Eastern District of Texas (TXED) Federal Criminal Defense
Federal charges in the Eastern District of Texas (TXED) are prosecuted out of the Sherman Division — with courthouses in Sherman and Plano — the venue for most Collin County federal cases. Federal practice runs on different rules: detention hearings, sentencing guidelines, and early discovery decisions. Reggie London is admitted in TXED and defends federal cases district-wide.
About the Eastern District of Texas (TXED)
The Eastern District of Texas (TXED) is one of four federal judicial districts in Texas. The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecutes federal crimes in this district; defendants face indictment by a federal grand jury, prosecution under the United States Code, and sentencing under the United States Sentencing Guidelines as adjusted by 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a) factors. TXED covers eastern Texas including Collin (partial), Grayson, Hunt, Fannin, and 43 counties total. The Plano Division serves Collin County's federal docket.
Divisions within the Eastern District of Texas (TXED)
- Sherman Division
- Tyler Division
- Plano Division
- Beaumont Division
- Texarkana Division
- Lufkin Division
- Marshall Division
Common federal charges in this district
Drug trafficking on I-30/I-20/I-45 corridors, methamphetamine conspiracies, child exploitation, mail/wire fraud, immigration offenses, firearm offenses.
How federal cases differ from state cases
Federal practice runs on different fundamentals than state court. Indictment is the gateway — the grand jury process is one-sided and almost always returns a true bill. Discovery is governed by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 16, the Jencks Act (18 U.S.C. § 3500), Brady v. Maryland (373 U.S. 83), and Giglio v. United States (405 U.S. 150). Pretrial motions practice is heavy: motions to suppress under the Fourth Amendment, motions to dismiss for insufficient indictment, motions in limine on Rule 404(b) evidence, and Daubert challenges to expert testimony.
Federal sentencing is its own discipline. The 2024 U.S. Sentencing Guidelines (as amended) drive the advisory range based on offense level and criminal history category. Defense counsel must build a § 3553(a) variance/departure package — mitigation, cooperation analysis under § 5K1.1, safety-valve analysis under § 5C1.2, and the sentencing memorandum that anchors the court's discretion.
Federal indictment or target letter?
Federal cases move fast. Call before the grand jury vote — the window to influence the charging decision is short.
Call (972) 370-5060Our federal-defense workflow
Three phases. Investigation/pre-indictment: respond to target letters, manage subpoena compliance, negotiate with the AUSA before charges file, evaluate cooperation versus contest. Indictment through trial: arraignment, detention hearing under the Bail Reform Act (18 U.S.C. § 3142), discovery, suppression motions, plea negotiations under Rule 11, trial preparation. Sentencing: PSR review and objections, sentencing memorandum, allocution preparation, supervised release conditions advocacy.
How a federal case actually moves through TXED
Most federal cases in this part of the district begin with an initial appearance before a magistrate judge in Sherman or Plano, usually within a day of arrest. The government may move for detention under 18 U.S.C. § 3142; when it does, the detention hearing is held at the first appearance or within a short continuance — three days for the defense, five for the government. What happens at that hearing often matters more than anything else in the first month of the case, because preparing a defense from custody is harder in every respect.
Before the hearing, Pretrial Services interviews the defendant and prepares a report on residence, employment, family ties, and history. That interview is not a formality — the report frames the judge's view of release conditions, and inconsistencies in it follow the case. We prepare clients for it the same way we prepare them for testimony.
After arraignment, TXED cases run on scheduling orders that move faster than most state dockets. Discovery in a federal case typically arrives early and in volume — agent reports, digital forensics, financial records — and the early defense decisions are about organization: what to challenge, what to investigate independently, and whether the case is heading toward motions, negotiation, or trial. The sentencing guidelines shadow all of it; offense-level math and criminal-history scoring start mattering the day the indictment is returned, not at sentencing.
Venue inside the district has practical consequences too. A case assigned in Sherman draws a different jury pool, different courtroom practices, and different scheduling pressure than one in Texarkana or Beaumont. For clients in Collin and the surrounding counties, the Sherman Division is home turf — and familiarity with how those courtrooms run is part of the work.
FAQs about Eastern District of Texas (TXED) federal practice
What's the difference between TXND and TXED for my case?
Venue depends on where the offense occurred. TXED covers Collin County, Grayson, Hunt, and east Texas — the Plano Division serves Collin County's federal docket. Our office handles cases in both districts.
I got a target letter. Should I talk to the AUSA?
Never without counsel. A target letter signals you are the focus of a federal investigation. Anything you say can be used against you, and proffer agreements have hidden costs. Call us before any contact with the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Will I get pretrial detention or bond in federal court?
Depends on the offense and your circumstances. The Bail Reform Act creates rebuttable presumptions of detention for certain offenses (drug crimes with statutory maximum ≥ 10 years, firearm offenses, crimes of violence). Even where presumption applies, the court can release on conditions if you rebut.
How long does a federal case take?
From indictment to disposition: typically 6-18 months for cases that plead, 12-30 months for cases that go to trial. The Speedy Trial Act (18 U.S.C. § 3161) imposes 70-day trial deadlines but routinely tolls for excludable time.
What's the cost of federal defense representation?
Federal cases are more expensive than state cases — more discovery, more motions, more expert needs, and longer timeline. We quote flat fees per phase (investigation, pretrial, trial, sentencing) so you can plan. Free initial consultation.