Practice Areas

White Collar Fraud

White collar fraud charges — including wire fraud, mail fraud, tax fraud, securities fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy — carry serious federal penalties and can threaten careers, reputations, and freedom. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson defends individuals and businesses under investigation or indictment for a wide range of white collar fraud offenses, bringing a thorough understanding of how to defend against complex white collar criminal fraud cases to every case. From the earliest stages of a government inquiry through trial, sentencing, and appeal, clients receive aggressive and, knowledgeable defense counsel focused on protecting their rights and their future.

Grand Jury Investigations

A grand jury subpoena or target letter signals that federal prosecutors are building a case — and the decisions made at this stage can have lasting consequences. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson counsels individuals and entities throughout the grand jury process, advising on document production, witness testimony, Fifth Amendment rights, and the strategic considerations that can shape whether charges are even filed. Early, experienced intervention is critical, and the firm provides the discreet and effective representation clients need when a federal investigation is underway.

Public Corruption and Bribery

Public corruption and bribery cases — involving elected officials, government employees, contractors, lobbyists, and private individuals who do business with the government — are among the most aggressively prosecuted matters in the federal system. Charges can include bribery, extortion under color of official right, honest services fraud, gratuities violations, and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), among others. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson defends clients facing investigation or prosecution in these high-profile, high stakes matters, providing sophisticated representation from the grand jury stage through trial and appeal. With an in depth understanding of how federal prosecutors build public corruption cases, the firm is well-positioned to challenge the government’s evidence and protect clients’ rights, reputations, and freedom.

Health Care Fraud

Federal and state prosecutors pursue health care fraud cases with significant resources, targeting billing irregularities, kickback arrangements, and false claims to Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers. In August 2025, the United States Attorney’s Office in Chicago created a dedicated Healthcare Fraud Section, signaling an increased focus on fraud enforcement in this area. The consequences of a conviction — including exclusion from federal health programs, loss of licensure, and substantial prison sentences — can permanently end a medical career and even result in substantial jail time. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson represents physicians, practice group owners, health care professionals, and other individuals facing investigation or prosecution for health care fraud, providing sophisticated defense strategies grounded in a thorough understanding of health care regulations, coding standards, and government enforcement priorities.

Federal and State Benefits Fraud

Federal and state agencies use data analytics, whistleblower tips, and interagency task forces to identify irregularities in claims.  An audit, overpayment notice, or investigator contact can signal the beginning of a criminal probe – not just an administrative review.  Cooperating with investigators before speaking to counsel is one of the most common and costly mistakes individuals make.  Whether you are a recipient, provider, or employer, retaining the Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson at the first sign of scrutiny protects your rights and shapes the outcome.  The Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson defends individuals, providers, and businesses charged with federally administrated programs prosecuted by the DOJ, HHS-OIG, SSA-OIG, and other federal agencies, including Covid 19-Relief Fraud, which continues to be aggressively prosecuted. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson also represents clients facing state-level criminal charges, administrative proceedings, or civil recovery actions for alleged fraud against state administered assistance and insurance programs.

Import/Export Fraud

Import and export fraud encompasses a broad range of violations, including customs fraud, trade sanctions violations, money laundering tied to international trade, and false country-of-origin claims. These cases frequently involve multiple federal agencies — including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Justice — and can result in substantial civil penalties and criminal prosecution. In February 2026, the Department of Justice designated the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office to lead a new national Trade Fraud Task Force to aggressively prosecute these violations. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson defends importers, exporters, brokers, and businesses facing investigation or charges related to international trade, providing experienced counsel in a highly technical and rapidly evolving area of federal law.

Tax Fraud

Federal tax fraud investigations and prosecutions — including charges of tax evasion, filing false returns, failure to file, and employment tax fraud — are pursued aggressively by the IRS Criminal Investigation Division and the Department of Justice Tax Division. These cases often arise out of broader financial investigations and can accompany other white-collar charges, compounding the stakes significantly. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson defends individuals and businesses facing civil tax penalties or criminal tax prosecution, bringing a thorough understanding of tax law, IRS investigative procedures, and federal criminal practice to every case. From the earliest stages of investigation through trial and sentencing, clients receive experienced, strategic counsel focused on minimizing exposure and protecting their financial future.

