Federal charges
Dallas federal criminal defense lawyer for other federal charges.
Not every federal case is a drug or fraud case. People are charged every week in Texas federal courts for false immigration papers, claiming citizenship on a form, scuffles with federal officers, mail theft, benefits fraud and tax crimes. Federal court runs on different rules than state court: different prosecutors, sentencing guidelines and no parole. Mr. Estrada is admitted in the Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, and we explain each step in English or Spanish.
Right now
If you were just charged or contacted in a federal case.
- 01
Stay silent with agents
Federal agents are trained interviewers, and a false statement to them is its own crime. Ask for a lawyer and stop there.
- 02
Find the case number and the court
A summons, complaint or indictment will show the district and division. That tells us where you will appear and how fast.
- 03
Do not sign immigration forms without advice
If you are not a citizen, forms offered by ICE or agents can affect both the criminal case and your status.
- 04
Gather your documents
Papers from the agency, letters, tax records, work records or anything you signed. Do not destroy or change any of it.
- 05
Call us for a free consultation
We answer 24/7 for arrests, in Spanish or English, and can meet in Oak Cliff, in Odessa or by phone.
Key deadlines and numbers
- Parole
- None. Good conduct credit can bring time served to about 85%.Source: 18 U.S.C. 3624(b)
- Speedy trial clock
- Trial within 70 days of indictment or first appearance, with many exclusionsSource: 18 U.S.C. 3161(c)
- Time limit to charge most federal crimes
- 5 yearsSource: 18 U.S.C. 3282
- Sentencing guidelines
- Advisory, but every judge must calculate them firstSource: United States v. Booker (2005)
- False claim to U.S. citizenship
- A crime, and usually a permanent bar to immigration benefitsSource: 18 U.S.C. 911
Texas law
How federal court is different, and common federal charges.
Federal cases are brought by Assistant U.S. Attorneys, usually after agents have already built the file. Sentences are figured under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and the factors in 18 U.S.C. 3553(a). There is no parole, and most prison terms are followed by supervised release.
| Charge | Maximum prison term | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fake or misused immigration documents (18 U.S.C. 1546) | 10 years for a first or second offense | Includes using a false green card or work permit. Higher if tied to drugs or terrorism. |
| False claim to U.S. citizenship (18 U.S.C. 911) | 3 years | Often from a job application, an I-9 form or a voter registration. |
| Assaulting or resisting a federal officer (18 U.S.C. 111) | 1 year, 8 years, or 20 years | Depends on physical contact, a weapon or injury. Covers ICE, Border Patrol and postal employees. |
| Mail theft (18 U.S.C. 1708) | 5 years | Includes having stolen mail, checks or packages. |
| Theft of government money or benefits (18 U.S.C. 641) | 10 years, or 1 year if $1,000 or less | Common in Social Security, VA and benefits overpayment cases. |
| Tax evasion (26 U.S.C. 7201) or false return (7206(1)) | 5 years for evasion, 3 years for a false return | Willful failure to file (7203) is a misdemeanor, up to 1 year. |
Immigration paper cases
Using a false green card, Social Security card or work permit to get a job can be charged as a federal felony. These cases often come from workplace audits or from a later application. The criminal plea and the immigration future have to be planned together.
Source: 18 U.S.C. 1546A checked box can be a permanent problem
Falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen to get a job or a benefit is a crime, and under immigration law it usually means a permanent bar, with very narrow exceptions. Whether the claim was knowing, and what exactly was signed, matter.
Source: 18 U.S.C. 911Federal officer cases
Section 111 covers assaulting, resisting or interfering with federal officers, including during immigration arrests. Video, witness accounts and whether the person knew the officer's role are often central.
Source: 18 U.S.C. 111Tax cases need willfulness
Federal tax crimes require proof that the person knew the duty and chose to violate it. Bad advice, confusion and sloppy records are defenses. Civil IRS issues and the criminal case should be handled together.
Source: 26 U.S.C. 7201How we work
How we handle a federal case.
