What is a sealed indictment?

A sealed indictment is an indictment that is kept secret until the defendant is arrested or appears in court. This is done to prevent the defendant from fleeing or tampering with evidence before they can be taken into custody. Sealed indictments are often used in cases involving high-profile or dangerous individuals, and they are typically only used when authorities believe that making the indictment public could jeopardize the investigation or put individuals at risk. Once the defendant has been arrested or appears in court, the sealed indictment is typically unsealed and made public.