John T Floyd is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been rated as one of the top lawyers practicing criminal law by his inclusion in Thomson Reuters’ prestigious list of SuperLawyers. He has successfully represented businesses and individuals accused of serious crimes in state courts across the State of Texas and federal courts throughout the US. 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.
Waco, Texas is the county seat of McLennan County. It is located halfway between Dallas and Austin. Waco is known worldwide for the infamous 1993 siege of the David Koresh compound by the FBI and the horribly failed raid by the ATF. On the brighter side, Waco is the home of Baylor University which has a national reputation for its specialized educational opportunity and excellent sports programs.
But Waco is also the home of serious violent crime, according to NeighborhoodScout. This crime tracker places Waco in the 9 percent range for violent crime, meaning that of the nation’s 100 safest cities, more than 90 percent of them are safer than Waco. That’s not good news for law enforcement, who have a reputation for being aggressive and less than forgiving.
The federal district court in Waco is part of the Western District of Texas. The Western District of Texas also includes the following cities:
Federal Drug Conspiracies and Trafficking
The Western District of Texas has the longest common border with Mexico. This means that serious, large scale drug conspiracy investigations are conducted in the district and often prosecuted in Waco Federal Court. Federal prosecutors and judges have little sympathy for individuals charged in these cases that have brought the drug war, and the violence associated with it, into their jurisdiction.
White Collar Crimes
Federal crimes are codified in statutes enacted by Congress, e.g., bank robbery, conspiracy, drug trafficking, human trafficking, health care fraud, mail & wire fraud, and several thousand more. Federal prosecutors in Waco, like U.S. Attorney’s Offices nationwide have made white collar fraud cases a priority and aggressively investigate and prosecute allegations bank, wire and mail fraud.
Federal Sex Crimes and Child Pornography
Some federal crimes also violate state laws. In Waco this is most commonly seen in large drug conspiracies and sex crimes. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District works closely with state and local authorities to determine whether the case will be prosecuted in federal or state court.
Human Trafficking and Felony Illegal Reentry
Human trafficking is a significant problem in Waco, mainly because I-35 that connects the city to Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio. Major highway accessibility is a significant contributing factor to human trafficking. There is also a significant number of federal illegal reentry cases prosecuted in Waco Federal Court.
Organized Crime and Gang Taskforce
The FBI and DEA are active in the Central Texas area, especially in Waco, in trying to dismantle the presence of the Ayran Brotherhood and other highly organized and successful criminal gangs in their community.
This was the case last year when more than 170 bikers were arrested following a shootout at the Twin Peaks Restaurant that left nine people dead. Federal and state authorities worked closely to determine who would be indicted, for what offense, and whether the prosecution would be undertaken by the District Attorney’s Office or the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A state grand jury last November indicted 106 of the bikers for various organized criminal activities. This mass arrest and the indictments that followed have caused justifiable outrage by criminal defense lawyers and legal analyst who question the tactics of the District Attorney’s Office.
Abelino “Abel’ Reyna is the District Attorney for McLennan County.
His office now faces the daunting task of prosecuting more than 100 individuals indicted in the Twin Peaks shootout. It is believed these criminal prosecutions, and the flood of civil litigation they will produce, will cost the District Attorney’s office millions of dollars. The District Attorney’s Office is under a constant fire of allegations of impropriety and questionable motivations.
The District Attorney’s office also faces the difficult task of prosecuting three Jack Harwell Detention Center correctional officers following the suicide at the facility. The trio were charged last November with tampering with government documents associated with the investigation of the inmate suicide.
This means the district attorney’s office is preoccupied with controversial prosecutions creating a real potential that its assistant prosecutor will cut corners in many other cases. Attorneys for the defendants in the Twin Peaks shooting have already been leveling charges of impropriety against the DA’s office. Defense attorneys in Waco must be on guard to demand complete disclosure of evidence in their cases and be on guard, and ready to investigate, possible violations of rules that require disclosure of favorable evidence.
A Serious Texas Defense Attorney to Combat Serious Charges
Being arrested or charged with a state or federal criminal offense in Waco can change the course of your entire life. Prosecutors in Waco are known to be tough and the judges unforgiving.
Both the federal and state courts are known to hand out tough prison sentences. Regardless of whether it is a serious state crime or a complicated federal criminal indictment, criminal charges in Waco can come with serious jail or prison time; both can also carry big fines and other penalties; both can do serious damage to the reputation of a business; and both will earn you a permanent criminal record.
The Consequences of a State Criminal Conviction
There are also many collateral consequences for having been convicted of a criminal offense in Texas.
Because of the wide range of criminal penalties associated with state felony convictions in Texas, any one charged with a criminal offense in Waco, Texas 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.
A criminal conviction will have adverse impact on your employment prospects with companies that routinely run criminal background checks prior to their decision to hire. It can also have a serious impact on your ability to rent a suitable residence as property owners also frequently run background checks, refusing to rent or lease to ex-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 criminal and obtain results in cases that others deemed “hopeless.” Sometimes this means getting charges reduced or winning the case at trial. Other times, it means getting the charges dropped completely. He has succeeded for his clients by taking every case seriously and exploring every possible factual and legal argument to poke holes in prosecutors’ case.
Mr. Floyd’s ability to succeed stems from his thorough 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 the overwhelming resources that 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:
Awards and Recognition
Media Appearances and Mentions
Mr. Floyd does not take the professional respect and acclaim he has achieved for granted. He recognizes that his greatest achievement lies in the successful outcome for his current clients and those he has obtained for his clients 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 a jack of all trades. His firm only handles serious state and federal criminal cases. This permits a laser like focus on one area of law and gives his firm the ability to sharpen their expertise to better represent the client. The following is a list of practice areas related to criminal law that is firm handles:
Waco has high crime rates in a number of these areas. This can lead to aggressive law enforcement investigations that cast too wide a net to ensnare as many suspects as possible. Aggressive investigations 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 practice and thorough investigative are strategies that lead to successful outcomes for his clients.
Have other defense lawyers in Waco let you down? 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 will work hard to find a way to defend your case at jury trial or get a better deal than the one 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 strict judges, it can be easy to lose hope and plead guilty out of fear. 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 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, emailingjfloyd@johntfloyd.com, or simply completing our confidential case review form online. Let us be your lifeline.
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