Child Pornography and Internet Crimes Against Children

Federal and State charges involving child pornography — including possession, receipt, distribution, and production of child sexual abuse material — carry some of the most severe penalties in the criminal code, including lengthy mandatory minimum sentences, lifetime sex offender registration, and supervised release conditions that profoundly affect every aspect of a person’s life. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson provides experienced, non-judgmental representation to individuals facing these deeply serious charges. Every client is entitled to a vigorous defense, and the firm carefully examines the government’s investigation, search and seizure procedures, digital forensic evidence, and compliance with constitutional protections to identify every available defense. Clients facing these charges deserve skilled counsel who will protect their rights and ensure the government is held to its full burden of proof at every stage of the proceedings.

Federal Sentencing

Navigating the federal sentencing process requires deep knowledge of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, statutory mandatory minimums, the discretionary factors courts weigh under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), and the importance of the Presentence Investigation Report (PSR) on Bureau of Prisons (BOP) classification and program eligibility. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson provides skilled advocacy at every stage of sentencing — from preparing and objecting to the PSR, to contesting guideline calculations and enhancements to presenting compelling mitigation arguments that humanize clients in the eyes of the prosecutors, probation office, and court. All clients receive strategic, individualized representation designed to achieve the most favorable outcome possible.

Effective federal sentencing representation extends beyond the courtroom. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson also counsels clients on Bureau of Prisons placement and programming, helping them understand how facility designations are determined and how to pursue the most appropriate placement given their individual circumstances. Equally important, the firm advises clients on BOP sentence reduction programs — including the Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP), First Step Act earned time credits, Second Chance Act and compassionate release — that can meaningfully reduce the time a client serves behind bars. This comprehensive approach ensures that clients and their families are fully informed and prepared at every stage, from sentencing through release.

SEC and Regulatory Enforcement

Securities and Exchange Commission investigations and enforcement actions can arise from allegations of insider trading, accounting fraud, disclosure violations, investment adviser misconduct, and a wide range of other securities law issues. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson brings a distinct advantage to these matters: founding attorney Jacqueline Jacobson is a former SEC Enforcement attorney who understands how the agency builds its cases, evaluates targets, and pursues enforcement actions — knowledge that is invaluable when mounting an effective defense. The firm represents individuals and companies in SEC inquiries, Wells notices, formal investigations, and administrative proceedings, as well as parallel criminal matters that frequently accompany civil enforcement actions. Clients benefit from with the firm’s “insider” perspective on regulatory procedure, securities law, and the critical interplay between civil and criminal exposure.

Federal and State Appeals

A conviction or adverse ruling is not necessarily the final word. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson represents clients in state and federal appeals, bringing the careful analytical skill and persuasive written advocacy that appellate work demands. Grounds for appeal can include legal errors at trial, ineffective assistance of counsel, prosecutorial misconduct, improper admission or exclusion of evidence, incorrect jury instructions, and constitutional violations — among others. Every case is thoroughly reviewed to identify the strongest issues for appellate review.

At the federal level, the firm handles appeals before the U.S. Courts of Appeals as well as post-conviction relief proceedings, including motions under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. At the state level, the firm navigates each jurisdiction’s appellate procedures with the same diligence and attention to detail. For clients who have exhausted direct appeals, the firm also evaluates potential avenues for collateral relief based on newly discovered evidence, changes in controlling law, or other grounds that may warrant revisiting a prior judgment.

Appeals require a fresh set of skilled eyes, a mastery of the record, and the ability to craft compelling, written legal arguments. The Law Offices of Jacqueline Jacobson is committed to providing the thorough, tenacious advocacy clients deserve when their liberty and future are on the line.