Fitch
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White-Collar Criminal Defense, Government Investigations and Internal Investigations

Fitch represents individuals, businesses, and not-for-profit corporations in “white- collar” criminal matters and government investigations at all stages, from investigation to trial to appeal.

Our attorneys, who include a former federal prosecutor and a former state prosecutor, have handled cases involving allegations of bank fraud, mail and wire fraud, tax evasion, health-care fraud, bankruptcy fraud, perjury, government-procurement fraud, and public corruption. We have also represented clients in cases involving alleged violation of environmental, securities, labor, arms-export, campaign-finance, antitrust, and maritime laws as well as the federal and state False Claims Acts.

As is often the case in complex white-collar criminal cases and government investigations, our work includes representing clients in related civil or regulatory agency proceedings and in conducting internal investigations. We also have represented attorneys and other professionals in disciplinary proceedings.

Attorneys Practicing in this Area

Attorney Heather V. Baer

Heather V. Baer
Partner

Attorney Peter E. Ball

Peter E. Ball
Partner

Attorney Michele E. Connolly

Michele E. Connolly
Partner

Sample Matters Handled by Our Attorneys

  • Represented major national corporation with operations throughout the country in criminal investigation by the State Attorney General and the Massachusetts Department of Revenue into allegations that client underpaid state income taxes. Obtained a declination of prosecution.
  • Represented leading Massachusetts civil engineering firm in major criminal and False Claims Act investigation by the State Attorney General into allegations that client had committed environmental crimes and had engaged in fraud in connection with multiple contracts with state agencies and municipalities. Obtained settlement whereby the client admitted no wrongdoing and Attorney General brought no criminal charges.
  • Represented leading national architectural firm in investigation conducted by U.S. Attorney’s Office into alleged health-care fraud arising from a major hospital renovation. Obtained a resolution in which the client made an administrative payment, but no criminal or civil charges were brought against client, and the client made no admission of wrongdoing.
  • Represented leading national manufacturer of certain construction product in Justice Department Antitrust Division investigation into alleged bid-rigging. Obtained a declination of prosecution.
  • Represented architectural firm in separate investigations by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Government Services Administration that arose out of the awarding of a federal courthouse-design contract to the architectural firm. The investigation concluded with a finding that there was no impropriety in the award, and the client retained the contract.
  • Represented a high-ranking member of the state legislature who was investigated in connection with a major multi-year corruption probe by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. No charges were brought against the client.
  • Represented corporation which had large number of federal Small Business Innovation Research (“SBIR”) contracts in bet-the-company civil False Claims Act investigation.  Negotiated a resolution whereby the company made no admission of wrongdoing and also avoided suspension and debarment from federal contracting.
  • Represented a municipal entity that received an agency-record federal grant with a substantial state matching grant in an investigation by the federal and state Inspectors General into the bona fides of the grant application.  The federal government declined criminal prosecution and civil prosecution and also declined to suspend or debar the municipal entity from receiving federal grant money and contracts.  The state also took no action. 
  • Represented a corporation’s president and sole owner who received a target letter from the U.S. Attorney’s Office stating that he was being investigated for environmental crimes and for obstruction of justice. Obtained a resolution whereby the corporation pled guilty to a misdemeanor and no action was taken against the owner.
  • Represented a bank president in Securities & Exchange Commission Investigation into allegations that client had provided inside information to purchasers of the bank’s stock. Obtained a declination of prosecution by the SEC.
  • Represented the vice president of worldwide sales of a software company in a Securities & Exchange Commission investigation in which the client had received a “Wells Notice” stating that the SEC staff would recommend to the Commission that the client be charged with revenue-recognition violations. The case was also being investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for potential criminal action. Obtained a declination of prosecution by the SEC, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office also took no action.
  • Represented senior state-government official who received a Notice from the State Ethics Commission that it was conducting a “Preliminary Inquiry” into conflict-of-interest allegations. Obtained a declination of prosecution.
  • Represented a bank president who received a Notice from the State Ethics Commission that it was conducting a “Preliminary Inquiry” into whether the president had arranged for a favorable loan for a state official. Obtained a declination of prosecution.
  • Represented a jeweler in a federal criminal trial on charges that he knowingly received more than $1 million in stolen jewelry. Obtained acquittal of the client at trial.
  • Represented (as part of trial team) the head of the New Hampshire loan office of a national bank on federal charges of bank fraud. Obtained acquittal of the client at trial.
  • Represented physician charged in state court with credit card fraud. Persuaded the Commonwealth to drop all charges on the day of trial.
  • Represented in-house lawyer in investigation by U.S. Attorney’s Office and Justice Department into allegations that false statements were made to government regulators. Client was not charged.
  • Represented numerous employees from a total of four different companies in connection with multiple federal and state investigations into the Big Dig. No clients were ever charged or subject to civil action.
  • Represented client who was being investigated for Campaign Finance Act violations for allegedly reimbursing employees he supervised for contributions the client had induced the employees to make to a political campaign. Negotiated a misdemeanor federal guilty plea involving no term of incarceration.
  • Represented nurse who allegedly assisted in preparing false records to support Medicaid billing. Obtained immunity for nurse, and no charges were brought against her.
  • Represented numerous individual and corporate victims and witnesses in connection with various government investigations.
  • Represented numerous college students in academic and non-academic disciplinary proceedings.
  • Represented a Pharmacy Benefits Manager in a civil investigation by the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office into overcharging on prescriptions in worker’s compensation matters. Obtained a resolution whereby client paid a modest fine and made no admissions of wrongdoing.