Category Archives: Arrest and Indictment

Arrested for Child Sex Crime of Grooming in Texas

More and more prosecutors across the Lone Star State are prosecuting cases based upon Texas Penal Code §15.032, known as the “Texas Child Grooming Law.” A quick surf through recent news coverage includes grooming arrests, for example, in Arlington; Lubbock; Mesquite; Midland; and San Antonio. The Crime of Grooming: 2023 Criminal Statute It’s relatively new criminal legislation: the crime…

Things To Know If You Get a Federal Grand Jury Subpoena In Texas

Federal grand juries are actively on the job all around the State of Texas during the year. How many are convened; where they are meeting; what they are doing; and who sets as jurors on all these grand juries is not known. For safety reasons, grand juries operate under a mysterious veil of secrecy. Read,…

Federal Grand Juries in Texas: Criminal Defense

As you read this, grand juries are at work here in Texas as part of both the federal and state criminal justice systems. They are very powerful. And controversial, from a criminal defense perspective. In past articles, we have considered grand juries operating under Texas law, as well as an overview of grand jury workings…

The Case of the Non-Citizen Facing Felony PPP Fraud Indictment: Innocent of All Charges

This is the first in my series of articles discussing specific aspects of some of my recent criminal defense representations here in Texas.  These will be generalized discussions: particulars including the identification of clients, prosecutors, etc. will not be included for obvious privacy reasons.  No one reading these articles should assume any form of legal…

What is a Federal Deferred Prosecution Agreement?

Here in Texas, federal investigations may target organizations and businesses in their various forms as well as individuals for violations of federal criminal statutes.  For instance, in health care fraud investigations, potential defendants include all sorts of practitioners, from doctors or pharmacists, to pharmacy retailers; medical supply distributors; hospital operators; clinic operators; group practices; nursing…

Federal Financial Instrument Fraud: Felony Credit Card Crimes

Banking is big business around the world but it is particularly important here in Texas, where Governor Abbott recently announced on X that the State of Texas enjoys the 10th largest economy in the world (yes, the WORLD).  For most of us, Big Banking translates into our checking and savings accounts alongside our credit cards,…

The Federal Criminal Justice System: After Arrest, From Arraignment to Sentencing

All too often, experienced federal criminal defense attorneys have clients and their loved ones reeling from coming into contact with a federal agent or investigator; getting a federal summons; or even being arrested on federal felony charges.  It’s a stunning blow for many people, especially doctors, health care providers, bankers, and other white-collar professionals, to…

The IRS Special Agent Criminal Investigation Report: SARs and SOIs

Tax audit:  it’s a scary thought, right?  Of course, most everyone in Texas knows that the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) conducts civil audits of federal tax returns, and that individuals as well as partnerships; corporations; and even estates of the deceased may be subject to an audit investigation.  And there’s going to be more and…

Tax Crimes:  Known Focus Areas for IRS Taxpayer Criminal Investigations

An increase in federal criminal prosecutions involving alleged federal tax crimes and corresponding violations of federal criminal statutes is expected by many here in Texas, including experienced federal criminal defense lawyers.  For details, read our discussion of the May 2024 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Strategic Operating Plan in IRS Summons Form 2039: Federal Criminal Defense…

IRS Criminal Investigators in Texas: Special Agents Investigating Federal Financial Felony Crimes

Within the Internal Revenue Service is a special department dedicated to investigating crimes independently of other federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).  It’s been around since 1919, having been initially known as the IRS’s Intelligence Unit and later becoming today’s IRS Criminal Investigation Department….