have successfully represented private individuals and politicians charged with Hobbs Act violations, including some of the most significant trials in Massachusetts, and are currently involved in one of the highest profile “Hobbs Act” prosecutions in Massachusetts. If you or a family member is the subject of a Hobbs Act investigation or prosecution, we invite you to contact us to learn more about the depth of our experience, skills and knowledge in this area. The Hobbs Act criminalizes the taking of property by force or by color of office (meaning by an elected state or federal official who uses the cloak of his or her office to extract money from a constituent in exchange for the performance of some official act). The government uses this statute as a tool to prosecute a diverse range of conduct, from armed robberies of banks or other financial institutions to politicians who extract money from constituents in return for the performance of official acts. It has become a particularly important prosecutorial tool for the government given the current uncertainty regarding the “honest services” statute, the constitutionality of which is presently being considered by the Supreme Court, and the government has begun charging violations of the Hobbs Act as an alternative to “honest services” charges in their political prosecutions.

Defenses to these prosecutions are often factually and legally complex, and it is therefore imperative that you obtain legal representation as early as possible if you or a family member is the subject of such an investigation or prosecution, such that your attorney can immediately begin his investigation. The goal of any such investigation is often twofold: acquire information essential to persuading the government that you have not committed any federal offense and, if necessary, begin to prepare a defense to a federal prosecution in the event the government ultimately decides to seek an indictment. We have the resources, experience and skills to effectively defend Hobbs Act investigations or prosecutions, and invite you to contact us to learn more.