John T. Floyd Law Firm
Board Certified Houston Criminal Lawyer
“Serious Criminal Defense Throughout Texas”
Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist
Experienced Criminal Trial Lawyer
Federal And State Criminal Defense
Phone # (713) 224-0101
Toll Free 1-866-374-1327
E-mail jfloyd@JohnTFloyd.com
Top Lawyers: Criminal Defense - 2008, 2009, 2010 HTexas
CORPUS CHRISTI CRIMINAL LAWYER
STATE AND FEDERAL CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Serious Criminal Defense in Corpus Christi and Throughout the State of Texas
Board Certified Criminal Defense Attorney John Floyd is an experienced criminal defense lawyer dedicated to defending individuals and businesses accused of committing serious crimes in all State and Federal criminal courts in Corpus Christi and throughout the State of Texas.
March 11, 2011
DRUG CHECKPOINTS AND THEIR AFTERMATH
Drug Mules/Smugglers Beware: Permanent Border Patrol Checkpoints in Texas Seize Tons of Drugs, Marijuana, Illustrate Inhumanity of Drug Laws
By: Houston Criminal Lawyer John Floyd and Paralegal Billy Sinclair
There are many problems with mandatory minimum sentencing as we have discussed in previous blogs, but the following is just one real life example. He is a Mexican national, a legal resident in this country. He is a long haul truck driver. He has a family to support. He is approached by people who want him to haul a legal shipment of produce. He is told contraband will be concealed in the produce. But he is not told what the contraband is. He is paid one thousand dollars to make the delivery. It will help pay the bills, particularly the medical bills for one chronically ill child.
But things go awry. He is stopped at a drug checkpoint near the Texas border. A drug-sniffing dog alerts on the trailer of his rig. Border patrol officers have probable cause to search the trailer, but the driver eliminates the need for a warrant with consent to search. The search reveals over 2000 kilograms of marijuana. The driver is arrested. He is eventually indicted 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Under subsection (b)(1)(A) of this statute, the driver faces a mandatory minimum of ten years imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment in addition to a possible fine of up to $4 million. With no “priors” or criminal history, the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines will recommend a minimum sentence of approximately 13 years (156 months) in such a case, and probably much worse.
Sentencing in these kinds of drug cases can be severe as evidenced last month when United States District Judge Micaela Alvarez, sitting in Laredo, sentenced eight members of a drug trafficking organization to 180 to 360 months without parole. The drug traffickers, operating out of McAllen, used tractor trailers to ship marijuana and cocaine to Georgia, Florida and North Carolina. The organization hired commercial truck drivers to transport the drugs concealed in legitimate merchandise who, on their return runs, transported large amounts of cash received from the drug sales. U.S. Attorney Jose Angel Moreno said the drug money was distributed throughout the Rio Grande Valley. This particular drug bust alone resulted in the seizure of 200 kilograms of cocaine, 2000 kilograms of marijuana, and the seizure/forfeiture of nearly $5 million.
Criminal Defense Attorney John Floyd is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, has been rated as among the best and brightest attorneys practicing criminal law with his recognition as Houston’s Top Lawyers for the People (2008,2009), Top Lawyers: Criminal Defense (2008,2009,2010) and has earned a “Superb” rating, scoring 10/10, from AVVO. He has appeared on national television and radio programs as an expert on criminal law related issues and has been quoted in newspapers and other news outlets throughout the country.
Criminal Defense Lawyer John T. Floyd proudly represents clients charged with serious criminal offenses before State and Federal courts in Houston, Galveston, Richmond, Angleton, Beaumont, San Antonio, Austin, Waco, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Tyler, Sherman, Del Rio, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, Mc Allen, El Paso, and all counties throughout the State of Texas. The law firm of John T. Floyd is located in the historic Kirby Mansion in Houston, Texas; however, Mr. Floyd often travels to Criminal Courts in Corpus Christi and across the State of Texas, as well as, Federal Criminal Courts across the United States.
Criminal Defense Attorney John T. Floyd has over 15 years experience defending businesses and individuals accused or suspected of committing criminal violations of State and Federal law. While the John T. Floyd Law Firm’s practice is primarily focused upon criminal defense of those being investigated or suspected of committing serious federal criminal violations, John Floyd also represents individuals accused of serious State crimes.
Corpus Christi Criminal Attorney John T. Floyd provides clients with individualized attention prized by those demanding the personal touch of a “boutique” criminal defense firm, along with significant contacts throughout the state and country to assemble a serious legal defense team any large firm would find formidable. The organizational approach the John T. Floyd Law Firm takes with each client is determined by their specific needs, goals and budget, as well as, the seriousness of the issues and facts surrounding the case.
If you have any further questions, or would like to discuss your case further, please contact a dedicated Corpus Christi Criminal Defense Attorney by phone at 713-224-0101 or by e-mail at jfloyd@JohnTFloyd.com
CORPUS CHRISTI CRIMINAL ATTORNEY
TRIALS, SENTENCINGS, AND APPEALS
STATE AND FEDERAL CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Serious Criminal Defense Throughout the State of Texas
Corpus Christi Courts
Federal Criminal Court: Jurisdiction- Aransas County, Bee County, Brooks County, Duval County, Jim Wells County, Kenedy County, Kleberg County, Live Oak County, Nueces County, and San Patricio County.
FEDERAL CRIMINAL COURT - CORPUS CHRISTI
United States Courthouse
1133 N. Shoreline Blvd.
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
District Judges:
Hayden Head, U.S. District Judge
Case Manager: Sylvia Syler – Phone 361-888-3369
Janis Jack, U.S. District Judge
Case Manager: Sondra Scotch – Phone 361-888-3245
Practices and Procedures(http://www.txs.uscourts.gov/district/judges/jgj/jgj.pdf)
Corpus Christi Federal Courthouse Technology (http://www.txs.uscourts.gov/technology/corpus.htm)
Bankruptcy Judge:
Richard Schmidt, U.S. District Judge
Case Manager: Leticia Garza – Phone 361-888-3452
Magistrate Judges:
B. Janice Ellington, U.S. Magistrate Judge
Case Manager: Lisa Hardwick – Phone 361-888-3432
Brian Owsley, U.S. Magistrate Judge
Case Manager: Kendra Bledsoe – Phone 361-888-3445
STATE DISTRICT COURTS – NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS
28TH District Court of Nueces County Texas
901 Leopold, Room 803
Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
Phone 361-888-0506
94th District Court of Nueces County Texas
901 Leopold, Room 901
Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
Phone 361-888-0730
105thth District Court of Nueces County Texas
901 Leopold, Room 802
Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
Phone 361-888-0510
117th District Court of Nueces County Texas
901 Leopold, Room 904
Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
Phone 361-888-0436
148th District Court of Nueces County Texas
901 Leopold, Room 903
Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
Phone 361-888-0333
214th District Court of Nueces County Texas
901 Leopold, Room 902
Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
Phone 361-888-0463
319th District Court of Nueces County Texas
901 Leopold, Room 801
Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
Phone 361-888-0533
347th District Court of Nueces County Texas
901 Leopold, Room 804
Corpus Christi, Texas 78401
Phone 361-888-0593
Practice Areas
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