Robert Foley

Biography

I am an experienced criminal defense trial attorney in Southwest Florida. My office, Foley & Wilson is an established federal and state criminal law practice located in Fort Myers & Naples Florida. In addition, I practice regularly in the Federal Criminal Courts.

I served 20 years as an FBI Special Agent including as the Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office and as an Attorney in the FBI’s Office of General Counsel, Investigative Law Unit. In addition, I am a former State prosecutor. My experience provides you with a unique and unmatched combination of skills for your Criminal Defense. I am also a fluent Spanish speaker.

My Background:

I enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves as an infantryman when I was 17, and while serving, I studied Sociology and Criminal Justice at Rhode Island College. I became a commissioned officer while in the Reserves, and after graduating with a Bachelor in Arts in 1986, I served on active duty with the Army. My first stop was to Flight School in Fort Rucker, Alabama. I graduated Flight School in 1987 and was assigned to fly the (then) border between East and West Germany. I served in West Germany for three years, and upon being promoted to Captain, I was reassigned back to Fort Rucker as an Instructor Pilot where I taught prospective aviators basic and advanced combat flying skills and night and night vision goggle emergency flying procedures. During my time in the Army I was an Aviator, Paratrooper and I was Air Assault qualified. I was awarded an Overseas Service Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal (Persian Gulf), two Army Commendation Medals, and a Meritorious Service Medal. I completed my military service in 1992.

In 1990, I received a Master of Science in Business Administration from Boston University. In 1992, I began my legal studies at New England Law/Boston. I graduated from law school and became a member of the Massachusetts Bar in 1995.

In 1996 I became an FBI Special Agent Attorney. After graduating from the FBI Academy, I served in Bridgeport, Connecticut; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tucson and Yuma, Arizona; Louisville, Kentucky; Detroit, Michigan; Washington D.C. and Fort Myers, Florida. During my 20-year career with the FBI, I investigated drug trafficking organizations, violent gangs, white collar criminals, corrupt public officials and terrorists. I served in a variety of investigative and management positions including as an attorney in the FBI’s Office of General Counsel, Special Agent in Charge at the Washington Field Office and Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Field Office. While the Special Agent in Charge of the Detroit Office, an assignment I consider the highlight of my career, I led over 600 Special Agents, Intelligence Analysts, Task Force Officers and support staff in the conduct of all FBI counterterrorism, counterintelligence, cyber, and criminal investigations within the State of Michigan. I was responsible as Chief Executive and final authority for all operational, legal, compliance, HR, audit, financial, facilities and logistical matters for the Detroit headquarters’ field office and its 11 sub-offices.

As an FBI Special Agent, I have been the case agent on numerous investigations involving violent gangs, drug trafficking, police corruption and complex white-collar cases. In Bridgeport Connecticut, I led a multi- jurisdictional Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) in a long-term wire-tap case resulting in the federal conviction of 21 drug traffickers. In San Juan, Puerto Rico I was a case agent on a year-long police corruption undercover investigation entitled “Operacion Honor Perdido” (Operation Lost Honor) resulting in the federal conviction of 29 police officers for cocaine trafficking. As the Special Agent in Charge in Detroit, I supervised high profile corruption cases including a case against the Mayor of Detroit and a case against a Michigan Supreme Court Justice. Both were convicted. In Fort Myers, Florida, I teamed-up with the Commodities and Futures Trade Commission and targeted a wealth management company for securities violations. The principal of that company was convicted of fraud and received a 6 year federal sentence.

In addition, while with the FBI, I held a number of collateral positions including as a police instructor, teaching corruption investigative techniques in Budapest and Bangkok; I was a member of the FBI SWAT Team; I served as an FBI firearms instructor; and, I was an FBI fixed-wing surveillance pilot and tactical helicopter pilot. During my career, I utilized virtually all of the sophisticated investigative techniques available, including infiltrating informants, high risk search warrants, drug-buys and reverses, wire-taps, under-cover operations, and complex forensic accounting. In my capacity as an Special Agent Attorney and legal advisor, I have served on the FBI Headquarters Criminal Undercover Operations Committee, the FBI’s Shooting Review Group, FBI Compliance Inspection Teams and I served as legal counsel to the FBI Headquarters Asset and Informant Unit. I proudly retired from the FBI in 2016.

As an FBI Special Agent Attorney for 20 years, I learned how to piece together complex criminal cases. I presented a countless number of these cases to Federal Prosecutors and 100% of the cases indicted resulted in a conviction. I bring this skill to your defense. I know how complex criminal investigations are built. I know how to reverse engineer these cases. I know where to look, what to focus on, common issues and problems, and how to identify flaws, weaknesses and holes. As a former State Prosecutor, I was in a Court room almost every day. From that experience, I developed the trial skills only a former prosecutor can obtain. I had an average case load of about 400 cases. Because I know how cases are tried, I know how they are defended. My experience as an FBI Agent and as an Assistant State Attorney provides me, as your defense attorney, with a combination of skills you will not find anywhere else. I am an experienced criminal defense trial attorney in Southwest Florida. My office, the Foley & Wilson, P.A., is an established criminal practice located in Fort Myers Florida. From that office, I handle Lee County, Florida Criminal Defense cases.

Education

• New England Law, Boston, Massachusetts
  • Juris Doctor – 1995
• Boston University
  • M.B.A., Master of Business Administration – 1990
• Rhode Island College
  • B.A., Bachelor of Arts – 1986
  • Major: Sociology
  • Major: Criminal Justice

Bar Admissions

• Massachusetts
• Florida
• U.S. District Court Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court for the District of Colombia
• United States Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida

Professional Associations

• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Southwest Florida Federal Court Bar Association
• Lee County Bar Association
• FBI Agents Association

Languages

• English
• Spanish