What is a grand jury target letter?

What does a federal target letter say?

Most target letters come on U.S. Attorney’s Office letterhead and follow the same pattern. They say you are a target of a federal grand jury investigation, list the statutes involved (wire fraud, for example), and name the prosecutor or agent handling the case. Many invite your lawyer to call, and some mention the chance to resolve the matter before charges are filed. Most set a deadline to respond.

What does a real target letter look like?

The sample letter on this site was hand-delivered to Carleton Nelson, the husband of TARGET host Amy Nelson, on April 2, 2020. It came from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia and listed wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. It gave his lawyer seven days to call. You can download the letter below.

Does a target letter mean you have been charged?

No. A target letter does not charge you with a crime. Federal charges come through a grand jury indictment or a criminal complaint. Carleton Nelson received the letter above and was never charged.

What is the difference between a target letter and a grand jury subpoena?

A grand jury subpoena is an order to testify or turn over documents, and you have to respond to it through your lawyer. A target letter is a notice that tells you where you stand. It does not order you to do anything. Witnesses, subjects, and targets can all receive subpoenas, so a subpoena alone does not mean you are a target.

Do you have to respond to a target letter?

You are not legally required to respond. But ignoring it usually means giving up your best chance to learn what evidence the government has against you and to attempt to convince prosecutors they are wrong before they attempt to bring charges. The best practice is to have a lawyer respond before the deadline.