Melissa Madrigal
Melissa Madrigal concentrates her practice in the areas of white collar and federal criminal defense and regulatory investigations. She is licensed in New York and Florida.
Melissa has represented individuals in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and in the Southern District of Florida in criminal investigations and prosecutions brought under a broad array of federal criminal statutes including RICO, health care fraud, securities fraud, mail and wire fraud schemes, conspiracy offenses, tax offenses, government contracting fraud, money laundering, access device fraud, identity theft, fish and wildlife offenses, terrorism charges, Bank Secrecy Act violations, obstruction of justice charges, and narcotics trafficking. Melissa has also represented individuals before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals on various complex criminal matters. In addition to her white-collar defense practice, Melissa routinely represents individuals in regulatory investigations and proceedings, particularly by the Securities & Exchange Commission and FINRA.
Melissa has been named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers in the field of white collar criminal defense in New York City for four consecutive years. She is fluent in Spanish.
PRACTICE AREAS
White Collar Defense
Federal Criminal Defense
Criminal Appeals
Securities and Financial Regulatory Enforcement
Internal Corporate Investigations
NOTABLE REPRESENTATIONS
Represented hedge fund portfolio manager in 2-week trial prosecuted by the SDNY on securities fraud charges, alleging that client mismarked securities of a multibillion dollar hedge fund.
Represented individual charged with fraud and bank bribery related to an online Bitcoin exchange at trial and on appeal.
Represented a lead defendant before the district court and on appeal in largest no-fault automobile insurance scheme charged in the SDNY.
Represented a lead defendant at sentencing and on appeal in largest Ponzi scheme on Long Island.
Represented executive of public company for sentencing and appeal in scheme to defraud HUD on a real estate development contract.
Represented clients in largest ever prosecution in SDNY for importation of illegally caught seafood and wildlife (Lacey Act).
Represented lead defendant, a medical doctor, in 7-week trial in the SDFL involving a $205 million Medicare scheme.
Represented high-level bank executive charged in Scott Rothstein’s multibillion dollar Ponzi scheme.
Represented child victim of sex trafficking in pro bono case to prevent prostitution charges and secure a T-visa residency status.
Represented Chinese citizen charged in the District of Columbia with violating Iranian export sanctions.
Represented medical doctor charged in the EDNY with unlawful distribution of oxycodone and fentanyl.
EDUCATION
J.D., Florida International University
B.A., Florida International University
ADMISSIONS
State Bar of New York
State Bar of Florida
United States Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
United States District Court, Southern District of New York
United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
United States District Court, Southern District of Florida
United States District Court, District of Columbia
PREVIOUS ASSOCIATIONS
Partner
Creizman LLC
Associate
Samuel J. Rabin Jr., P.A.
Law Clerk
United States Attorney's Office, SDFL (Narcotics Section)
Judicial Intern
Hon. Adalberto Jordan, United States District Court, SDFL
