John T Floyd is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been rated as a top lawyer practicing criminal law by Thomson Reuters in their prestigious list of Super Lawyers. Mr. Floyd represents individuals and businesses charged with serious crimes before the state and federal courts in Corpus Christi, Texas. Mr. Floyd Travels to State Courts Throughout Texas and Federal Courts Nationwide. Principal Office located at 4900 Woodway Dr., Houston, Texas 77056. All other locations by appointment only.
Corpus Christi is the county seat of Nueces County. The U.S. Federal District Courts in the Corpus Christi Division have jurisdiction over federal criminal cases that partly occur in Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces and San Patricio counties.
The city’s official website touts it as a clean city with pristine beaches and wonderful water.
The Port of Corpus Christi is the sixth largest port in the United States. The city is also the home to two U.S. Naval installations, several auxiliary airfields, and the Padre Island National Seashore.
But, Corpus Christ, with its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico and easy access to several interstate highways connecting Mexico to cities across the United States, also has one of the highest violent crime rates in the nation.
Corpus Christi and the Victoria Division Offices are part of the Southern District of Texas. The criminal prosecution priorities of these offices are:
Kenneth Cusick is the Assistant United States Attorney in charge of the Corpus Christi/Victoria offices. He is a vigorous prosecutor. He was part of the prosecutorial team that convicted Citgo Petroleum Corporation for two felony violations of the Clean Air Act in 2013. The company was convicted of operating oil/water separation tanks without required covers for ten years that allegedly polluted the air and resulted in the death of migratory birds. In February 2014, U.S. District Court Judge John D. Rainey imposed maximum statutory fines of more than $2 million in the case.
The FBI has a Violent Crimes Task Force in Corpus Christi that works closely with the AUSA’s office in the city.
The U.S. Attorney’s office also works closely with the DEA, ATF, and the IRS in the Southern District’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force/Narcotics section in long-term, complex investigations aimed at dismantling drug trafficking cartels and money laundering organizations.
These investigations generally lead to other cases involving firearms trafficking and in some cases public corruption associated with the enormous profits of the drug distribution business. That’s because law enforcement agencies, with the assistance the U.S. Attorney’s Office, use the latest technologies available to combat drug cartels: Title III wiretaps, GPS trackers, locators, and other electronic surveillance devices. The Corpus Christi federal courts also have jurisdiction over criminal acts detected at the U.S. Border Patrol Checkpoints at Sarita and Falfurrias, Texas, which are often the starting points of larger interstate drug trafficking and immigrant smuggling operations.
The Corpus Christi Police Department works closely with the FBI, ICE and federal prosecutors in child exploitation cases and has made prosecution of child pornography and online solicitation of minors cases a top priority. The federal courts in Corpus Christi are known to be extremely tough in sentencing these types of case. The department’s Internet Crimes against Children Task Force assisted in a recent investigation that led to the arrest of a 42-year-old man who posed as a 16-year-old boy to get a 15-year-old Corpus Christi girl to send him sexually explicit photographs. In November 2015, the man was sentenced to 17 years in prison. There is no doubt that the prosecutors and Judges in Corpus Christi are extremely tough on crimes alleging crimes against children.
But all is not well in the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office. Plagued by a constant stream of prosecutorial misconduct charges (withholding evidence in criminal cases), nearly a dozen assistant prosecutors have left the office over the past couple years, claiming better job positions offering higher salaries and better work conditions.
In 2014, 105th District Judge Angelica Hernandez said prosecutors acted in “bad faith” by concealing evidence in a child neglect case; and in 2015, 148th District Judge Guy Williams ruled that prosecutors had delayed in disclosing evidence of jail phone calls to defense attorneys in a capital case.
District Attorney Mark Skurka has denied all allegations that his office operates unethically.
“I think everyone [in my office] knows I expect them to be ethical,” the district attorney has told local media.
Some local attorneys attribute the problems in the DA’s office to a lack of experience rather than prosecutorial deceit and ethical lapses. Regardless of whether it is ethical lapses or inexperience, the Nueces County District Attorney has significant problems when it comes to prosecuting criminal defendants fairly and reasonably.
It is abundantly clear that federal prosecutors in Corpus Christi are very serious about combating crime, especially large drug cases and cases involving crimes against children.
It is equally clear that the Nueces County District Attorney’s Office has serious problems properly and fairly prosecuting criminal cases. This is not a favorable venue in which to be arrested and prosecuted with a crime.
If you or someone you love is arrested or charged with a crime in Corpus Christi, it is vitally important for you to exercise your rights and hire a lawyer who is unafraid to stand up for your rights.
You should contact an experienced Texas federal criminal defense attorney who has a track record of success in cases just like yours.
John T. Floyd has been representing Corpus Christi citizens and businesses for more than 20 years, and securing positive outcomes for them in both state and federal courts. He believes that everyone deserves a strong defense – regardless of the nature of the charges or accusations against them.
Being arrested or charged with serious state or federal criminal offense in Corpus Christi can change the course of your entire life. Some mistakenly believe that felonies are “serious” while misdemeanors no big deal.
