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.
Tyler sits about 95 miles east of Dallas. Its historic homes and red brick roads gives Tyler the small-down feel, but being known as the “Rose Capital of the World” signals that it is a major city with major industries and retailers.
But all is not a bed roses in Tyler. It is ranked at the 20th most dangerous city in Texas, just above Dallas. The chances of being victimized by crime in Tyler is one in 19.
The police department is vigilant about crime, especially violent crime. For example, the police made a quick arrest (March 1) of three suspects suspected of being involved in a shooting at On the Border Mexican Grill and Cantina on February 1st. The police recovered an AR-15 believed to have been used in the shooting.
Why should this matter to you if you suddenly find yourself charged with a crime in Tyler?
Because local law enforcement officials are out to curb crime however they can, it’s easy to get caught up in a crackdown, and you can be sure that they will try to prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.
That means potential jail time, big-time fines, and a host of related administrative penalties depending on the crime you’re up against. Not to mention the harm a criminal charge can do to your good name.
To fight back against this assault on your character and freedom, you need a Texas defense lawyer with skill and experience. John T. Floyd has been putting together successful defense strategies for Tyler citizens just like you for over two decades, and he will do whatever he can to ensure you receive the best possible outcome in your case.
Tyler is in the Eastern District of Texas. John Malcolm Bales is the U.S. Attorney in the district. He assumed the position in 2009, and his office is responsible for hundreds of prosecutions over the district’s 43 counties.
The major prosecutorial priorities of the Eastern District are child sexual exploitation offenses, drugs and human trafficking, white collar crime, terrorism-related offenses, and violent crime.
For example, AUSA Bales announced on February 17, 2016 that an East Texas pain management physician had pleaded guilty to illegally dispensing controlled substances. He was the owner of the Fino Pain Clinic who dispensed pain medication in the Dallas/Fort Worth area as well as in East Texas.
In addition to pleading guilty, the defendant agreed to the U.S. Attorney’s demand that he forfeit $3,936,704.41. And the government will collect every penny of it.
One week earlier Bales’ office convicted a 23-year-old Tyler man on drug trafficking charges. The drugs involved were methamphetamines and a firearm was used in connection with the drug charges, increasing the penalty to be imposed—a minimum of 10 years to life.
The Smith County District Attorney’s Office is led by Matt Bingham who was elected to the post in 2004 after serving nine years as an assistant prosecutor.
Most courthouses across the country have a statute of the Greek goddess of justice standing blindfolded. The symbol means justice is blind for all those who enter the courthouse.
Not so in Smith County, Texas. The goddess has no blindfold. She stares at all who enter as though deciding which should or should not receive justice.
Smith County is conservative, law-and-order territory. It has been since 1846 when Tyler became the county seat.
The Smith County District Attorney’s Office has a history, say local criminal defense attorneys, of violating the Brady Rule and coercing witnesses to give false testimony. Prosecutors approach criminal trials with a “win-at-all-costs” mentality. Put simply, forget the Constitution and do whatever is necessary to secure a conviction.
The DA’s office pushes juries to return the most severe punishment, like imposing a 16-year sentence on a man who stole a candy bar.
Whether you are facing a misdemeanor or a felony – a state or a federal charge – being investigated or accused of a crime is an incredibly big deal. It is something that can tear down the entire life you worked so hard to build for yourself and devastate you personally and professionally.
John T. Floyd understands this. It is why he has dedicated his life to understanding every nuance of Texas and federal criminal law – because he believes that everyone deserves to have their rights protected with the strongest defense possible. It does not matter if others have told you that your case is a “loser” or “hopeless” – Mr. Floyd has made a career out of taking on high-profile cases that no one else wants and finding a way to get an outcome that is better than anyone expected.
This commitment to criminal law has brought Mr. Floyd a lot of attention. When media outlets require an authority – someone they can point to as an expert to lend their stories credibility and ensure they get their facts right – Mr. Floys is the one they have turned to. Just a few of the places that have featured him include:
Additionally, he has received recognition and awards from both peers and clients:
But the “award” John T. Floyd is most proud of is his track record of stellar case results and the praise of clients who are relieved that he was able to help protect them in their time of need. If your life or the life and future of someone you love is in jeopardy, make sure you are working with the best of the best. He understands the seriousness of a criminal conviction.
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 results 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 Smith County needs an aggressive and experienced criminal defense attorney.
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 penal 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.
Some lawyers fancy themselves as jacks-of-all-trades and take on all kinds of cases – criminal, personal injury, family and financial matters, and more. But simply being a lawyer does not give you an in-depth understanding of every area of the law. Others narrow their focus so much (such as those who sell themselves as DUI lawyers) that they are out of their element when a case involves anything outside of that tiny area.
That is why John T. Floyd calls himself a criminal lawyer. He has spent years studying federal and Texas state statutes on criminal law and knows exactly what prosecutors are required to prove to convict you – and how to cast doubts on their arguments. He has successfully handled a number of different types of charges in both state and federal court, including:
Since crimes of violence and those involving theft are particularly high in Tyler, law enforcement officials will be out to make an example of you if you are charged with one of these crimes. The best way to fight back is to work with a knowledgeable defense attorney who is not afraid to mount an aggressive defense. When you get Mr. Floyd on your team, he will fight to save not only your life, but also your reputation and that of your family and business.
Want to know the secret to making sure you secure the best possible outcome in your case? Act fast. Get John T. Floyd working on your case as quickly as possible.
If you have been charged, he can be there to witness your interactions with police and make sure your rights are protected and that all proper procedures are followed. He can advise you on when to speak, what to say, and when to simply keep quiet. And if you discover that you are under investigation, he may even be able to put a stop to it before any formal charges are filed, which can keep it from going public.
So do no not delay. There are several ways that you can get in contact with The John T. Floyd Law Firm.
Email: jfloyd@johntfloyd.com
Phone: 713-224-0101
You can even give us a jumpstart on looking at the details of your case right now by filling out the confidential online case review form on our website.
Protect your freedom and your future – reach out now.
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