blog home Criminal Defense Search Warrants in Federal Investigations: Know Your Rights

Search Warrants in Federal Investigations: Know Your Rights

By Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney on June 3, 2025

Few moments are more intimidating than watching federal agents descend on your home or office with a search warrant in hand. Whether you’re a public figure or corporate executive, this kind of intrusion signals one thing: you are now involved in a white-collar federal investigation.

What you do in the minutes and hours that follow can dramatically affect the course of your case and your future.

At Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, we’ve represented high-profile individuals and businesses in complex federal investigations across the country. Our attorneys include former prosecutors and experienced trial lawyers who understand the full scope of federal power and how to challenge it when necessary.

What Is a Federal Search Warrant?

A federal search warrant is a court order signed by a magistrate judge, giving federal agents the authority to enter a specific location and seize items listed in the warrant. These warrants are typically issued as part of investigations by agencies like the FBI, DEA, IRS, SEC, or Homeland Security.

Common federal cases involving warrants include:

• Fraud and embezzlement
• Money laundering
• Public corruption
• Tax crimes
• Healthcare fraud
• Securities fraud
• Conspiracy and RICO investigations

These are not spontaneous raids. By the time agents arrive, federal prosecutors have already built a preliminary case, often including months of surveillance, wiretaps, or grand jury subpoenas.

Your Rights During a Federal Raid

If federal agents arrive with a warrant, you are not powerless, but you must proceed carefully. Understanding your search and seizure rights will help protect you from avoidable errors that could cost you later.

You Have the Right to Remain Silent

Do not answer questions, speculate, or explain. Politely inform the agents that you wish to speak to your attorney before making any statements. Even casual remarks can be used against you later.

You Have the Right to See the Warrant

Ask to see the search warrant immediately. It must:

• Be signed by a judge
• Name the correct location (address and premises)
• Specify the items to be seized
• Be based on probable cause

If the warrant does not meet these standards, your attorney may later file a motion to suppress the evidence.

You Have the Right to Contact a Lawyer

As soon as a federal raid commences, it’s time to contact a defense attorney. At Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, we are prepared to respond to urgent situations involving home or office raid defense. We’ll guide and challenge any improper actions taken by federal agents.

What to Do During a Search

Knowing your rights is one thing. Knowing how to act is another. Here’s a breakdown of smart steps to take while agents are executing a warrant:

• Stay calm and respectful. Hostility can escalate the situation and may result in arrest or obstruction charges.
• Request a copy of the warrant and inventory list. Federal agents are required to provide a receipt of what is taken.
• Take notes. Record the names of agents, badge numbers, agencies involved, and times of entry and exit.
• Call your lawyer immediately. If you retain our firm, we can be on-site quickly or advise you by phone.
• Preserve surveillance footage. This can help your defense if agents overstepped their authority.

Here’s what you should avoid doing:

• Attempt to block the search. You cannot physically interfere with agents executing a valid warrant.
• Delete files or hide documents. This could lead to obstruction of justice charges.
• Offer explanations or excuses. Anything you say may be used later against you or others.

What Federal Agents Are Allowed to Do

Understanding federal agent protocol can help you determine whether their actions were lawful. Here are some key limitations:

Agents Can:

• Enter the premises specified in the warrant
• Search and seize items listed in the warrant
• Detain occupants briefly during the search
• Take digital devices if authorized

Agents Cannot:

• Search areas not listed in the warrant (e.g., your neighbor’s apartment or offsite storage not mentioned)
• Seize unrelated property unless it is in plain view and appears illegal
• Force you to unlock a device with a password (biometric unlocking, however, is a developing area of law)

If agents overreach, your attorney can seek to suppress the evidence or challenge the search’s legality under the Fourth Amendment.

Your Legal Strategy After a Raid

Once the search ends, the investigation is far from over. What happens next is just as critical.

Secure and Review the Search Documents

Ensure you receive:

• A copy of the warrant
• An inventory of seized items
• Business cards or names of the lead agents

Share these with your legal team right away.

Begin the Internal Investigation

At Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, we begin every home or office raid defense by conducting an internal assessment:

• What triggered the warrant?
• Who is the target, and who is a witness?
• Are there parallel civil or regulatory issues?
• What exposure exists for executives, employees, or entities?

Prepare for a Potential Indictment

Searches often signal that an indictment is coming. That’s why you need pre-indictment counsel experienced in white-collar federal investigations. Our team prepares clients to testify (or not), challenge evidence, and build defenses before formal charges are filed.

A federal search is not just an investigation—it’s a statement of power. The government believes something significant is happening, and they’re prepared to act on it. You need a legal team with the experience, resources, and courtroom tenacity to respond decisively.

Speak With an Experienced Federal Search Warrant Defense Attorney in Los Angeles

At Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, our trial attorneys include former federal and state prosecutors who understand how these cases are built and how to dismantle them. We’ve successfully defended clients in some of the most complex and high-profile federal cases in the country.

If you’ve been served with a federal search warrant, it’s time to act quickly by contacting the Los Angeles federal crime attorneys at  Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP.  The sooner we get involved, the more options you’ll have to protect your rights, your reputation, and your future.

Call (213) 688-0460 to schedule a confidential consultation today.

FAQs About Federal Raids

Can I record the agents on video during the search?

In most cases, yes, if done from a safe distance. However, do not interfere with the search. Surveillance footage is especially useful if agents behave improperly.

Can they search my phone or computer?

Only if the warrant specifies digital searches or if data is in plain view. In many cases, agents take devices for later analysis.

What if they seize property that’s unrelated to the warrant?

Your attorney can file a motion for the return of seized property and challenge its admissibility in court.