Robert G. Stahl is an accomplished trial lawyer who concentrates exclusively in criminal defense. A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, a Certified Criminal Trial Attorney by the New Jersey Supreme Court and Best Lawyers Criminal Defense: White Collar Lawyer of the Year 2022.
Mr.Stahl is a Managing Partner of Stahl Gasiorowski Criminal Defense Lawyers, P.C., a boutique criminal defense firm established in 1997 focused exclusively on representing clients in complex white-collar criminal litigation, regulatory enforcement actions and corporate investigations. Mr. Stahl has practiced criminal defense law for over 35 years and litigates in federal and state court, and on both trial and appellate levels and has handled cases in federal district courts across the country.
Mr. Stahl has represented a number individuals in high-profile matters, including: a college student in a worldwide distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, the Mirai botnet case in the District of New Jersey and the District of Alaska; clients charged with fraudulently promoting cryptocurrency and NFT “rug pulls”; Rabbis federally charged with kidnapping and murder-for-hire in religious divorce – get –cases in the District of New Jersey and Southern District of New York; healthcare professionals charged in complex fraud schemes involving opioids, compounding, telemedicine, lab tests and durable medical equipment; a student from Kazakhstan charged in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing case; a conspirator in a Galleon Hedge Fund related case; public officials and labor union officials in tax and corruption prosecutions; and a physician and former police officer charged with murder.
He also represents individuals and corporate clients in investigations and regulatory actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), DOJ, and other agencies. Mr. Stahl regularly represents professionals including lawyers, doctors and accountants who also face professional discipline and state board investigations as the result of criminal investigations. He also represents college and university students and faculty facing disciplinary charges due to alleged criminal conduct, or violation of harassment and discrimination policies or the school’s Code of Conduct.
Mr. Stahl was an Assistant U.S. Attorney from 1991 to 1997, handling trials involving major fraud, tax evasion, money laundering and drug distribution as a federal prosecutor. Among the notable cases he handled as a prosecutor was supervising and prosecuting “Operation Red Daisy” – an 18 month FBI/IRS undercover operation that uncovered a conspiracy between the La Costa Nostra and the Russian Mob stealing hundreds of millions of dollars of federal and state excise taxes on motor fuels – diesel and gasoline. Mr. Stahl successfully prosecuted members of the Gambino and Genovese families, Russian mobsters and scores of others in two lengthy trials resulting in dozens of convictions. He received the Department of Justice’s highest award for his efforts.
- After extensive independent investigation and negotiations for Attorney General’s Office, negotiated a plea for a New Jersey Mayor to probation and a minor fine rather than a amndatory10 years in state prison.
- Decline of Prosecution in SDNY for dentist charged with healthcare fraud by “up-coding” to more expensive but medically unnecessary procedures.
- Favorable plea resolution in the District of New Jersey and the District of Alaska for client charged with Computer Fraud Abuse Act (CFAA) violations in relation to creation and use of powerful malware (botnet) used to shut down a US university, an infrastructure company offering domain name system services to major websites, and European internet service provider, through targeted Denial of Distributed Services (DDoS) attacks, causing tens of millions in damages; client received non-custodial sentences in both districts, and significantly reduced restitution.
- Trial acquittal in the District of New Jersey for federal perjury in grand jury.
- Represented a Rabbi in a federal trial in the District of New Jersey charged with kidnapping, after an almost 3 month trial, client acquitted of 3 of 4 counts and received a reduced sentence.
- After a lengthy suppression hearing and independent defense investigation, negotiated a six year sentence for foreign student charged in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombing case.
- Defense of software app developer targeted by Government in $80 million multidistrict fraud prosecution; successful return of property seized in civil forfeiture proceeding and avoidance of criminal charges.
- Non-custodial sentence for client charged in $8 million bank fraud and bribery scheme.
After extensive pretrial investigation and discovery of Brady material, a negotiated resolution for non-citizen client charged in SDNY with a federal conspiracy to commit murder for hire and stipulated plea of only three years’ incarceration, and the client’s ability to return to Israel to serve his sentence. - Favorable plea resolution and non-custodial sentence for bank manager charged with bank fraud and conspiracy in the collapse of a New Jersey bank with millions of dollars of loss allowing client to plead to a false statement charge in relation to a narrower set of transactions, with reduced loss and restitution.
- Defense of client charged with bank fraud and aggravated identity theft in a credit card “bust out” scheme with millions in losses and over ten victims; obtained favorable split sentence of 6 months incarceration and 6 months home confinement rather than 5 years’ incarceration recommended by Probation.
- Client charged in SDNY and Kings County with terrorism, attempted murder and unlawful possession of weapons, negotiated concurrent pleas in both jurisdictions for reduced sentences.
- Represented numerous clients – doctors, pharmacists and marketers – charged in the District of New Jersey with healthcare fraud, through lengthy negotiations and detailed mitigating sentencing arguments, obtained very favorable sentencing results.
- Complex Criminal Law Litigation
- 90% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
- White-Collar Criminal Defense in Federal Court –
- – Individuals and Corporations
- Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industry Employees
- Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” Award for Criminal Defense White Collar Crime, Newark NJ, 2023. This award is presented to only one attorney in a given geographical region and practice area each annual edition of The Best Lawyers in America® publication.
- Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, composed of the best of the trial bar from the U.S. and Canada. Fellowship is restricted to experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality.
- AV-Rated, Highest Possible Peer Review in Legal Ability or Ethical Standards, 2000 – Present
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2012 – Present
- The National Trial Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, 2013 – Present
- Selected as Super Lawyer in White Collar Criminal Defense, 2007 – Present
Super Lawyers Top 100 – New Jersey- Super Lawyers 15 Years
- New Jersey’s Top Rated Lawyers / Legal Leaders 2018 – Present
- Certified Criminal Trial Attorney – New Jersey Supreme Court
- John Marshall Award, U.S. Department of Justice, 1999
- Director’s Award, U.S. Department of Justice, 1996
- American Bar Association
- New Jersey State Bar Association
- Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Federal Bar Association
- Union County Bar Association
- American Association for Justice
- The Law Offices of Robert G. Stahl, LLC, 1997- Present
- United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Strike Force Division, 1991 – 1997
- Hon. John W. Bissell, United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Law Clerk, 1989 – 1991
- United States Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, Paralegal Specialist & Law Enforcement Committee Coordinator, 1986 – 1989
- Somerset County Prosecutor, Detective-Sergeant, Narcotics Task Force & Homicide Division, 1980 – 1985
Education
Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey
- J.D. magna cum laude – 1989
- Honors: Winner, 1988 Appellate Moot Court Competition and Best Brief
- Honors: 1988 National Moot Court Team Member
Bar Admissions
- New Jersey, 1989
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, 1989
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, 1998
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, 1998
- U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 1997
- U.S. Supreme Court, 1998