Lilly Ann Sanchez, Partner/Shareholder

Lilly Ann Sanchez, a former federal prosecutor and a trial attorney with nearly 20 years experience, is Chair of the firm's White Collar Criminal Defense Group.

Ms. Sanchez handles the full range of white collar offenses. She has significant experience in the areas of securities fraud, money laundering, antitrust and health care fraud. Ms. Sanchez frequently represents individuals in high profile matters. Most recently, she served as counsel to Howard K. Stern after the death of Anna Nicole Smith and as counsel to a defendant implicated in an insider trading ring involving Morgan Stanley. In addition, Ms. Sanchez assists clients in civil investigations conducted by a variety of regulatory agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and various divisions of the Department of Justice.

From her past work in the public sector, Ms. Sanchez brings to her practice an exceptional background of trial law and administrative experience, along with insight into trial strategy and negotiation tactics. Before joining Fowler White Burnett, Ms. Sanchez was Deputy Chief of the Major Crimes Section of the United States Attorney's Office in Miami. Prior to that post, Ms. Sanchez served as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the United States Attorney's Office of the Southern District of Florida and the District of Columbia.

As a federal prosecutor, for a combined 11 years, Ms. Sanchez handled more than 80 jury trials. Noteworthy cases include the prosecution of the former head of the Bayfront Park Management Trust that resulted in a guilty plea to federal bribery and a restitution payment to Miami for kickbacks he received running the city-funded agency. She also handled the trial and conviction of an airplane hijacker, as well as several financial crimes cases, including a notorious money laundering case. During her tenure with the United States Attorney's Office, Ms. Sanchez received both the Tim Evans Memorial Award for Outstanding Performance and the Department of Justice Special Achievement Award.

Ms. Sanchez currently serves as a member of the Florida Judicial Nominating Commission of the Third District Court of Appeals.

Representative Matters:

• Represented a stock broker charged with massive insider trading schemes by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York and the Securities and Exchange Commission. Successfully argued for a probation sentence and resolved the SEC civil matter without additional penalties.

• Served as Florida counsel for Zurich American Insurance Co. during a national investigation of its alleged participation in bid-rigging and price-fixing in the commercial insurance market.  

• Represented a foreign exchange company, located in Bogota, Colombia, who was the subject of two seizures committed by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement of approximately $10 million in assets. Successfully resolved the civil forfeiture case brought by the Department of Justice and the client was granted full entitlement to majority of its monies.

• Represented South Florida real estate developer for his alleged role in a $3 million housing scam that failed to produce low-income housing for residents of Miami-Dade County. Obtained dismissal of a first degree felony charge and a sentence at the bottom of the sentencing guidelines.

• Represented notable New York financier and philanthropist during an exhaustive investigation by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida relating to charges of sex trafficking with minors.

• Represented a physician's assistant against charges of Medicare fraud. Successfully negotiated a significantly reduced sentence and obtained only a temporary revocation of client's license by the Board of Medicine.