Raphael Matthew Scheetz

Raphael (Ray) Scheetz founded the Law Offices of Raphael M. Scheetz in 1994, which focuses on the practice of criminal defense and immigration cases.

He was one of the first lawyers in Iowa who specialized in the practice of immigration law. He has represented hundreds of American citizens and immigrants who have matters with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The cases included American citizens who marry or intend to marry a person living in a foreign country or who want to petition for their children, parents, or brothers or sisters that live outside of the United States.

Mr. Scheetz has successfully navigated his clients through the immigration process before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, Immigration Court, and Board of Immigration Appeals.

Mr. Scheetz has also successfully represented hundreds of persons accused of Federal and State criminal offenses. He has been lead defense counsel in approximately ninety jury trials in State and Federal court and reached “not guilty” verdict for clients accused of white collar felonies, such as bank fraud, infringement of copyrights, bankruptcy fraud, wire fraud, offenses involving internet pharmacy violations, to name a few.

Mr. Scheetz has also represented persons accused of crimes such as drug possession, manufacture and/or distribution, domestic assault, firearm offenses, arson, kidnapping, first degree murder, and theft, which you can read about on our success stories page.

Areas of Practice

• Immigration and Naturalization Law
• Criminal Defense Law

Why the merging of criminal defense and immigration law is beneficial to the client?

Tens of thousands of people are deported every year from the US who have been convicted of crimes — people that are living legally in the United States, have US citizen spouses and children, and are deported for minor crimes such as marijuana possession or possession of a drug pipe.

Persons who have been arrested and are not US citizens need a lawyer who has knowledge of both criminal defense and immigration law. Mr. Scheetz can advise you the best ways to avoid deportation if you are charged with a crime, no matter how minor or serious. Mr. Scheetz can fight for you in criminal court to avoid a conviction, or structure a plea agreement that will give you the best opportunity to avoid deportation and remain in the United States with your loved ones.

Bar Admissions

• Licensed to practice in Iowa and Wisconsin state courts;
• the Immigration Courts across the United States;
• the Federal District Courts for the Northern District of Iowa, the Southern District of Iowa, and the Central District of Illinois;
• United States Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Eighth Circuits.

Education

• Creighton University Law, Omaha, Nebraska
  • Graduated cum laude
• Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
  • B.A., Economics & Political Science
  • Graduated with honors in the study of economics

Professional Associations and Memberships

Mr. Scheetz is a member of the American Bar Association, the Iowa State Bar Association, the Linn County Bar Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and he serves as the current Vice President of the Historical Society of the Federal Court for the Northern District of Iowa.

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