Overview
Robert focuses his practice on white-collar criminal defense, sensitive corporate investigations, regulatory compliance, and complex civil and business litigation. A former federal and state prosecutor, he draws on his extensive government experience and relationships to benefit his clients.
Robert serves as a trusted advisor to corporations, executives, and boards of directors. He represents private equity firms and their portfolio companies, real estate companies and investors, healthcare companies, and transportation and logistics companies of all types. He counsels clients facing federal and state government investigations involving allegations of corruption, economic crimes, fraud, money laundering, and RICO violations. Robert has advised and defended healthcare providers in criminal and civil fraud investigations and on regulatory compliance matters.
Robert also represents clients in high-stakes civil disputes, including commercial and business litigation, fraud-based claims, and matters arising alongside or following government investigations. He regularly conducts internal investigations and helps companies develop corporate compliance programs.
Robert is an accomplished trial lawyer with a distinguished career as a prosecutor in both federal and state courts. As an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, he investigated and prosecuted violations of a variety of federal laws, including domestic and international money laundering, fraud, narcotics, firearms, and RICO offenses. He oversaw 18 federal Title III wiretap investigations that led to the dismantling of complex domestic and international criminal organizations. He tried 11 federal jury trials, each resulting in a favorable verdict for the United States. In 2021, Robert was named Assistant United States Attorney of the Year for the Northern District of Ohio.
Before becoming a federal prosecutor, Robert represented the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as an Assistant District Attorney in Montgomery County for more than five years, where he tried numerous complex criminal cases to verdict. He also has significant appellate experience, having prepared successful briefs before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and the Pennsylvania Superior Court.
Experience
Represented a professional basketball player accused of conspiracy and wire fraud for allegedly attempting to avoid paying child support and taxes for several years. The government claimed that the pro athlete “unlawfully, voluntarily, intentionally and knowingly” conspired to defraud the U.S. by falsely underreporting his income and sought prison time for the athlete. Benesch defended the athlete, securing a probationary period and avoiding prison time for the client.
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Credentials
Education
- Jeffrey S. Moorad Sports Law Journal
- Special Projects Editor, 2012 – 2013; Staff Writer, 2011 – 2012
- “Can We Really Ascribe a Dollar Amount to Interpersonal Communication? How Phonedog v. Kravitz May Decide Who Owns a Twitter Account”, published Fall 2012
Bar & Court Admissions
More
- Member, Federal Bar Association, Northern District of Ohio Chapter
- Member, Bluecoats, Inc.
- Board Member, EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute
- Listed, Ohio Super Lawyers – Rising Stars, White Collar Criminal Defense, 2026
- Assistant United States Attorney of the Year – United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, 2021
- Commendation, “Operation EverStart” – Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele, 2018
- Recognition for Dedication to Duty and Service to the Citizens of Montgomery County – Montgomery County Detective Bureau’s Violent Crime Unit, 2018
- Commendation – Towamencin Township Police Chief Timothy Dickinson, 2017
- Outstanding Prosecutor Award – Pennsylvania Narcotics Officers’ Association, 2016
Related News & Insights
InterConnect Newsletter | Q3 2026
Insights from the Benesch Transportation & Logistics Practice Group.
Crossing Lanes and Catching Fraud: DOJ, DHS and DOT Launch “Crossroads of America” Task Force to Crack Down on Trucking Fraud
On March 16, 2026, President Trump signed Executive Order 14395, establishing the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud (the “Fraud Task Force”). Vice President JD Vance chairs the Fraud Task Force, with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Andrew Ferguson serving as vice chairman.
DOJ’s National Fraud Enforcement Division Issues Corporate Enforcement Directive, Signaling Heightened Scrutiny of Corporate Fraud
DOJ’s new enforcement framework reinforces that corporate fraud investigations will remain a significant enforcement priority, particularly in healthcare, government contracting, tax and international trade.
U.S. Trade Fraud Task Force Surpasses $1 Billion in Recoveries, Signaling Heightened Customs Enforcement
The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a new inter-agency Trade Fraud Task Force (“Task Force”), designed to “aggressively pursue enforcement actions against any parties who seek to evade tariffs and other duties” and those who attempt to import prohibited goods following the DOJ’s identification of trade and customs fraud as a priority for prosecution.