What Questions Should I Ask a PPP Fraud Lawyer? Most Won’t Answer These HONESTLY!

What Questions Should I Ask a PPP Fraud Lawyer? Most Won’t Answer These HONESTLY!

So your probably sitting in a lawyer’s office right now or about to call one, desperately hoping they can save you from this PPP nightmare. Maybe you have a list of basic questions about fees and experience. Or maybe your so overwhelmed you don’t even know what to ask. Look, we get it. Your life is falling apart and you need answers immediately. But here’s the critical truth – asking the WRONG questions or accepting vague answers will guarantee you hire an incompetent lawyer who destroys your case!

What’s Your ACTUAL PPP Fraud Experience?

Don’t accept “I handle federal fraud” as an answer – demand SPECIFICS! “How many PPP fraud cases have you PERSONALLY handled, not your firm?” If they say “many” or “numerous” without numbers, they’re HIDING inexperience! You want exact numbers – 10 cases? 50? 100? Vague answers mean they’ve handled ZERO!

“What were the outcomes of your last 10 PPP cases?” They should rattle off specific results – “Client A got 18 months instead of 60, Client B got charges dropped, Client C got civil resolution.” If they claim “confidentiality” prevents details, that’s BS! They can share outcomes without names!

The Department of Justice publishes all PPP fraud convictions – VERIFY there claims! If they say they got charges dismissed, ask for the case number and look it up. Lawyers LIE about experience constantly. Trust but verify every single claim!

Who Will Actually Handle My Case?

“Will YOU personally appear in court or will an associate?” Most firms do bait-and-switch – the experienced partner sells you, then dumps you on a junior associate who’s never tried a federal case! Demand to meet the ACTUAL attorney who’ll stand next to you in court!

“How many other active cases are you handling right now?” If they have 50+ active cases, YOUR case gets no attention! Federal fraud defense requires hundreds of hours. Lawyers juggling dozens of cases give each one minimal effort. You need someone with capacity to actually fight!

“Can I call/text you directly or only through staff?” Lawyers who hide behind secretaries and paralegals aren’t invested in your case! You need direct access during this terrifying time. If they say “my assistant handles communications,” find another lawyer!

Do You Know My Prosecutor?

“Have you dealt with AUSA [prosecutor’s name] before?” They should know your prosecutor’s reputation, style, and tendencies! Prosecutors are human – some are reasonable, others are sharks. Your lawyer needs existing relationships and credibility!

“What’s your relationship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office here?” Good lawyers have professional relationships with prosecutors. Bad lawyers are known as jokes or obstacles. Ask “Will prosecutors take your calls?” If they hedge, they have no juice!

The Criminal Division’s Fraud Section has specific prosecutors for PPP cases – your lawyer should know them BY NAME! If they don’t even know who prosecutes these cases locally, how can they negotiate effectively?

What’s Your Actual Defense Strategy?

“What defenses apply to my specific situation?” They should immediately identify potential defenses – good faith, reliance on professionals, lack of intent, procedural issues. If they give generic answers like “we’ll fight hard,” they have NO strategy!

“How do you calculate loss amount under federal sentencing guidelines?” This is CRUCIAL – loss amount determines sentence length! They should explain specific calculation methods, what’s included/excluded, how to minimize amount. Blank stares mean incompetence!

“What’s your strategy for getting below-guidelines sentences?” Every competent lawyer has techniques – cooperation, acceptance of responsibility, variance arguments, departure motions. If they just say “we’ll ask the judge for mercy,” RUN!

What Are the REAL Chances?

“What’s the realistic best and worst case scenarios?” Honest lawyers give harsh truths – “Best case: 18 months prison. Worst case: 5 years.” Lawyers promising “no jail time” or “charges dropped” for everyone are LYING! Federal conviction rate is 97%!

“What percentage of your PPP clients avoided prison?” If they claim more than 10% got probation, they’re lying or cherry-picking cases! PPP fraud almost always means prison. You need realistic expectations, not false hope!

“Should I take a plea or go to trial?” They should explain the trial penalty – how rejection of pleas leads to longer sentences. If they push trial for every case without discussing risks, they’re either inexperienced or want higher fees!

How Do You Handle The Investigation?

