Northern District of Texas (TXND) Federal Criminal Defense
About the Northern District of Texas (TXND)
The Northern District of Texas (TXND) 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. TXND covers North Texas counties including Dallas, Tarrant, Collin (partial), Denton (partial), and 100 counties total. Dallas Division is the highest-volume.
Divisions within the Northern District of Texas (TXND)
- Dallas Division
- Fort Worth Division
- Amarillo Division
- Lubbock Division
- Abilene Division
- San Angelo Division
- Wichita Falls Division
Common federal charges in this district
Drug-conspiracy indictments (21 U.S.C. § 841), felon-in-possession (18 U.S.C. § 922(g)), wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343), healthcare fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1347), bank fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1344), child exploitation (18 U.S.C. §§ 2251, 2252A).
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.
Texas Marijuana Charges by Weight
| Weight | Offense | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2 oz | Class B misdemeanor | Up to 180 days + $2,000 |
| 2-4 oz | Class A misdemeanor | Up to 1 year + $4,000 |
| 4 oz - 5 lb | State jail felony | 180 days-2 years + $10K |
| 5-50 lb | 3rd degree felony | 2-10 years + $10K |
| 50-2,000 lb | 2nd degree felony | 2-20 years + $10K |
| 2,000+ lb | Enhanced 1st degree | 5-99 years/life + $50K |
| Hemp products with delta-9 THC ≤ 0.3% are legal under HB 1325 (2019) | ||
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.
FAQs about Northern District of Texas (TXND) federal practice
What's the difference between TXND and TXED for my case?
Venue depends on where the offense occurred. TXND covers Dallas, Tarrant, and most of the Metroplex. 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.