That is definitely not the case. Both types of charges can come with potential jail or prison time; both may carry big fines and other penalties; both can do serious damage to the reputation of a business; and both will earn you a criminal record.
There are also many collateral consequences for having been convicted of a criminal offense in Texas.
Employment. Many occupations (such as lawyers, doctors, nurse, etc.) require a license to work. Section 53.021 of the Texas Occupations Code authorize Texas licensing authorities to revoke, suspend, or deny a license to anyone convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.
Education: Any student convicted of the possession or sale of a controlled substance can lose or be denied financial assistance under the Federal Student Loans and Grants program, or the forfeiture of a prepaid scholarship.
Asset forfeiture: Serious drug and white collar convictions can result of forfeiture of cash, vehicles, homes, personal property, and businesses.
Firearm: A conviction for a felony will result in loss of the right to own or possess a firearm or ammunition.
Housing: Federal housing policies permit the exclusion of drug offenders from federally subsidized or funded housing. Most rental applications ask if you’ve ever been convicted of a felony.
Civil rights: A felony conviction results in the loss of the right to vote, run for public office, be appointed to a public office, or serve on a jury.
Because of the wide range of criminal penalties associated with state felony convictions in Texas, any one charged with a criminal offense in Corpus Christi needs an aggressive and experienced criminal defense attorney.
Federal felony convictions can also lead to civil forfeitures that result in the loss of personal property, including cash, homes, vehicles, planes, and other personal belongings
The proceeds from forfeited property go into the coffers of law enforcement agencies, not the government treasury. Thus, the police have an incentive to seize and forfeit as much property as possible, regardless of whether it is actually tied to an offender’s offense-related activity.
Beyond these serious to severe penal consequences, federal felony convictions have significant personal collateral consequences. They can disqualify you for a job in the health care industry, government, private security, law enforcement, many areas of the criminal justice system, and any other job requiring a security clearance.
They can, and most likely will, have adverse impact on your employment prospects with companies that routinely run criminal background checks prior to their decision to hire. They can also have a serious impact on your ability to rent a suitable residence because most property owners run background checks on potential renters, refusing to rent or lease to convicted felons.
Hire a serious criminal lawyer.
John T. Floyd’s relentless pursuit of justice and aggressive defense strategies have helped individuals and businesses alike battle against criminal charges and obtain positive results in cases that others deemed “hopeless.” Sometimes this means getting charges reduced. Other times, it means getting the charges dropped completely. Mr. Floyd believes that his strategy for success begins with taking every case seriously, thoroughly investigating the case and exploring every possible angle to fight the government’s allegations.
Mr. Floyd’s ability to do this stems from his knowledge of criminal law and meticulous instinct for detail. He understands both the law’s complexities and nuances, and understands what it takes to go up against all the resources both state and federal prosecutors use against criminal defendants.
In the state of Texas and across the nation, Mr. Floyd is known as an authority on federal and Texas criminal law. Providing unparalleled legal representation to his clients for over two decades, these legal efforts has won him numerous professional accolades and recognition:
Mr. Floyd does not take the professional respect and acclaim he has achieved for granted. He recognizes that the greatest achievement lies in the successful outcomes he has obtained for his client through the years.
The law is ever changing. Mr. Floyd and his staff pride themselves staying abreast of all these changes in order to best serve his clients.
The John T. Floyd Law Firm is not diverse in its practice. His firm only handles serious state and federal criminal cases. This permits a laser focus on one area of law. The following is a list of practice areas related to criminal law that is firm handles:
Given the high crimes rates in Corpus Christi, law enforcement officials have reacted with a very tough, zero tolerance policy. This can lead to aggressive, and at times unethical, law enforcement investigations that cast a wide net to ensnare as many suspects as possible. Aggressive investigations too often lead to entrapment, faulty search warrants, unlawful dog sniff searches, concealment of exculpatory evidence, and a host of other constitutional violations.
Mr. Floyd understands the value of a forceful pretrial motion strategy to not only discover everything in the prosecution’s files but to fight for a successful outcome and, if necessary, preserve all of his client’s rights for any possible appellate review.
Have other defense lawyers in Corpus Christi left you feeling desperate? Have you heard that your case is “hopeless”?
You will never hear this from John T. Floyd.
There are no hopeless cases. A skilled criminal attorney can usually find a way to either win your case or get a better deal than the one initially offered by the prosecution. In fact, one of the reasons so many people and businesses turn to Mr. Floyd to represent their high-profile cases is due to his knack of turning “losers” into “winners.”
What all of this really means is this: do not give up hope. In the face of tough prosecutors and devastating potential penalties, it can be easy to fall into despair. Do not fall into this trap.
That is why you need John T. Floyd. He will always fight relentlessly to get you the best possible outcome, utilizing both his legal skills in and out of the courtroom.
But you need to act fast.
The earlier Mr. Floyd can start crafting your defense, the better your chances at a positive outcome. You can reach The John T. Floyd Law Firm by calling 713-224-0101, emailing jfloyd@johntfloyd.com, or simply completing our confidential case review form online. Let us be your lifeline.
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