Category Archives: Arrest and Indictment
Extradition From Mexico to the United States: Everything You Need to Know
Extradition from Mexico to the United States is governed by the 1978 Extradition Treaty between the United States and Mexico, which took effect on January 25, 1980. The United States sends a formal request through diplomatic channels, a Mexican federal judge reviews the evidence, and Mexico’s Foreign Ministry makes the final surrender decision. The process…
The 2025-2026 Mexico Mass Transfers: Does the Rule of Specialty Protect Defendants Sent to the U.S. Without Extradition?
Between February 2025 and January 2026, Mexico sent 92 cartel defendants to the United States in three mass transfers that bypassed the formal extradition process, using an executive expulsion mechanism under Mexican law instead of the 1978 extradition treaty. That difference matters because the rule of specialty, which limits the charges an extradited person can…
The National Capital for Colombian Cocaine Prosecutions: Sherman and Plano TX
More Colombian cocaine traffickers have been extradited to the Eastern District of Texas than to any other federal district in the United States. The federal courthouses handling these cases sit in Sherman and Plano, and they have been receiving extradited Colombian defendants for well over a decade. The cases are built by the Dallas DEA…
Sealed Warrant Border Arrests and the USMS Slow-Transfer Problem
A U.S. citizen or lawful resident can be arrested at a Texas port of entry on a sealed federal indictment they never knew existed, then sit in custody for weeks while the U.S. Marshals Service slowly moves them toward the charging district. The removal waiver signed at the first court appearance gives up only the…
What Happens at a Federal Detention Hearing?
A federal detention hearing is where a federal magistrate judge decides, under 18 U.S.C. § 3142, whether you are released on conditions or held in custody until your trial. It is one of the most important early moments in a federal case, because the result often decides whether you fight the charges from home or…
Federal Investigations: Target Letter
Weighing a plea against trial? Our plea deal versus trial calculator shows the plea, trial, and acquittal rates and median sentences by federal district and charge. Target Letter and Invitations to Testify before a Grand Jury Can be a Red Flag You Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer Federal agencies along with the prosecutors at the…
Can You Find Out If You Have a Sealed Indictment?
What Is a Sealed Indictment? How to Find Out If You Have One in a Federal Criminal Case If you suspect federal investigators are looking into your activities, one of the most unsettling questions you might face is whether a sealed indictment has already been filed against you. A sealed indictment means criminal charges exist,…
US Marshal Hold
US Marshal Hold Inmate Search A loved one is arrested, and you find them in the county jail. You check the county jail website or call the Sheriff and find out that there is a US Marshal Hold. There may or may not be a bond set on the case. You call a local bonding…
Grand Jury vs Jury: Indictment and Defense
Grand Jury vs Jury: An overview of Grand Jury Proceedings from a criminal defense lawyer’s standpoint. There are two kinds of juries in Texas: “petit juries” and “grand juries.” In criminal cases, a “petit jury” is selected to serve in a particular trial to decide on the defendant’s guilt or innocence. A “grand jury” never…
The Importance of a Probable Cause Affidavit in Texas Criminal Defense
If you asked most criminal defense attorneys to rank the most important documents in a drug possession or sexual assault case, you’d probably hear about the indictment, offense report, lab results, body camera footage, or witness statements. While all of these matter, I believe one document stands above the rest: the probable cause affidavit. As…
