According to  KFDM the investigation leading up to the arrests included cooperation between several agencies including the DEA, ICE, Houston Police, Galveston Police, Texas Rangers, Department of Public Safety, and Sheriff’s Departments in Jefferson, Chambers, and Orange county. Although all 28 will be facing federal charges, these cases could have just as easily been filed in state court.

The ring involved distribution of meth and cocaine. According to the Houston Chronicle, the parties were distributing the drugs without discrimination—to urban areas and suburban communities alike. “It’s like they were delivering pizzas” said DEA agent Bill Furay.

The most unusual aspect of the case is said to be the diversity within it. It’s pretty common to see drug rings stay pretty close to one ethnic or racial background. This group, however, crossed racial lines and language barriers alike.

The group was said to include Mexican-Americans, African-Americans, white Americans, Mexicans, Hondurans, and one each Pakistani and Israeli citizens. Not all are here legally, however, and will face deportation after resolution of their criminal charges.

Society often thinks of drug dealers as the down trodden members of society, existing in dark alleys and on corners in the roughest neighborhoods. Often, though they are reluctant to admit it, people pin these stereotypes on ethnic minorities. Stories like this show just how diverse criminal behavior is.

It doesn’t matter where you live, where you were born, or what color your skin is—you too could be involved in serious drug crimes.

Facing charges like distribution of a controlled substance can be life-changing and seriously stressful. You can go to prison for two years for distributing less than a single gram of cocaine.  Three grams and you can face up to 20 years. With these kinds of penalties it makes no sense to go it alone.

If you are facing charges of manufacturing or distributing a controlled substance, please contact us for help. Let’s discuss the evidence they have against you and how we can defend you against the charges.

As mentioned on the widely read blog andrewsullivan.com, a woman notes that her son was busted for possession of marijuana in Houston. At the time, the sentence (no jail time, probation) may have seemed like no big deal. But at some later point, her son was rejected for a job at WalMart due to the criminal conviction.

With online background checks costing next to nothing, and becoming a routing business practice for employers, landlords, volunteer organizations, or anyone else, criminal records are easy to find.

Technically, all criminal records are public records, and it is perfectly plausible that your name and criminal charge could show up in a google search, if not now, than sometime in the future.

Of course, not all criminal charges can be beaten, even by the best criminal defense lawyers. But many can. It is absolutely worth looking into it, and exploring every possible option to avoid a criminal charge.

If a lawyer tells you that for a fee of a couple thousand dollars, you have a 50/50 chance of not living the rest of your life as a convicted criminal, it is something you should seriously consider.

Especially for a young person, with a bright future ahead. The consequences of any conviction on a permanent record could end up being treated even more harshly in the future.

But the only time you can do anything about it is before agreeing to plead guilty in criminal court.

According to the Dallas Morning News, five pharmacy technicians and one supervising pharmacist lost their jobs in connection with prescription drug theft. Many of them are also faced charges of being involved in organized crime.

At least 370,000 tablets of various prescription drugs were unaccounted for at various branches of Parkland over a specific period of time in 2007. These drugs include Hydrocodone and Valium among others. The arrested technicians reportedly admit to stealing the drugs from their employer and selling them to street dealers.

Some are saying the entire investigation was mishandled because of the death of the lead investigator. The case sat in limbo for some years. The terminated pharmacist states “The Parkland police mishandled the whole thing.”

Despite his firing, this pharmacist did not face any charges and currently works for another pharmacy location.

More than likely, if we were discussing 370,000 units of heroin the case would have never fallen through the cracks. Despite growing problems with prescription drug abuse, cases involving it are often swept under the rug, whether intentionally or not.

However, being criminally charged with a prescription drug offense is no light matter. Most prescription drugs are considered a Penalty Group 3 substance with serious felony charges even just for possession. If you are caught with these drugs and you don’t have a legitimate prescription, you can face charges.

These substances are also becoming the drugs of choice for many teens. More than adults, teens minimize the dangers of prescription drugs, believing that they are somehow safer than common street drugs.

Whether you are facing charges of possession or if your child has been caught with prescription drugs, I can help. Contact me to discuss your case and to receive some free legal advice.

This type of charge, possessing more than 4 ounces but less than 2 pounds of pot would bring the average defendant a potential 180 days to 2 years, as a state jail felony. This particular defendant, however, had priors and he was caught with the marijuana in a “drug free zone.”

The “drug free zone” was because he was found in possession within 1,000 feet of a daycare. The man reportedly had a joint in his mouth, some marijuana in his pocket, and some more in his vehicle. While this editorial in the Dallas Morning News states his actions weren’t very smart, people are arguing if they called for over 3 decades in prison.

The fact is: if you have a criminal history, your sentence will likely be harsher than someone who hasn’t ever run afoul of the law. As a matter of fact, people caught in possession of marijuana on a first offense often get a second chance.

