Unlike a local criminal case that may resolve in weeks or months, a federal investigation can drag on for years, with uncertainty over whether charges will be filed, what charges might be filed and against whom. Knowing the timeline of a federal investigation is important to help individuals, business owners and others understand when an investigator might begin looking into their actions and what they should do about it.
Federal investigations typically involve multiple agencies, including the FBI, DEA and IRS. They often cast broad nets, searching for patterns of behavior or violations of complex regulations that most people don’t even know exist. The investigators will review documents, subpoena bank records and interview those in your orbit to find evidence. If they find enough to suspect you of a crime, they will send you what’s known as a “target letter.”
One of the most common ways a federal investigation gets started is when someone in your orbit tells agents about your suspicious behavior. Depending on the circumstances, this could be a neighbor, a friend or even a family member. Another red flag is if your bank begins to report suspicious transactions or ask questions about them.
Congress passed the Atomic Energy Act, making the FBI responsible for investigating people with access to restricted nuclear data. Congress also enacted Executive Order 9835 to encourage loyalty among government employees. The FBI also began operating its National Crime Information Center to allow law enforcement officials to access information about the records of persons arrested across the country.