When someone has been arrested and charged with a federal crime, it can feel like the decision has already been made. But that is far from the case. A charge is simply the beginning of the government’s case against someone, and it is time to dispute those charges or work in court to turn them into different criminal allegations that may carry lesser punishments.
Nine people in Texas have been indicted on federal charges connected to an alleged criminal conspiracy. A federal grand jury for the Eastern District of Texas returned 42 counts of drug and firearms violations against people in Tyler, Troup and other communities in the region.
The case involved a purported criminal enterprise to sell methamphetamines in three highly populated counties in the Lone Star State. The charges come after two years of investigations by federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service cooperating with local police departments and sheriffs’ offices.
Some charges are related to gun possession, which is often a felony when a person is a convicted felon. Other charges faced by the group include possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and use, carrying, or possession of a firearm during and in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
People facing federal crimes of any type always have the right to a criminal defense, whether during questioning by law enforcement officials or in court for appearances before a judge. An attorney can also work with prosecutors to better understand charges and possibly lessen them in agreement with the court.