This Tyler man had two felonies in his past, both convictions from the 1980s. No one is suggesting that he was a saint, merely that a 35 year sentence is much more than many violent assaults get. In this case, the prosecution actually asked the jury for a 99 year sentence according to the local Tyler Morning Telegraph.

Regardless of how many times you have been in front of the court, it never gets easy. Because your criminal history grows with each appearance, it may get harder and harder. Whether this is your first case or your fourth, you have every right to be nervous.

There are many factors that go into determining your potential sentence and the law governing your offense is only one. If you are facing charges like possession of marijuana, delivery, or even weapons charges, I may be able to help make sense of it all.

Contact me today for a consultation on your case.

In this report from the Dallas Morning News, it has become apparent that drug distribution and electricity theft are often connected. Paying less than $100 for an illegal hookup can save a household thousands of dollars but can also be a red flag to police that something more serious is going on in a home.

Sergeant Bill Griffith of the Dallas P.D. states “Almost every drug house we go to, the electric box has been tampered with and they’re stealing electricity.”

The Dallas News report reveals that in the United States the cost of electricity theft is an estimated $6 billion annually. This is a clear sign that utility theft is more common than many people think.

Utility theft doesn’t get the same media coverage as drug sales, for instance, so this connection between drug homes and electricity theft is bringing the common crime to light.

When the police find a home with illegal utilities hooked up, that can be one piece that allows them to get a warrant into the home. Once inside, they have been known to find evidence of drug sales and usage. In a home recently searched, however, all they found was evidence of recent meth use.

Certainly not all utility thefts are connected to drug sales and not all recreational or serious drug users steal electricity. It is, however, sometimes connected and definitely a connection that the police are aware of.

Depending on the circumstances of the case and the potential for damaged city property, theft of electricity or other utilities could be charged as criminal mischief or theft. With either of these criminal charges, the classification of the charge depends on the value of the theft and the damage to property. Even stolen cable can result in felony charges.

Being arrested for something like utilities theft can be embarrassing and quite stressful. Not many people consider the potential consequences when they decide to try and get over on the utility companies.

When facing these types of charges in the Texas criminal courts, a defense attorney with local experience can prove valuable. Contact me today to tell me about your case. I would love the opportunity to assist you in getting the best possible results in court.

Starting immediately, the Harris County District Attorney will no longer consider possession of a crack pipe containing residue as a State Felony. Now, the offense is ticketable and classified as a Class C misdemeanor.

In a move that has backing from defense attorneys, the new procedure isn’t making everyone happy. According to the Houston Chronicle, President of the Houston Police Officer’s Union Gary Blankinship states “A crack pipe is not used for anything but smoking crack by a crack head. Crack heads, by and large, are also thieved and burglars…” He states that the change makes it difficult for police officers making cases against thieves.

Blankinship’s remarks are interesting though lack some basic legal foundation. The bottom line is you cannot punish a thief for stealing unless you have evidence that a theft has been committed. Stating you can somehow get thieves and burglars off the street by punishing people found with less than one-hundredth of a gram of crack cocaine simply doesn’t make sense.

This new change allows the legal system to focus on crimes that truly impact the community. Not to imply addiction doesn’t have an impact but when valuable court time and states resources are used to punish fairly minor, non violent crime, it takes the attention away from the offenses that need greater focus.

Now, if you are caught with a crack pipe or device for smoking pipe and it has a small residue, you will face a maximum fine of $500. Prior to the change you could face up to 2 years in prison and $10,000 in fines for what is called a state felony charge.

The small residue we are speaking about here must be less than one-hundredth of a gram. To put that in perspective, the Chronicle states that this amount is relatively the same weight as a half a grain of rice.

If you are facing drug charges in this area, you know first hand how police will seek to assist the DA in building a case against you. This is exactly why you need an advocate looking out for your rights.

If you need assistance in fighting the criminal charges against you, I can help. Contact me to discuss the specifics of your drug case and together we can formulate a plan.

As reported in the Dallas Morning News is the  case of Rosalio Reta and his teen friends who were recruited as early as age 13 to be hitmen for the violent Mexican drug cartel,  the Zetas.

Officials know that the cartels reach into stateside gangs for assistance on this side of the border and urge parents, particularly in border communities, to be aware of the possibility of them reaching directly into the schools.

While becoming a teen hitman for a Mexican drug cartel isn’t very likely, it is possible. Even more possible, however, are Texas teens getting involved in the local drug trade or even simply drug use.

For a child, getting involved in drugs can be a gateway towards a life of crime and unhappiness. If caught early your child may be getting a reality check within the Texas juvenile court system. Hopefully, if this is the case, you have an attorney experienced in juvenile matters looking out for the best interest of your child.

In many juvenile cases I see the parents go through a stage of denial thinking their child is not capable of the things they are accused of. Soon after they realize that yes, their child probably did make some mistakes but wonder how they can right the wrongs and ensure their son or daughter doesn’t get caught up in the system and the cycle that so often repeats itself.

