Rhett DeHart

Intersection of Business & Government, Crisis Management, White-Collar Criminal Defense

Rhett DeHart is a Chambers-ranked litigator who represents companies and individuals in white-collar criminal and civil actions involving healthcare fraud, the False Claims Act, customs and import fraud, bank fraud, environmental crimes, and internal investigations. He brings to every client and case a 20-year career as a federal prosecutor. Rhett’s experience with the Justice Department and federal and state law enforcement agencies provides his clients – whether companies or individuals – with unique advantages in defending criminal, civil, and administrative actions.

Prior to private law practice, Rhett served as Acting United States Attorney in South Carolina, capping a 20-year career as a federal prosecutor. As Acting U.S. Attorney, Rhett successfully oversaw numerous high-profile criminal and civil cases, including an $11 billion securities fraud case involving the state’s largest utility company, a $140 million False Claims Act suit involving healthcare providers, and a $30 million investment fraud case involving a coastal real estate development. He also served as First Assistant United States Attorney and Assistant United States Attorney and served as the liaison between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Federal Judiciary in South Carolina.

Having prosecuted and defended hundreds of federal cases, Rhett is an experienced and respected litigator. He has tried approximately 30 cases to verdict, authored more than 40 appellate briefs, and argued nine cases before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. Rhett has worked closely with every major federal and state law enforcement agency, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Health and Human Services (HHS-OIG), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Customs Service (ICE), and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

South Carolina Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, Charleston County Bar Association