Mr. Estrada reads the charging papers and the discovery and sets the strategy. Our associates and bilingual staff work the case with him and keep you informed.
01
Read the government's case
Agent reports, recordings, documents and statements. Federal discovery can be large, and we go through it with you.
02
Investigate our side
Witnesses, video, employment and tax records, and anything that shows good faith or a different account of what happened.
03
File the motions that fit
Suppression of statements or searches, dismissal of defective counts, and requests for evidence the government has not turned over.
04
Look for alternatives to conviction
In some cases, especially for people with little or no record, federal prosecutors can agree to pretrial diversion or a misdemeanor resolution. We ask when the facts support it.
05
Decide on plea or trial, then sentencing
We compare any offer to the likely result at trial, and if there is a conviction, we prepare a full sentencing presentation.
Who handles it
The lawyer on the sign is the lawyer on your case.
Mr. Estrada has practiced in Texas since 2003, in state court and in the Northern, Eastern and Western federal districts of Texas. He reads the file and sets the strategy, with associates and staff who work the case alongside him. Everything is explained to you in English or Spanish.
What clients say
“He helped bond my brother out of jail, kept us updated and went above and beyond to get his case dismissed.”What a federal case can affect.
- Immigration status
- Many federal charges carry immigration consequences even when the sentence is short. For non-citizens, the statute and the facts admitted in a plea matter as much as the time.
- Your record
- Federal law has very few ways to clear a conviction, and a Texas expunction does not reach a federal case. Avoiding a conviction, or getting the right charge, matters more for that reason.
- Jobs, benefits and gun rights
- A federal felony can end a federal job or security clearance, affect government benefits and bring a federal gun ban.
Dallas and Odessa
The federal courts we appear in.
Dallas County and nearby counties belong to the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, at the Earle Cabell Federal Building on Commerce Street, while Tarrant County cases go to the Fort Worth Division. Collin and Denton counties are in the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division, with court in Sherman and Plano. Ector and Midland counties are in the Western District of Texas, Midland-Odessa Division, with court in Midland. Mr. Estrada is admitted in all three districts and before the U.S. Supreme Court.
FAQ
Questions people ask.
How is federal court different from state court?
Federal cases are usually investigated longer before charges, the sentencing guidelines shape the outcome, and there is no parole. The judges, prosecutors and rules are different from the county courthouse.
Is there parole in federal prison?
No. A person can earn up to 54 days of good conduct credit per year of the sentence, and some can earn First Step Act credits or complete a drug program for more time off. Supervised release follows.
I used fake papers to work. What can happen?
It can be charged as a federal felony, and it can affect any future immigration case. Many of these cases resolve without long prison time, but the plea has to be planned with immigration in mind. Do not talk to agents first.
Can a federal case be dismissed or diverted?
Sometimes. Charges can be dismissed when evidence is suppressed or the case is weak, and federal prosecutors have a pretrial diversion program for some people. It is not automatic, and it has to be asked for with good reasons.
Can any lawyer handle a federal case?
A lawyer must be admitted to practice in that federal district. Mr. Estrada is admitted in the Northern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, which cover Dallas, Collin and Denton, and the Midland-Odessa area.
How much does it cost to hire you?
The consultation is free. We discuss the fee and payment options up front, before you decide anything.
Related situations
- Federal investigations and target letters
- Federal arrest and detention hearing
- Federal sentencing and plea deals
- Illegal reentry (1326)
- Immigration consequences of a charge
- Wire, bank and PPP fraud
- All: Federal Criminal Defense
Updated October 2026
This page is general information about Texas law, not legal advice for your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a future outcome.
Two offices
Oak Cliff and Odessa.
Mon to Fri 9 to 5, Sat 9 to 12. Emergencies 24/7 by phone.
Law Office of Olegario Estrada, P.C.
We explain everything.We answer 24/7.Se habla español.
Free consultation by phone, video, or in person. Offices in Dallas and Odessa.