Having a group of concerned adults on their side, a juvenile can make a change for the better. Whether your child is accused of a drug charge or simple status violations, I can help.

No one wants to see their children get into trouble. However, once your child is exposed to the system, the important thing is seeing that it works for their benefit, not their demise.

Contact me today to discuss the case against your juvenile. I can explain to you how the juvenile court system works here in Texas and the potential outcomes we may see in your child’s case.

La Familia is a relatively recently developed Mexican gang. They are called one of the largest, however, and may be responsible for the majority of methamphetamine coming into the country. Across the country, over 300 arrests were made and 1/3 of those were in Texas, according to the Dallas Morning News.

The gang isn’t like many other Mexican drug operations as it is said to operate on some kind of moral compass, choosing to keep women and children out of the violence. In addition, the group reportedly will not sell meth to Mexicans, out of respect and concern for their culture.

However, that doesn’t make them saints. According to several news sources, they have exhibited a large amount of violence since their presence in the States has grown and even commit deprived acts like decapitations to serve as punishments and warnings against those who threaten their empire.

Although they do deal in marijuana, they are considered one of the largest meth contributors in this country. Methamphetamines are cheap, man-made stimulants that have gained, lost, and regained popularity in the United States.

Tighter restrictions on the sale of ingredients has made it difficult for Americans to continue making meth on a large scale basis, allowing the Mexican drug lords an opening in the market.

Under Texas law, methamphetamines are part of the most serious group of controlled substances. Other drugs in these “Group 1” substances include cocaine and heroin, all of which are highly addictive and dangerous.

Being classified with these drugs means that people caught in possession of meth will face the harshest possible penalties. The charge you face for a drug crime depends on how much of the drug you have in your possession and your intentions (use, distribute, etc.).

Even just a possession charge can land you several years in prison with meth. If you are accused of selling or attempting to sell the drugs, the punishment will be much higher.

When facing charges like possession of methamphetamines, it can be difficult to know what to do. If you need help with your case, I can provide it. If you need drug treatment, we may be able to work with the prosecution to see that you get that type of help.

As your defense attorney, it would be my job to work for you. Call me today and let me know what you want out of your case. I will do my best to ensure you leave court with the best results possible.

Details are just now emerging in the cases against a group, many of them family members, accused of operating a drug ring responsible for smuggling Mexican marijuana into Houston and American guns into Mexico.

This article from the Houston Chronicle details that the group of 26 included normal people: a firefighter, truck driver, mason, construction worker, a pregnant mom, and an auto mechanic. One of those facing charges was only 2 years old when the group got its start.

All of those involved are now facing federal charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics and could each face sentences of life in prison for their acts.

What has caught the attention of the press and people in Houston about this case is the normalcy that each of these people portrayed. They seemed, by all accounts, to be everyday Americans.  However, the group including 4 Jimenez brothers and 2 Acevedo brothers were anything but.

Although federal charges are different than those handled by the state, drug trafficking and distribution charges at the state level are common as well. And despite the prevailing stereotypes, you don’t have to be a thug or unkempt ruffian to face drug charges.

Everyday someone faces drug charges in our courts. Often those people are normal, just like you and I. The differences lurk beneath the surface.

Although you may be facing drug charges, I know you are no different from the rest of us. Perhaps you got involved to provide an income to your family or maybe you are battling addiction yourself and need help.

Whatever got you into this mess, I want to help get you out. Call me today for a consultation on your drug charges and let me give you some free legal advice.

According to WFAA, things like better lighting, visibility, security fences, and community watch meetings can all improve the safety of a neighborhood. In addition, community managers are being asked to tighten up their background checks and rental policies, being more cautious of who they are renting to.

High crime apartment complexes are often havens for drug and alcohol related crimes. When people feel like no one is watching and the opportunity for criminal activity exists, the likelihood of it actually happening is far more prevalent.

Apartment complexes in poorer neighborhoods where security has waned can quickly become hotbeds of criminal activities. It is the responsibility of the community managers, the residents, and law enforcement to work together to bring control back.

That seems to be the case here in Dallas where police say they are working with those communities to develop solutions to their criminal problems.

Charges like criminal mischief, drug possession, and even prostitution are common in these 31 apartment complexes. As these criminal incidences start to pop up they must be dealt with quickly before a community deteriorates faster than it can be recovered.

Oftentimes the people charged with criminal offenses in these neighborhoods aren’t given the help they need when involved in the court system. Some people charged with drug offenses actually do want help and want to take responsibility for their actions.

If you are facing criminal charges you need an aggressive attorney to act as your advocate, looking out for your best interests in court and beyond. Call me so we can talk about your charges today and what can be done to ensure you get positive results when it’s your time to go before the judge and when it’s time to return to the community.