People who are being questioned by police officers have specific rights that they can invoke during that process. These are supposed to be conveyed by the police officer. It’s up to the person who’s being questioned to let the officers know that they’re invoking those...
The legal term "conspiracy" may suffer from improper perceptions. People constantly hear the words "conspiracy theory" spoken with disdain. A legal conspiracy is not the same thing as a fictitious belief not supported by facts. Under federal and Texas state criminal...
Criminal activity is not always accomplished alone. An accomplice can be part of a crime at any stage, including after the crime is over. Accessory after the fact charges are relatively simple but can quickly become complicated depending on the situation and the...
Not all criminal convictions lead to harsh sentences, such as lengthy prison terms. In Texas, a minor offense could result in a requirement to perform community service. Shoplifting and drunk driving may result in orders to perform community service, and the Texas...
In Texas, some people do not think that white-collar crimes are as serious as other types of offenses, but wire fraud and other white-collar crimes are treated harshly under federal law. People who are accused of wire fraud might need to vigorously defend against the...
Police departments in Texas and around the country routinely use trained dogs to sniff the air around vehicles during traffic stops, and the courts have ruled that this does not violate rights protected by the Fourth Amendment. One of the most important rulings...
Sometimes, Social Security fraud isn't found out about until years after the fact, and thousands of dollars have been paid out already. The Social Security Administration estimated that during the 2019 fiscal year, the government sent out about $7.9 billion in...
Texas upholds very strict drug laws mandated by the federal government. When it comes to federal criminal defense, understanding the penalties for a drug offense can help you understand a potential sentence. Even first-time drug offenses come with strict mandatory...
When police officers in Texas and around the country conduct searches without first obtaining a warrant, the evidence they discover is not usually admissible in court because rights protected by the U.S. Constitution were violated in order to obtain it. This is known...
Law enforcement agencies in Texas use canines trained to alert to the presence of illegal drugs. This alert authorizes searches of people's vehicles and other private property. When a person refuses to consent to a search, police officers have the option to bring in a...