Fed. R. Crim. P. 4

(a) Issuance. If the complaint or one or more affidavits filed

with the complaint establish probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed and that the defendant committed it,

the judge must issue an arrest warrant to an officer authorized to

execute it. At the request of an attorney for the government, the

judge must issue a summons, instead of a warrant, to a person authorized to serve it. A judge may issue more than one warrant or

summons on the same complaint. If an individual defendant fails

to appear in response to a summons, a judge may, and upon request of an attorney for the government must, issue a warrant. If

an organizational defendant fails to appear in response to a summons, a judge may take any action authorized by United States

law.

(b) Form.

(1) Warrant. A warrant must:

(A) contain the defendant’s name or, if it is unknown, a

name or description by which the defendant can be identified with reasonable certainty;

(B) describe the offense charged in the complaint;

(C) command that the defendant be arrested and brought

without unnecessary delay before a magistrate judge or, if

none is reasonably available, before a state or local judicial officer; and

(D) be signed by a judge.

(2) Summons. A summons must be in the same form as a warrant except that it must require the defendant to appear before a magistrate judge at a stated time and place.

(c) Execution or Service, and Return.

(1) By Whom. Only a marshal or other authorized officer may

execute a warrant. Any person authorized to serve a summons

in a federal civil action may serve a summons.

(2) Location. A warrant may be executed, or a summons

served, within the jurisdiction of the United States or anywhere else a federal statute authorizes an arrest. A summons

to an organization under Rule 4(c)(3)(D) may also be served at

a place not within a judicial district of the United States.

(3) Manner.

(A) A warrant is executed by arresting the defendant.

Upon arrest, an officer possessing the original or a duplicate original warrant must show it to the defendant. If the

officer does not possess the warrant, the officer must inform the defendant of the warrant’s existence and of the

offense charged and, at the defendant’s request, must show

the original or a duplicate original warrant to the defendant as soon as possible.

(B) A summons is served on an individual defendant:

(i) by delivering a copy to the defendant personally;

or

(ii) by leaving a copy at the defendant’s residence or

usual place of abode with a person of suitable age and

discretion residing at that location and by mailing a

copy to the defendant’s last known address.

4 Rule 4.1 FEDERAL RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

(C) A summons is served on an organization in a judicial

district of the United States by delivering a copy to an officer, to a managing or general agent, or to another agent

appointed or legally authorized to receive service of process. If the agent is one authorized by statute and the statute so requires, a copy must also be mailed to the organization.

(D) A summons is served on an organization not within

a judicial district of the United States:

(i) by delivering a copy, in a manner authorized by

the foreign jurisdiction’s law, to an officer, to a managing or general agent, or to an agent appointed or legally authorized to receive service of process; or

(ii) by any other means that gives notice, including

one that is:

(a) stipulated by the parties;

(b) undertaken by a foreign authority in response

to a letter rogatory, a letter of request, or a request submitted under an applicable international

agreement; or

(c) permitted by an applicable international

agreement.

(4) Return.

(A) After executing a warrant, the officer must return it

to the judge before whom the defendant is brought in accordance with Rule 5. The officer may do so by reliable

electronic means. At the request of an attorney for the

government, an unexecuted warrant must be brought back

to and canceled by a magistrate judge or, if none is reasonably available, by a state or local judicial officer.

(B) The person to whom a summons was delivered for

service must return it on or before the return day.

(C) At the request of an attorney for the government, a

judge may deliver an unexecuted warrant, an unserved

summons, or a copy of the warrant or summons to the

marshal or other authorized person for execution or service.

(d) Warrant by Telephone or Other Reliable Electronic Means. In

accordance with Rule 4.1, a magistrate judge may issue a warrant

or summons based on information communicated by telephone or

other reliable electronic means.

(As amended Feb. 28, 1966, eff. July 1, 1966; Apr. 24, 1972, eff. Oct.

1, 1972; Apr. 22, 1974, eff. Dec. 1, 1975; Pub. L. 94–64, § 3(1)–(3), July

31, 1975, 89 Stat. 370, eff. Dec. 1, 1975; Mar. 9, 1987, eff. Aug. 1, 1987;

Apr. 22, 1993, eff. Dec. 1, 1993; Apr. 29, 2002, eff. Dec. 1, 2002; Apr.

26, 2011, eff. Dec. 1, 2011; Apr. 28, 2016, eff. Dec. 1, 2016.)