1. Where Can You Search for a Filed Criminal Case?
Begin with the court named in the notice. Public dockets may confirm filings or appearances but omit some investigations.
New York Criminal Court Records
WebCriminal lists scheduled appearances in participating courts. Match search results by name or docket number against the notice. Warrants, concluded cases, and sealed matters may not appear. Kings County Supreme Court, Criminal Term, introduced NYSCEF for specified filings on September 8, 2025. Not all filings are public. EDDS accepts PDF submissions and record requests, subject to court review. If no case appears, check the spelling and court. A felony complaint and a later indictment may carry different identifiers. Ask the clerk about accessible records.
Federal Dockets and Restricted Filings
PACER shows public EDNY filings and dockets. Search EDNY or the federal case locator, then compare the latest entry with the notice. Sealed indictments do not appear in PACER. An empty search cannot rule out a federal grand jury investigation. Clerks cannot disclose sealed records. A public docket may also omit restricted attachments, so compare accessible entries with the documents actually served.
2. Which Documents Show Whether Charges Are Pending?
A subpoena may compel records or testimony without charging its recipient. Filed accusatory instruments identify charges.
| Document | What it indicates | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Subpoena or interview request | Contact that does not itself file charges | Issuer, recipient, response date |
| State misdemeanor complaint or information | Filed misdemeanor allegations | Offense, docket, appearance |
| State felony complaint | Initial felony accusation | Counts, court, next date |
| State indictment | Grand jury charges | Counts, arraignment, court |
| Federal complaint or indictment | Filed federal allegations | Docket, counts, orders |
Subpoena or interview request
- What it indicatesContact that does not itself file charges
- What to verifyIssuer, recipient, response date
State misdemeanor complaint or information
- What it indicatesFiled misdemeanor allegations
- What to verifyOffense, docket, appearance
State felony complaint
- What it indicatesInitial felony accusation
- What to verifyCounts, court, next date
State indictment
- What it indicatesGrand jury charges
- What to verifyCounts, arraignment, court
Federal complaint or indictment
- What it indicatesFiled federal allegations
- What to verifyDocket, counts, orders
State Court Assignment and Grand Jury Rights
Kings County Criminal Court at 120 Schermerhorn Street handles misdemeanors and initial felony cases. Indicted felonies generally proceed in Supreme Court, Criminal Term, at 320 Jay Street. Under CPL § 190.50(5), a qualifying person may request to testify before a state grand jury by timely written notice and a waiver of immunity. The notice ordinarily must precede the indictment. A motion alleging denial of that right generally must be made within five days after arraignment on the indictment. The filing and arraignment dates may trigger different rights. The right to testify is subject to notice requirements and does not authorize access to otherwise secret grand jury material.
Federal Charges and Court Location
EDNY's Brooklyn courthouse is at 225 Cadman Plaza East. Federal charges require a federal offense and proper venue. Hearings may occur elsewhere. A complaint may precede an indictment. Check the latest operative filing and court orders. Federal criminal defense rules govern related motions.
3. Which Dates Control the Next Procedural Step?
Appearance, subpoena, and discovery dates have distinct functions. A later order may change the schedule.
New York Discovery and Compliance Challenges
CPL § 245.10 generally requires initial prosecution discovery within 20 days after arraignment for defendants in custody, or 35 days otherwise. Exceptions and extensions apply. Under CPL § 245.50(4)(c), if an indictment or information preceded the prosecution's Certificate of Compliance, a challenge generally requires a motion within 35 days after service and an affirmation of good-faith conferral efforts. Request a good-cause extension before the deadline. Later challenges may involve material changes or previously undiscoverable defects. Courts assess overall diligence, not an omission alone. A discovery violation may still warrant a proportionate remedy even where the certificate remains valid.
Federal Discovery Conferences and Orders
Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16.1 generally requires attorneys to confer about discovery within 14 days after arraignment, not to complete production. Court orders set other deadlines. New York CPL discovery periods do not govern federal cases.
4. What Records Should Be Matched to the Filed Allegations?
A docket identifies allegations, not an individual's authorization or intent. Compare each count with the records.
Payments and Delegated Authority
Relevant materials include:
- Contracts and policies defining signing or transfer authority.
- Payment instructions and messages dated before approval.
- Access logs, transaction histories, and original electronic metadata.
Compare who requested, approved, and executed transfers. Match transaction amounts against the operative charges. An instruction sent before a transfer can have a different meaning from an approval recorded after it. Under Penal Law § 155.05, larceny requires wrongful taking, obtaining, or withholding with intent to deprive or appropriate property. A payment entry alone is insufficient. Preserve originals without unauthorized access or alteration.
Company Files and Individual Interests
Company attorneys ordinarily represent the organization, not individual employees. The organization generally controls privilege over qualifying communications with its lawyers. A white collar crime lawyer reviewing an executive's individual exposure must distinguish personal interests from the company's legal position.
5. Frequently Asked Questions
Can prosecutors change white collar crime charges after the first appearance?
Yes. State indictments may differ from felony complaints, and federal prosecutors may obtain superseding indictments. Check the operative charges.
Can the same financial transaction result in both state and federal charges?
Yes, where separate state and federal offenses apply, subject to constitutional limits. Each prosecution has its own record and deadlines. A defendant should not assume that one dismissal resolves the other case.
6. Review a White Collar Crime Matter with SJKP LLP
SJKP LLP's attorneys can review charging documents, public dockets, transaction records, and procedural deadlines under New York or federal law. Its white collar criminal defense practice addresses investigations and filed cases.
13 Nov, 2026
