Monica D. Cliatt

Over the past 25 years of her career, Monica has taught criminal law and trial advocacy, supervised a civil law school clinic, served as the First Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Western District of Virginia, and served as a judicial law clerk.

During her time as a county and Federal Public Defender, Monica defended a wide array of cases, including a variety of frauds such as wire and bank fraud, bankruptcy, mortgage and government loans. She has handled false reporting, theft of government property, counterfeiting, money laundering, public corruption, embezzlement, extortion, RICO charges, environmental crime, illegal immigration, illegal trafficking, and terrorism.

She has appeared before district court judges and submitted briefs to the Third and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

• Conducted internal investigations for corporate clients.
• Terrorism: Successfully obtained release of accused client.
• False statements: Obtained declination of prosecution following investigation of false statements to government agencies.
• Economic Injury Disaster Loans, Paycheck Protection Program and Conspiracy: Successfully defended against prosecution seeking incarceration and monetary judgment in excess of $200,000. U.S. v. Ziglar, et al., Case No. 4:21-CR-22 (W.D. Va. 2022) Resolved by non-prosecution agreement.
• Theft of government property: Successful litigation of a motion to suppress evidence that resulted in a negotiated sentence for time-served.
• Bank fraud: Successfully navigated and strategized so that charges were ultimately dismissed. U.S. v. Ioana-Cristina Pavel, No. 7:19-CR-94 (W.D. Va. 2021).
• Tax fraud: Successfully negotiated a reduced sentence.

Education

Widener University Commonwealth Law School, J.D.

Admissions

Virginia

Pennsylvania

• Federal Bar Association
• National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Roanoke Bar Association
• Women's White Collar Defense Association