consult
X

Request A Confidential Consultation

*Indicates Required Fields

John T. Floyd

Austin Federal Defense Attorney

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.

 

Austin Texas Federal Court House

 

Austin Criminal Charges Need a Skilled Texas Defense Attorney

 

The Republic of Texas was three years old in 1839 when it decided that Austin would be its capital. It was named after the Republic’s founder, Stephen F. Austin. Texas was annexed into the United States in 1845, and the following year Austin formally became its capital.

 

Today, the city is known as the “Live Music Capital of World” and a bastion of political liberalism in a state whose political conservatism is rooted deep in its love of land ownership and independent thinking.

 

Situated in the center of the Texas Hill Country, Austin is the 11th most populated city in Texas. So with all of the people who live there and a constant influx of visitors, it might come as a surprise to learn that Austin has one of the lowest crime rates in all of Texas.

 

The murder rate in Austin is especially low when compared to the big cities of Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio. And the other crime numbers are lower than most Texas cities overall. As Texas Monthly put it in January of 2015, “Austin is basically a fairy tale land populated by elves and hobbits.”

 

But just because the crime rate is low in Austin does not mean it is nonexistent. The city still has a fair number of drug cases, sex crimes and other typical street crimes like assault, burglary, robbery, and theft.

 

Since Austin is the epicenter of politics and government in Texas, serious cases involving public corruption and criminal cases investigated by the state’s regulatory agencies are filed in Austin and heard before the federal and state criminal courts in Austin, Texas.

 

This may be a liberal city by Texas standards, but that doesn’t mean the prosecutors have any less power here – and ours is a state known for being tough on crime.

 

The Austin Police Department is nationally known for its pattern of brutality and lethal shootings. For example, between 2002 and 2012, the APD was involved in 18 lethal shootings, a disproportionate number of the victims being African-American. The APD reflects that even in this hub of liberalism, individuals suspected criminal activity is treated harshly by the police.

 

That’s why if you have been charged with a crime in Austin, you need to fight back. And the best way to do this is by hiring a lawyer who can help you get positive results.  John T. Floyd is a Board Certified Texas criminal lawyer who has dedicated his entire professional career to protecting the rights of the accused and making sure that everyone gets a fair shot.

 

Mr. Floyd believes that everyone – regardless of who they are or where they come from – deserves the best criminal defense available. He will stand for you and fight the government every step of the way, protecting your rights and making sure you get due process, the best defense possible and the respect you deserve.

 

Federal Prosecutions

 

Austin is in the federal Western District of Texas which covers 68 counties over 93,000 square miles inhabited by 6.5 million people.

 

Federal authorities work closely with state authorities in massive drug investigations. For example, the Austin High Intensity Drug Tracking Area Task Force is comprised of members of the Austin Police Department, DEA, FBI, IRS, and the Texas Department of Public Safety. These agencies target organized crime and drug trafficking as the major threats to public safety.

 

Last year Austin U.S. District Court Judge Lee Yeakel imposed harsh sentences on 16 defendants arrested in 2013 by state and federal authorities in one of the largest synthetic drug busts in Texas history. The harsh sentences were intended to send a message to synthetic drug makers and dealers that their drugs are not welcome in Austin and will equated with the distribution of poison.

 

These harsh sentences came on the heels of one of the largest bad batches of drugs that originated in Austin and Corpus Christi and which killed more than 30 people nationwide last year and sent another 2,500 to emergency rooms and hospitals.

 

Over the past three years more than four dozen defendants in the Western District have been charged with synthetic drug-related offenses.

 

State Prosecutions

 

Located in Austin, the Travis County District Attorney’s Office is headed by Rosemary Lehmberg.

 

This past October the District Attorney’s Office secured a conviction of the Eddy Packing Co. Inc., a meat processing company located in Yoakum, Texas. The company was sentenced to pay $1.5 million in fines for water pollution violations. The case was handled by the DA’s

Environmental Protection Unit.

 

The Travis County District Attorney’s Office has come under serious media scrutiny for its arrangement with the Texas Mutual Insurance to accept money from the company to prosecute its fraud cases. The DA’s office has accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in what has been called a “paid for justice” scheme. The DA’s office recently announced the agreement has been temporarily suspended.

 

An Experienced Texas Defense Lawyer Can Help You Battle Your Austin Charges

 

Regardless of the type of criminal charge, you want a lawyer who has experience and knowledge with both Texas and federal criminal law. Because he exclusively practices criminal law, and is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, John T. Floyd is an expert who understands the complexity and nuances of criminal law and can effectively defend against those charges by looking at the facts and developing a defense based on relevant laws.

