Obstruction & False Statement Attorney in Nashville, TN

Written by Kimberly S. Hodde, National Chair of Criminal Defense at Meister Seelig & Schuster

Pursuant to various statutes, federal criminal investigations into obstruction and false statements target actions that intentionally mislead, deceive, or impede government proceedings and investigators. Governed primarily by statutes like 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (false statements) and various obstruction provisions (18 U.S.C. §§ 1503, 1512, 1519), these charges carry severe felony penalties and frequently stand independently of any underlying crime.

Key Federal Statutes

  • 18 U.S.C. § 1001 (False Statements): Criminalizes knowingly and willfully making any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the U.S. government. It does not require the statement to be made under oath or in writing.
  • 18 U.S.C. § 1519 (Destruction of Records): Prohibits the knowing alteration, destruction, mutilation, concealment, or falsification of any document or record with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence a federal investigation or official proceeding, even if the proceeding has not yet formally commenced.
  • 18 U.S.C. § 1512 (Witness Tampering): Penalizes using intimidation, threats, or corrupt persuasion, or engaging in misleading conduct toward another person with the intent to influence, delay, or prevent testimony or the production of records in an official proceeding.
  • 18 U.S.C. § 1503 / § 1505 (General Obstruction): Covers acts that corruptly influence, obstruct, or impede the due administration of justice in pending federal court cases, grand juries, or administrative and congressional proceedings.

Commonly Targeted Behaviors

  • Unsworn Lies: Making false oral statements to federal agents (such as the FBI or IRS) during a routine interview or during a casual, even passing, inquiry.
  • Evidence Tampering: Deleting text messages, wiping computer hard drives, deleting cloud storage, shredding paper files, or concealing/destroying physical objects.
  • Influencing Witnesses: Encouraging third parties to lie, withhold information, reveal only partial information, ignore subpoenas, or skip testimony.
  • Creating False Records: Fabricating retroactive emails, text messages, ledgers, or receipts to mislead investigators examining corporate or personal financial conduct. Using artificial intelligence or other manipulation tools to create “deep fakes” or alter documents, photographs, recordings, or video evidence.

Defending Federal Obstruction and False Statement Allegations

Obstruction and false statement investigations strike at the heart of the criminal justice system. Prosecutors, investigators, and Courts believe that these actions undermine the ability to assess the truth and show disregard for the law and disrespect for the criminal justice system generally. Therefore, being accused of such actions raises the stakes in every aspect of a federal criminal prosecution. These actions often result in federal law enforcement feeling personally insulted and manipulated.

For all these reasons, these allegations require counsel with substantial experience developing federal white-collar criminal defense strategies. Defense counsel must also have the reputation and credibility to diffuse the intensity and fury of investigators and prosecutors. These allegations are often paired with other criminal charges such as fraud, financial crimes, drug trafficking, money laundering, and violent crime investigations.

Experienced Defense Against Obstruction and False Statement Charges

Kimberly (Kim) S. Hodde and her team at Meister Seelig & Schuster (MSS) have extensive experience handling obstruction and false statement investigations and charges. Ms. Hodde and her team conduct robust independent investigations into key elements of the alleged offense, specifically willfulness, intent, and materiality, to support their client’s understanding, explanation, or lack of intent. If federal agents have questioned you or accused you of obstruction or making false statements, contact Kim Hodde and MSS-Nashville before providing additional information.

Together, they have successfully defended numerous individuals at the federal grand jury or investigation phase, preventing prosecution. In cases where someone is already charged with these allegations, Ms. Hodde & her MSS-Nashville team develop a litigation strategy for each case that mitigates the detrimental impact these allegations have on a jury’s ability to be fair at trial or the Court’s ability to find mitigating facts at sentencing. If federal agents have questioned you or accused you of obstruction or making false statements, contact Kim Hodde and MSS-Nashville before providing additional information.

Practice Areas