“What if FBI agents show up at my door tomorrow?” They better have SPECIFIC instructions – don’t talk, call me immediately, here’s what to say. Vague advice like “be careful” means they don’t understand federal investigations!

“Will you contact the prosecutor immediately?” Proactive lawyers reach out to prosecutors early to shape the narrative. Passive lawyers wait for indictment. Early intervention can mean the difference between criminal and civil resolution!

The SBA Office of Inspector General leads many investigations – does your lawyer know there procedures? Can they interface with SBA investigators? Understanding the investigating agency is crucial!

What About Asset Protection?

“How do we protect my assets from seizure?” They should have LEGAL strategies for asset protection – not hiding money, but legitimate trust structures, spousal transfers, homestead exemptions. If they say “just move money overseas,” they’re suggesting crimes!

“What happens to my house/business/savings?” Specific answers about forfeiture laws, what’s at risk, protection strategies. They should explain criminal versus civil forfeiture, substitute assets, innocent owner defenses. Ignorance here costs everything!

“Can you prevent bank account freezes?” Experienced lawyers know how to contest seizures, file emergency motions, negotiate releases. If they don’t even know about administrative forfeiture proceedings, your assets are doomed!

What Are You Going to Cost?

“What’s the total estimated cost through trial?” DEMAND a realistic estimate! Federal cases cost $50,000-$200,000+. Lawyers quoting $10,000 are lying about scope. You need honest numbers to plan, even if they’re terrifying!

“What’s included in your fee?” Some lawyers charge extra for every motion, phone call, email. Others include everything. Hidden fees destroy budgets. Get EVERYTHING in writing – what’s covered, what’s extra!

“Do you offer payment plans?” Most people don’t have $100,000 lying around. Good lawyers understand and offer structured payments. If they demand everything upfront with no flexibility, they don’t understand client reality!

What Should I Do RIGHT NOW?

“What documents should I gather?” Specific list – tax returns, bank statements, loan applications, emails. Organized lawyers provide written checklists. Disorganized ones say “everything related to the loan.”

“What should I absolutely NOT do?” Critical prohibitions – don’t destroy documents (obstruction), don’t transfer assets (money laundering), don’t contact witnesses (tampering), don’t talk to investigators (self-incrimination). Specificity saves you from additional charges!

The IRS Criminal Investigation often joins PPP cases – ask about tax implications! Can filing amended returns help or hurt? Should you hire separate tax counsel? PPP fraud often triggers tax charges too!

Can You Handle Collateral Consequences?

“What about my professional licenses?” If your a doctor, lawyer, CPA – they should understand licensing board procedures, mitigation strategies, coordination between criminal and administrative proceedings. Generic lawyers miss this completely!

“Immigration consequences?” For non-citizens, PPP fraud can mean deportation! Your lawyer needs to understand immigration law or coordinate with immigration counsel. Wrong plea bargains can guarantee deportation!

“Will you handle related civil litigation?” PPP fraud often triggers civil suits – False Claims Act, shareholder litigation, employment claims. Can they handle everything or coordinate with civil counsel? Fragmented representation costs more!

CRITICAL: Vague answers = incompetent lawyer = guaranteed disaster!
Demand SPECIFIC answers about experience, strategy, and realistic outcomes!
Call 212-300-5196 NOW for lawyers who answer these questions HONESTLY!

Look, this consultation might be the most important conversation of your life. The lawyer you choose determines whether you spend 2 years or 10 years in federal prison. Don’t be intimidated into accepting vague non-answers or impressive-sounding BS. You need SPECIFIC information about experience, strategy, relationships, and realistic outcomes.

Most lawyers will dodge these hard questions or give generic responses because they lack real PPP fraud experience. They’ll promise the moon to get retained, then reality hits when your facing a decade in prison. The harsh truth is that 90% of criminal lawyers shouldn’t touch federal PPP cases but will happily take your money anyway.

You have the RIGHT to demand real answers. Any lawyer who gets offended by tough questions or can’t provide specifics is wrong for your case. This isn’t the time for politeness – your freedom depends on finding truly qualified counsel. Call us immediately at 212-300-5196 and we’ll answer EVERY question honestly, even if the truth is terrifying, because false hope is worse than harsh reality!