Paulette M. Pagán
Paulette M. Pagán is a career criminal defense attorney. With an unwavering dedication to her clients and an extensive background in handling a wide range of criminal matters, Paulette consistently achieves remarkable results for her clients.
As a tenacious criminal defense attorney, Paulette has represented clients facing a myriad of charges, from violent offenses to highly complex white-collar crimes. She takes great pride in establishing effective lines of communication with her clients, recognizing the personal toll and stress associated with facing criminal charges.
Having successfully tried dozens of jury trials and securing favorable outcomes for her clients, she has fearlessly defended clients facing charges such as murder, bribery, conspiracy, major fraud, sex crimes, wire fraud, and gun-related charges, among others. She has represented a vast range of individuals from CEOs charged with major fraud and bribery to alleged leaders of international drug trafficking organizations.
Paulette is well-versed in handling high-profile cases and has been featured in prominent media outlets like The Washington Post, MSNBC, Telemundo, Bloomberg Law, and more.
She has extensive experience in cryptocurrency-related cases, including defending clients against federal indictments and allegations of fraud. Notably, she has represented an individual charged in a case involving over $240 million in cryptocurrency fraud.
Her expertise also extends to international matters, including extradition cases. She frequently collaborates with attorneys overseas to navigate client representation in the United States. Paulette is of Puerto Rican descent and seamlessly works with clients in both Spanish and English. As a fluent Spanish speaker, she leverages her language skills to communicate effectively with clients across borders, ensuring they receive the highest quality defense.
An example of her fearlessness came when her client was facing life imprisonment on multiple charges and, through her zealous and passionate representation, her client was acquitted of all charges. In addition, Paulette is no stranger to navigating the complexities of white-collar criminal jury trials in the United States Federal Court system. In one particularly complex white-collar major fraud jury trial, she meticulously reviewed over 3.5 million documents and expertly tackled the intricate web of government contracting regulation.
Before establishing herself in Washington, D.C., Paulette dedicated years of her career to serving the indigent community of St. Louis County, Missouri, as a Public Defender. Paulette’s expertise and commitment were instrumental in achieving the highest number of dismissed felony cases within a single year in her last year of serving.
Paulette frequently shares her expertise as a guest lecturer at American University Washington College of Law and the University of Missouri St. Louis, as well as serving as a guest trial advocacy judge for local undergraduate and law schools. Her involvement in numerous bar associations, including the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Women’s White Collar Defense Association, the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia, and the Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia, further demonstrates her commitment to the legal community and her clients.
District of Columbia
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
Maryland
United States District Court for the District of Maryland
Missouri
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri
Virginia
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
