Financial Considerations for Sentencing in Federal Tax Prosecutions

May 21, 2020  |  New York Law Journal

In addition to time in prison, defendants convicted of financial crimes in federal court face fines and restitution. While the focus of most sentencing hearings is the length of any period of incarceration to be imposed, defense counsel must also consider and address the substantial monetary penalties that may be applicable. In our latest article, we review the recent decision of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in United States v. Adams, which addressed the availability and extent of restitution and fines in criminal tax cases, and conclude that while defense counsel frequently have to “pick their battles” at sentencing, they need to be mindful of their clients’ financial exposure. 

Financial Considerations for Sentencing in Federal Tax Prosecutions (pdf | 293.39 KB)