAMPUS/Insurance Fraud Conviction Reversed, Case Dismissed. In the early 1990s, Bob Wyatt was co-counsel to two obstetric physicians and surgeons charged with multiple counts of "healthcare fraud" for alleged violation of CHAMPUS regulations as it related to over 100 patients of the surgery center. This four-year federal investigation in parallel civil and criminal proceedings concluded in a guilty verdict on all but one charge; however, Wyatt convinced the federal appeals court to reverse the conviction with orders to dismiss the charges for lack of merit. Bob Wyatt briefed and argued the appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. (See "Published"). United States v. Avery, 34 F.3d 1517 (10th Cir. 1994).*
*Note:
Results may vary
because each case must be decided
on its own unique facts and the law applicable to that given case. You should
not infer the likelihood of success on a given case based on past cases
handled by this firm.
Office Locations
The Wyatt Law Office is located in the State's capital of Oklahoma City, which is situated in the middle of the state. Wyatt's office is just two blocks from the federal courthouse and four blocks from the Oklahoma County courthouse. We are less than 10 minutes from the State's appellate courts which are housed in the State Capitol complex. For federal criminal matters outside of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City offers easy connections to most major cities and both coasts from the Will Rogers World Airport. We also have good relations with lawyers statewide so that we can work in almost any venue in Oklahoma.
Mr. Wyatt is licensed in all of Oklahoma's federal courts including U.S. District Court Western District of Oklahoma (Oklahoma City), U.S. District Court Northern District of Oklahoma (Tulsa), and U.S. District Court Eastern District of Oklahoma (Muskogee).
Some of the cities served by the Wyatt Law Office in Oklahoma include: Oklahoma City, Del City, Midwest City, El Reno, Norman, Shawnee, The Village, Nichols Hills, Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Muskogee, Stillwater, Enid, Woodward, Altus, Lawton, Ft. Sill, Ponca City, Guthrie, Vance AFB, Tinker AFB. For other cities serviced, see Our Offices at the contact us page
.