A federal investigation is serious business. If you’re in Texas take it seriously and contact Dallas federal criminal defense lawyer John Helms. Learning that federal law enforcement is investigating you or your business for possible criminal law violations can be very frightening and intimidating. Federal agents and prosecutors have substantial resources and a lot of discretion when it comes to investigations. But those resources and power have limits and you can take steps to protect yourself by avoiding mistakes that could be very costly. An investigation is the first step in the … [Read more...]
Explaining The Sentencing of Paul Manafort
As a criminal defense attorney in Dallas, Attorney John Helms offers his unique perspective of the Paul Manafort sentencing on March 7th, 2019 and the implications of the sentence length. I am very troubled by the sentencing of Paul Manafort yesterday. According to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, he should have received a sentence of at least 19 years. The 47-month sentence he received was roughly an 80 percent downward departure from the Sentencing Guidelines—a breathtaking departure for someone who did not plead guilty and who did not substantially assist the government by … [Read more...]
Police Still Using Inaccurate Drug Field Tests
When police believe someone has illegal drugs in their possession, they often rely on drug field tests to determine if the substance is really a drug. These kits are generally easy to use, which makes them convenient for police officers during traffic stops. Unfortunately, reports show that drug field tests are often unreliable and sometimes outright wrong, resulting in innocent people spending days and sometimes even weeks in jail. The problem is that police can still arrest an individual based on the results of a drug field test. Because a drug field test isn’t always admissible in … [Read more...]
Stealing Company Trade Secrets Is a White Collar Crime
In today’s competitive business world, companies typically go to great lengths to protect their intellectual property. Ideas have tremendous monetary value, and many businesses require their employees to sign non-compete and non-disclosure agreements that prohibit them from stealing trade secrets or sharing insider information with competitors or in some cases anyone else. In fact, reports say that intellectual property can make up about 80 percent of a business’s value. When an employee violates a non-disclosure agreement, they can face a civil lawsuit, which can result in the employee … [Read more...]
Do Members of the Military Have the Same Rights as Civilians?
If you or a loved one serve in the military, it’s important to understand that servicemembers don’t have the same rights as civilians. While members of the armed forces have specific rights and legal protections, they are often quite different than those guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. In certain respects, the military justice system would violate a person’s constitutional rights if the individual was a civilian. However, members of the military are treated differently under military law. In some cases, the legal rights of servicemembers are narrower than … [Read more...]
