Biography
Michael R. DiStefano, a partner at the firm, concentrates his practice in the areas of government investigations and criminal defense, including defending clients at trial and in pre-indictment government investigations. He also advises clients under investigation in a variety of forums outside of court, including government civil investigative proceedings, college and university disciplinary matters, and professional licensing board hearings. Mr. DiStefano, a courtroom veteran and former prosecutor, resolves a wide range of sensitive matters for clients with a diplomatic and effective approach.
Mr. DiStefano's recent representative matters and accomplishments on behalf of clients include:
Government Investigations
- Represented national company in an investigation conducted by Health Care Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, which successfully resolved without any criminal charges or civil claims against company
- Resolved Department of Justice investigation of public official with no criminal charges brought against client
- Represented employees of company under federal grand jury investigation
Criminal Defense
- Obtained a probationary sentence for a client charged with $3.3 million tax fraud
- Following an emergency remote hearing, persuaded a Massachusetts Superior Court judge to release a pre-trial detainee due to concerns over potential exposure to the COVID-19 virus
- Utilized forensic evidence to rebut allegations of criminal harassment resulting in prosecutor dismissing the criminal case
- Obtained probationary sentence for client charged with participating in international bribery scheme
- Resolved District Attorney's Office investigation of accounting professional with no criminal charges brought against client
- Member of defense team that achieved jury acquittal of business executive charged with arson and insurance fraud
- Resolved law enforcement investigation of higher education official with no criminal charges brought against client
College and University Investigations
- Conducted an internal investigation into allegations of financial fraud on behalf of the Board of Trustees of a university
- Represented a client in connection with an investigation of suspected misconduct within a university athletics department
- Successfully represented college student in parallel criminal and Title IX matters
- Resolved investigation involving allegations of serious student misconduct with educational institution permitting client to graduate
Professional Misconduct and Licensure Issues
- Obtained dismissal of criminal charges against medical and financial professionals where convictions could have had negative consequences on professional licenses
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. DiStefano was an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General of Massachusetts, where he prosecuted multi-jurisdictional criminal enterprises involving narcotics, firearms and human trafficking. He also conducted extensive white collar criminal investigations.
Before moving to the Office of Attorney General, Mr. DiStefano was an Assistant District Attorney in the Office of the Suffolk County District Attorney, where he conducted more than 30 jury trials. As a Gang Unit Prosecutor, he was responsible for all aspects of prosecution, including grand jury investigations, charging decisions, suppression motions, pre-trial motions, plea bargaining, and search warrant review. He also served as a Safe Neighbor Initiative Prosecutor and prosecuted gang members in the Mattapan area of Boston for violent felonies.
