What Is a Federal Target Letter?
When you find a target letter in your mailbox, it does not arrive with flashing lights or dramatic headlines. It appears to be any other piece of official mail. However, that envelope carries serious weight. A target letter means a federal prosecutor has identified you as someone the government believes committed a crime. It does not mean you’re guilty. It means they think they can prove you are.
You are not the subject of a casual inquiry or a peripheral figure. You are the focus of an investigation, and you are now on the radar of the United States Department of Justice. That means you should contact The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall immediately. Our experienced New Jersey criminal defense lawyers will decode what that actually means for your life, rights, and your future.
Why You Received a Target Letter
A target letter is not an indictment or an arrest. However, it is a precursor to one or both. The letter typically comes from a U.S. Attorney’s Office and may refer to a grand jury investigation. You are being told, in no uncertain terms, that the federal government sees you as a target of that investigation.
That designation carries a different weight than being a witness or a subject. A witness may know about a crime, while a subject may be involved but not central to the case. A target, on the other hand, is someone for whom prosecutors believe there is substantial evidence tying them directly to a federal offense.
An experienced federal criminal defense attorney will tell you that a target letter is often a strategic move. Prosecutors use it as a way to put pressure on individuals before filing charges. Sometimes, it’s to elicit cooperation. Sometimes, it’s to offer an opportunity to testify or sit for a proffer. The reality is that the government believes it has a case. The question becomes how you respond.
A Federal Playbook With Long-Term Implications
Unlike many state prosecutions, federal criminal investigations are long, layered, and methodical. Prosecutors do not send a target letter without months or even years of preparation. When you receive one, the government already possesses volumes of documents, digital records, and witness statements.
The federal system also carries more severe consequences. Sentencing guidelines are tighter. Prosecutorial discretion is broader. Investigative tools are more invasive. Our New Jersey criminal defense attorneys understand how important it is to intercept a federal case before it reaches the courtroom. Sometimes, that means negotiating early, while at other times, it means building a pre-indictment defense that dismantles the theory of the case.
At The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, our lawyers have the time, energy, and courtroom familiarity to plan a federal case in ways that smaller firms often cannot. A target letter does not mean a conviction is inevitable. It means the time to act is now.
Why Prosecutors Send Target Letters Instead of Arrest Warrants
You might wonder why the government doesn’t simply indict or arrest if it believes you committed a crime. In the federal system, target letters serve several purposes. First, they are a form of notice. The Department of Justice wants you to know what’s coming. Second, they may be a tactical move to test your response.
Some recipients panic, while others try to talk their way out of it. Some say nothing and wait. The government watches all of these reactions. A target letter, in many ways, functions like a pressure gauge. It creates an opportunity to measure how someone reacts to the prospect of prosecution. That reaction may then inform how aggressive or lenient the next step becomes.
A skilled attorney can help manage that response. Timing is key. So is the strategy behind it. You do not want to walk into a prosecutor’s office without understanding what they’ve built against you. You certainly don’t want to say anything that adds another link to their chain.
When Cooperation Becomes a Strategic Consideration
Some target letters include an invitation. You may be offered a chance to participate in a “proffer session.” In federal parlance, that’s a formal meeting with prosecutors where you discuss what you know. Sometimes called a “queen for a day” agreement, it allows you to speak without immediate fear that your words will be used against you.
However, it’s not a free pass, as there are limits to those protections. Even in a proffer session, if you lie or omit key facts, the government can still use that conduct to file charges. That’s why you need a legal representative who can weigh the potential benefits of cooperation against the risks.
At The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, we evaluate each case individually. Some clients benefit from proactive engagement with the prosecution. Others are better served by keeping their distance. A federal case is not the place for blanket approaches. It requires tailored strategies shaped by who you are, what the government knows, and where the case might go next.
How Target Letters Affect Grand Jury Proceedings
In many federal cases, target letters indicate that a grand jury is already involved. That means the prosecutor is presenting evidence in secret, without your presence. You do not get to challenge what’s being said, and you can’t see what documents are entered. It is a one-sided process, and your name is part of it.
Grand juries often rubber-stamp indictments, but not always. Prosecutors who receive strong, clear rebuttals before an indictment is handed down may change their trajectory. A federal grand jury moves in the direction the prosecutor points. A persuasive attorney can sometimes adjust that course.
If we believe there’s a window to shut down the case before indictment, we use it. That might mean challenging legal theories or raising factual doubts the prosecutor had not considered. You may not get a seat in the room, but with the right lawyer, your voice can still influence what happens there.
Missteps That Turn Letters Into Indictments
Doing nothing or doing the wrong thing can quickly escalate your situation. Responding emotionally, speaking to investigators without preparation, or destroying evidence can all strengthen the case against you. A skilled New Jersey criminal defense attorney can explain the boundaries of what you should and should not do once you’ve received federal notice.
The government counts on mistakes. Every misstep becomes a puzzle piece in the larger picture they’re constructing. You can stop the picture from forming if you step carefully, guided
by someone who understands what’s at stake.
