According to 18 U.S.C. § 1510: US Code – Section 1510, those who willingly and knowingly obstruct or delay a criminal investigation can face serious fines and a maximum of five years in prison. Furthermore, under 18 U.S.C. § 1512, anyone who kills or attempts to kill another person with the intention of preventing them from testifying in court can be found guilty of tampering and face up to 30 years in prison.

Tampering can also include using or threatening physical force against a witness to delay or prevent their testimony. Retaliation against witnesses and informants with physical harm is similarly prohibited, carrying up to 20 years in prison upon conviction. While penalties for this type of offense will vary depending on the specific circumstances, all obstruction charges are extremely serious and must be handled by a skilled attorney to maximize one’s chances of securing a desirable outcome.