After a grand jury indicts someone, it returns the indictment to the court and the criminal case begins. If the suspect (now-defendant) isn't already in custody (jail), the defendant may be arrested or summoned to appear before the court for preliminary hearings.

How serious is an indictment?

A federal criminal indictment is a serious matter, because it means that the criminal investigation has progressed to a point where the prosecutor now believes that he or she has enough evidence to convict.

What happens if I get indicted?

When a person is indicted, they are given formal notice that it is believed that they committed a crime. ... The grand jury listens to the prosecutor and witnesses, and then votes in secret on whether they believe that enough evidence exists to charge the person with a crime.