Letters Sent to People Who Never Get Charged
It surprises many people to learn that not all target letters end in indictments. Sometimes, the government believes a crime was committed but struggles to link you to it definitively. In other cases, your cooperation makes you more useful outside of court than in front of a jury.
We’ve had clients who received target letters and never faced formal charges. Those outcomes were not luck. They were the result of precision, timing, and early intervention. If you take a target letter seriously, it can mark the beginning of a resolution, not just a warning sign.
Our lawyers look at every angle before deciding how to proceed. We do not assume the worst. We identify weak spots in the government’s case and use them to your advantage. Whether that means avoiding prosecution entirely or shifting the outcome to a lower-level charge, we build that plan from the moment you walk into our office.
How the Federal Government Builds Its Case
When you receive a target letter, you’re already inside the government’s framework. That framework includes years of investigative resources. It may involve the FBI, DEA, IRS, or other agencies. It may also include confidential informants, wiretaps, and electronic surveillance.
Federal investigations move slowly because they’re comprehensive. By the time you get a letter, the government may already know your financial history, business partners, or travel records. That doesn’t mean the case is airtight. It just means they’ve done their homework.
The right attorney understands how to challenge the foundation. Was the search legal? Was the informant credible? Was the surveillance justified? These are not academic questions. They are practical ones, and they can shift the entire course of a case.
Why You Should Never Assume Your Case Is Like Someone Else’s
One of the biggest mistakes people make is comparing their situation to someone else’s. Perhaps you knew someone who received a similar letter and nothing happened, or maybe you heard about someone who pled guilty quickly and moved on. Every federal case has different facts, players, and timelines. Your case deserves its own analysis.
At The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, we never use recycled strategies. What worked for one client may be disastrous for another. We don’t assume – rather, we investigate. That distinction can make all the difference.
The Timing of a Target Letter Can Be Misleading
Target letters sometimes arrive early in an investigation. Other times, they come just before an indictment. There’s no universal schedule. That ambiguity can create a false sense of timing. People think they have weeks or months to act when they don’t.
The government does not send these letters casually. Timing is part of the strategy. Whether it’s to rattle you, test you, or prepare you, it’s always deliberate. You need a lawyer who can read the timing and understand its implications.
At our firm, we approach every letter as if the government could file charges tomorrow. That sense of urgency is not panic. It’s preparation. And it puts you in a better position than simply waiting to see what happens next.
Federal Charges You Might Be Facing Without Knowing It
Many target letters do not specify what crime the government believes was committed. You may not even know which agency is involved until you read the fine print. The ambiguity is intentional. It makes you guess and puts you off balance.
Target letters can be connected to wire fraud, tax evasion, healthcare fraud, conspiracy, money laundering, and other offenses. Some involve large-scale investigations with dozens of people. Others are focused on a single transaction. The uncertainty is part of the leverage.
A capable New Jersey criminal defense lawyer can help identify what’s likely at issue. We examine the clues, including jurisdiction, agencies, and prior communications. Each case leaves fingerprints, and we use those to determine what you’re really facing.
How We Work to Keep Clients Out of Court
Not every case belongs in a courtroom. Sometimes, the strongest outcome is the one that prevents a trial altogether. That doesn’t mean pleading out. It means making the case disappear before it reaches indictment.
Our attorneys at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall spend time where it matters most: before the courtroom door opens. That may mean convincing a prosecutor that your conduct doesn’t rise to the level of a charge. It could also mean submitting mitigating evidence early or exploiting legal flaws before they become the subject of courtroom arguments.
When a trial is unavoidable, we pivot. Our team knows how to present persuasive arguments. We build narratives grounded in fact and law. Federal prosecutors are prepared. So are we. However, our first goal is to avoid that showdown altogether.
Our Defense Attorneys Know How to Handle Target Letters from Federal Law Enforcement
A target letter is not a formality or a scare tactic. It’s a signal telling you the government believes it has a case. However, it also tells you something else: they haven’t moved yet. That means you have time to act.
At The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, we do not believe in passive defense. We step in early, plan with precision, and advocate relentlessly. If a trial must happen, we walk in prepared. If it can be avoided, we make the case for why it should be. We treat target letters not as dead ends, but as points of entry into the strongest defense possible.
Please get in touch with one of our New Jersey criminal defense lawyers for a free consultation by calling 877-534-7338 or contacting us online.
Frequently Asked Questions About Target Letters from Federal Law Enforcement
What is a federal target letter?
A target letter is a formal notice from federal prosecutors stating that you are the focus of a criminal investigation and could face charges.
Does receiving a target letter mean I will be indicted?
Not always. Some recipients avoid charges entirely, depending on how the case develops and how it’s handled early.
Can I ignore a target letter if I haven’t been charged?
No. Failing to take immediate steps can lead to missed opportunities to protect yourself before formal charges are filed.
Will I find out what crime I’m being investigated for?
Not necessarily. Target letters often avoid naming specific charges to maintain leverage and limit your understanding of the case.
What should I do after receiving a target letter?
You should speak with a New Jersey criminal defense lawyer who understands how to respond without making your situation worse.
