Category Archives: InDepth Articles
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 Sentencing Guidelines: Conspiracy to Distribute Controlled Substance Cases (Drug Conspiracy)
Federal sentencing in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances case is driven by three things: the type and amount of drugs involved, the defendant’s criminal history, and the role the defendant played in the offense. The sentence itself comes from an intersection of the Controlled Substances Act’s statutory penalties and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which…
Mandatory Minimum Penalties in Federal Sentencing
To see how often cases like yours resolve by plea or trial, and the median sentences by district and charge, use our plea deal versus trial calculator. Congress Decides Your Prison Sentence with Certain Federal Crimes Our modern system of mandatory minimum sentencing in federal cases arguably began with the passage of the Anti-Drug Abuse…
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…
Less Time for Federal Drug Crimes: When Safety Valve Defense Circumvents Mandatory Minimum Sentences Under Federal Law
For how a plea and a trial compare on real outcomes, by district and charge, see our plea deal versus trial calculator. Congress has passed mandatory minimum sentences for certain federal drug crime convictions, but it is possible to serve less time with the Safety Valve defense. Here’s how that works. What is a crime…
Plea Bargaining and Making Deals in Federal Felony Cases: Criminal Defense Overview
In both Texas prosecutions and federal criminal matters, many – if not most – arrests do not end up as a criminal conviction with formal sentencing after a full trial before a judge or jury, but instead are resolved out of the courtroom in what is called “plea bargaining.” This involves attorneys representing both the…
Punishing Defendants for Exercising Their Right to Trial
Criminal defense attorneys practicing here in Texas, both in state and federal court, know all too well that it is a common practice for the government to punish defendants for exercising their rights – especially their right to a trial. This is true despite the clear constitutional right to trial found in the Sixth Amendment…
Federal Sentencing Guidelines Explained: How They Determine Prison Time
Understanding how federal sentencing guidelines work can mean the difference between years in prison or a reduced sentence. If you’re facing federal criminal charges in Dallas or anywhere in Texas, knowing how these guidelines affect your case is critical to building a strong defense strategy. For how these guidelines translate into real outcomes, our plea…
Should You Consent to a DNA Buccal Swab Without a Search Warrant In Texas? Former Prosecutor Reveals Why Consenting Is Bad Advice
Refusing to consent to a voluntary DNA buccal swab in Texas forces the detective to obtain a search warrant, and to get that warrant the officer must file a sworn probable cause affidavit that becomes a public record. That affidavit hands the defense a written map of the state’s evidence before any charges are filed,…
Polymarket Insider Trading and Federal Wire Fraud: What the Van Dyke Indictment Means
Polymarket insider trading just stopped being theoretical. On April 23, 2026, federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York unsealed a five-count indictment that turned a U.S. Army Master Sergeant’s four-day Polymarket trading spree into a federal wire fraud and money laundering case, complete with a $404,000 forfeiture demand and the personal signature of…
