Examples of Criminal Case / Government Investigation Results
1. DISMISSAL – Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, U.S. v. W.A. Extortion case – conspiracy to extort money and transmitting interstate communications with intent to extort money. Case was dismissed after Indictment for these extortion charges. The defendant/client was indicted based upon allegations that he stole sensitive material regarding investors from a company and then offered to sell the information for one million dollars. The United States Attorney’s Office dismissed the case after defense presentations which showed no criminal intent by the defendant.
2. NO INDICTMENT / INVESTIGATION CLOSED – Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, re T.H. Bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution. Investigation concerned real estate closings with allegations of inflated appraisals and inflated income/cash flow on loan applications and closing statements. After various meetings with the United States Attorney’s Office and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and presentations of evidence to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the investigation as to this target/defendant was closed.
3. NO INDICTMENT / INVESTIGATION CLOSED – Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, re H.K. Fraud, Bribery and False Statements to an Agency. Investigation concerned allegations that the target/client, an employee of the Social Security Administration, was obtaining Social Security benefits/monies for persons who would pay him to do so. After various contacts with and presentations to the United States Attorney and the agent for the Office of the Inspector General, the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined prosecution.
4. NO INDICTMENT – Western District of Texas, re M.H. Bribery of Officials. Investigation of monies to school board members in exchange for contracts for services to the local school district. After discussions and presentations to the United States Attorney, the client is not indicted, but will be a witness if necessary.
5. NO INDICTMENT / INVESTIGATION CLOSED – Northern District of Texas, re D.B. Transmission of Pornographic Images/Possession of Underage Images. After discussions and presentations to the United States Attorney’s Office, the investigation was closed with no action.
6. ACQUITTAL (NOT GUILTY VERDICT) – Eastern District of Texas. Client was charged in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana. Seven defendants pled guilty and were sentenced to lengthy prison sentences, and three went to trial. The jury convicted two defendants, but acquitted the client represented by John Teakell and David Finn on all counts.
7. DISMISSAL – Northern District of Texas. Client was indicted for attempting to transport a firearm on a commercial airline flight. The handgun, in client’s checked luggage, accidentally discharged and shot a baggage handler at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. After defense counsel reviewed the evidence with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and made a defense presentation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office dismissed the Indictment.
8. DISMISSAL / DIVERSION – Northern District of Texas. Client was indicted for allegedly defrauding the United States Department of Agriculture, specifically, a food and child care program. The U.S. Attorney’s Office dismissed the case before trial after a compelling defense presentation, as the federal prosecutors were not aware of certain evidence that was to be used at trial by the client. The client was on a pre-trial diversion program.
9. IMMUNITY / NO INDICTMENT – Northern District of Texas. Client was a target of a federal investigation for bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution regarding a company’s loan through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). After presentations to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the client was not indicted, but was given immunity from prosecution. The other target was indicted and convicted.
10. NO INDICTMENT / INVESTIGATION CLOSED – Eastern District of Texas. Client was the target of a federal investigation for illegal sales of military equipment. After a defense counsel presentation to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the prosecution closed the investigation with no indictment.
11. NO INDICTMENT / INVESTIGATION CLOSED – Northern District of Texas. Client was a potential target of a mail fraud scheme in North Texas and elsewhere. After discussions with the presentations to federal agents, the agency declined to refer this client to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
12. NO INDICTMENT / INVESTIGATION CLOSED – Northern District of Texas. Client, a manager of an apartment complex, was a target of a federal investigation for drug trafficking and maintaining a house where drugs are kept or sold. After defense presentation and discussions with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the prosecution declined to proceed against the client.
13. NO INDICTMENT / INVESTIGATION CLOSED – Eastern District of Texas. Client, a travel agency owner and operator, was the target of a federal investigation for bank fraud and mail fraud. The U.S. Attorney’s Office investigated allegations of fraud for cancelled trips and lost monies after “9/11” restricted booking availability abroad, and declined to prosecute after defense presentations the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
14. NO INDICTMENT / NO TARGET – Eastern District of Texas. Client was considered a subject of an investigation for mail fraud and securities fraud, but was later removed from consideration for prosecution after discussions and presentations to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and investigating authorities.
15. REDUCED CHARGE – Western District of Texas. Client was indicted for possessing and passing counterfeit currency after a U.S. Secret Service investigation with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. After preparing for trial and making defense presentations to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the charge was reduced to a misprision of a felony -- failure to apprise law enforcement of an on-going felony. The client pled guilty and received probation. A conviction on the counterfeit currency charges would have normally resulted in federal prison time.
16. DEFENDANT RESPONSIBLE FOR LESS THAN GOVERNMENT CLAIMED – Eastern District of Texas. Client proceeded to trial on this drug trafficking Indictment and was convicted, although the client was responsible for much less cocaine than the government alleged. The government’s witnesses originally alleged that the client was involved in at least one hundred (100) kilograms of cocaine, but the jury found that the client was responsible for only 500 grams to less than five (5) kilograms of cocaine.
17. SECURITY CLEARANCE NOT REVOKED – U.S. Department of Defense, Office of Hearings and Appeals. Administrative action sought revocation of a security clearance issued by the Department of the Navy for an employee of a company engaging in providing and maintaining weapons systems equipment and communications. After a trial, the administrative judge declined to revoke the security clearance.
18. NO INDICTMENT / NO TARGET – District of Columbia. In re GG. Client was targeted in a communications company fraud investigation for mail fraud and wire fraud, concerning unsolicited emails forwarded to persons and the content thereof. This criminal investigation began following an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission. After the defense demonstrated that Client was not responsible for the email transmissions, but rather only sold the lines and communication capabilities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office removed him as a target in the investigation.