 

He can immediately start building your defense to any number of charges, including but not limited to:

 

Assault

Criminal Appeals

Domestic Violence

Drug Crimes

DUI/DWI

Federal Crimes

Fraud

Health Care Fraud

Immigration Crimes

Murder/Homicide

Sex Crimes

White Collar Crimes

 

Facing charges for any of these offenses is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly. A criminal conviction can threaten your life, your future, and your freedom. You might feel that your case is hopeless, but it’s not. Mr. Floyd has yet to come across a hopeless case, which is why he’s ready to take on your case and fight for you in and out of the courtroom.

 

The Consequences of a State Criminal Record

 

There are also many collateral consequences for having been convicted of a criminal offense in Texas.

 

Employment. Many occupations (such as barber, plumber, nurse, etc.) require a license to work. Section 53.021 of the Texas Occupations Code authorize Texas licensing authorities to revoke, suspend, or deny a license to anyone convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude.

Education: Any student convicted of the possession or sale of a controlled substance can lose or be denied financial assistance under the Federal Student Loans and Grants program, or the forfeiture of a prepaid scholarship.

Asset forfeiture: Serious drug and white collar convictions can result of forfeiture of cash, vehicles, homes, personal property, and businesses.

Firearm: A conviction of more than one year will result in loss of the right to own or possess a firearm or ammunition.

Housing: Federal housing policies permit the exclusion of drug offenders from federally subsidized or funded housing. Most rental applications ask if you’ve ever been convicted of a felony.

Civil rights: A felony conviction can result in the loss of the right to vote, run for public office, be appointed to a public office, or serve on a jury.

 

Because of the wide range of criminal penalties associated with state felony convictions in Texas, any one charged with a criminal offense in Travis County needs an aggressive and experienced criminal defense attorney.

 

The Consequences of a Federal Criminal Record

 

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 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.

 

They can, and most likely will, have adverse impact on your employment prospects with companies that routinely run criminal background checks prior to their decision to hire. They 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.

 

Austin Residents, Choose the Texas Criminal Lawyer the Experts Trust

 

Austin Criminal Defense Lawyer

When a legal issue arises or a case receives a lot of attention, the media rely on experts with vast expertise regarding legal matters. Time and time again, John T. Floyd is the man that news outlets turn to when they need to consult with an authority on criminal law.

 

For over 20 years, Mr. Floyd has appeared on numerous news programs and in countless print articles because he has both the experience and understanding necessary to discuss the intricate nuances of the judicial system. With his comprehensive knowledge of criminal law on both the state and federal level, Mr. Floyd can provide an invaluable legal perspective to any newsworthy situation.

 

Mr. Floyd has contributed his expertise in many ways, including:

 

Interviews

 

BBC – criminal law expert

Fox News – criminal law expert on multiple occasions

Hannity and Colmes – criminal law expert

NPR criminal law expert

 

Articles

 

Chron – Featured in article in 2015

The Huffington Post – Featured in article in 2013

CNSNews – Featured in article in 2012

Victoria Advocate – Featured in article in 2011

HGExperts – Featured in article in 2008

 

In addition to media appearances, Mr. Floyd is also well known as a top criminal lawyer among his peers, the legal community, and most importantly his satisfied clients. He has received countless awards and recognition for his professional achievements, and some of his most significant accomplishments include:

 

Avvo – 10/10 Rating, Clients’ Choice Award 2008-2015

H Texas Magazine – Houston’s Top Lawyers 2007-2015

National Trial LawyersTop 100 Trial Lawyers 2015

Newsweek – Leading Criminal Defense Attorneys 2014

State Bar of Texas – Top 10 Blog Posts 2015

SuperLawyers – 2014-2015

 

These accolades notwithstanding, Mr. Floyd’s proudest accomplishment is successfully helping his clients during the most frightening and stressful times of their lives. He understands that everything is on the line and he will work tirelessly to defend your case to get your charges reduced, dismissed, or acquitted at trial.

 

Beat Your Austin Charge by Contacting Texas Criminal Lawyer John T. Floyd

 

If you have been charged with a crime in Austin or you have learned you are under investigation, contact a skilled Texas criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Time is of the essence when building a defense. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the sooner you will be on the right path to developing a successful defense and achieving the best possible results.

 

When you put your trust in John T. Floyd, you know you will be getting a top-notch defense and the best possible chance at beating those charges. All you have to do is contact The John. T. Floyd Law Firm by calling 713-224-0101, emailing jfloyd@johntfloyd.com, or completing our quick and confidential online case review form.