Federal agents do not usually knock on your door without a plan.
By the time you learn that you are being investigated, the government may already have gathered records, interviewed witnesses, or taken other investigative steps. If you wait until an indictment to start thinking about your defense, some of your options may already be gone.
Keith & Lorfing defends people and businesses facing federal investigations and criminal charges in Houston and throughout the Southern District of Texas. Our team is led by Russell Lorfing, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted federal crimes before moving into private practice. He is admitted to practice in the Southern District of Texas.
If federal agents have contacted you, you received a target letter or subpoena, your home or business was searched, or you have already been indicted, talk to a Houston federal criminal defense lawyer before making a statement.
The federal cases we defend in Houston
Federal charges in Houston are heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division, at the Bob Casey U.S. Courthouse, 515 Rusk St. The district runs from Houston to the border, which is why its docket is heavy with drug, immigration, fraud, and firearms cases.
Federal charges in Houston can involve everything from a drug investigation to a complicated financial case involving years of records and multiple agencies.
We defend clients facing:
- Federal drug charges: Distribution, manufacturing, and conspiracy cases under 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846, plus import/export under §§ 952 and 960. Drug quantity can materially affect mandatory minimums and sentencing exposure, so we examine the evidence behind the government’s number, including laboratory reports, seized drugs, communications, and wiretap evidence rather than simply accepting the quantity alleged. See our Houston federal drug crimes defense lawyers for a deeper look at federal drug charges, mandatory minimums, and possible defenses.
- Federal gun and weapons charges: Felon-in-possession under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), using a firearm in furtherance of a crime under § 924(c), straw purchases under § 922(a)(6), and unregistered NFA items under 26 U.S.C. § 5861. ATF usually investigates. See our Houston federal gun charges defense lawyers for more on firearms offenses under §§ 922 and 924.
- Federal immigration crimes: Illegal reentry after removal under 8 U.S.C. § 1326, harboring or transporting under § 1324, and document fraud under § 1546. These carry consequences that follow you long after the case ends. See our Houston federal immigration defense lawyers for more on illegal reentry, harboring, document fraud, and related federal charges.
- Healthcare fraud: Billing and kickback cases under 18 U.S.C. § 1347, the Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. § 1320a-7b), and the False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. § 3729), usually investigated by HHS-OIG, DOJ, and the FBI. See our Houston healthcare fraud defense lawyers for more on billing fraud, kickbacks, False Claims Act matters, and federal healthcare investigations.
- SEC and white-collar cases: Securities fraud, wire fraud, mail fraud, and other financial investigations can turn on large sets of records and the government’s interpretation of them. In these cases, we look closely at how alleged loss was calculated, which transactions were included, and whether the underlying records actually support the government’s number. See our Houston SEC fraud defense lawyers for more on securities investigations, Wells notices, and parallel SEC and DOJ proceedings.
- Money laundering: Moving, concealing, or spending allegedly criminal proceeds under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956 and 1957, often alongside fraud, drug, healthcare, or white-collar charges. A Houston Money Laundering Defense Lawyer can help challenge the government’s tracing, intent theory, and alleged financial connections.
Because the Southern District of Texas stretches from Houston to the border, the Gulf Coast, and Southeast Texas, federal cases often move across divisions. Keith & Lorfing defends clients in Houston and throughout the district.
That includes border courts like Laredo, McAllen, and Brownsville; coastal divisions like Corpus Christi, Galveston, and Victoria; and Southeast Texas federal courts through our Beaumont federal criminal defense team.
What a federal charge in Houston actually puts at risk
Federal cases are not scaled-up state cases. They carry mandatory minimum sentences, an advisory set of Sentencing Guidelines, and no parole — federal time is served almost in full.
Mandatory minimums are the part that surprises people most. In drug and gun cases especially, a single fact — a quantity, a prior conviction, a firearm — can lock in a floor the judge cannot go below without a legal reason.
The Sentencing Guidelines then set a recommended range on top of that. In Houston federal sentencing, that range is built from the specific facts of your case, which is exactly why the fight over drug quantity, loss amount, firearm allegations, role enhancements, acceptance of responsibility, and other disputed facts matters so much.
The U.S. Sentencing Commission’s overview of federal sentencing provides additional detail on how the federal sentencing process and Guidelines work.
The damage rarely stops at prison. Depending on the facts of your case, you may also face:
- Asset forfeiture: The government can move to seize money, homes, and accounts it claims are tied to the alleged offense — sometimes before trial.
- Immigration consequences: A conviction, or even certain pleas, can trigger removal for non-citizens. Under Padilla v. Kentucky, your lawyer must advise you on these effects before you plead.
- Professional licensing loss: Doctors, nurses, financial professionals, and others can lose the credentials their livelihood depends on.
None of these outcomes is automatic, and none is a foregone conclusion. How early and how well a case is defended can change every one of them.
If you’re weighing what’s at stake, talk to a federal defense lawyer about the specific exposure in your case.
How federal investigations start — and the mistakes that make them worse
Modern federal investigations do not always begin with a tip. The government now runs analytics across whole industries, flagging outliers in billing and financial data automatically.
You no longer need an angry employee to trigger an investigation — billing differently from your peers can be enough. A person or business can be under review before anyone complains, and by the time it feels real, investigators may already hold years of records.
Enforcement has also shifted toward individuals. DOJ increasingly pursues the executives and decision-makers behind an organization, not just the company. Coming forward early, before the government identifies an issue on its own, can preserve options that narrow once it gets there first. This is about leverage, not a deadline.
Two early mistakes cost people the most:
- Deleting or “cleaning up” records. Deleting emails or documents doesn’t fix the problem — it creates a new one. Obstruction is often easier to prove than the underlying conduct, and it destroys the leverage that preserving evidence through counsel can build.
- Putting your head in the sand. Ignoring it lets the government quietly build its case while your options shrink.
If you fear you’re under review, a few steps matter most right away:
- Hire experienced federal counsel now — ideally before a subpoena or agents arrive, and not a general practitioner.
- Preserve everything. Never delete or alter records; evidence produced strategically through counsel can create leverage.
- Control all government contact. Let your lawyer make first contact, and never rely on informal assurances from an agent.
- Get a real read on timing, so you act while options are still open.
How we defend federal cases in Houston
The best federal defense often starts before charges are filed. When we get involved during the investigation, we can sometimes shape the outcome while the government is still deciding — or keep a case from being charged at all.
Our approach is built around a few concrete strategies:
- Investigation-stage intervention: If you’ve received a target letter or grand jury subpoena, we step in to manage contact with agents and prosecutors so you don’t hand the government its case. We can present your side while decisions are still open.
- Suppression and challenging the evidence: We examine every search, wiretap, and interview for constitutional violations. Evidence obtained illegally can be kept out.
- Attacking the government’s math: In drug and fraud cases, the number the government uses can have a major effect on sentencing exposure. We examine how alleged drug quantity or financial loss was calculated and test the evidence behind it, including laboratory reports, seized evidence, communications, wiretaps, and financial records. An allegation in an indictment or sentencing calculation does not make the number correct.
- Negotiation from strength: We negotiate from a prepared, trial-ready position — not from fear. Prosecutors treat a defense that is ready to go to trial differently.
- Trial: When the government won’t offer a fair resolution, we try cases. Our founding partner Trey Keith has spent 20-plus years defending the accused and earning “Not Guilty” verdicts.
- Sentencing mitigation: If a case reaches sentencing, the work is far from over. We challenge disputed Guideline calculations and build mitigation around the individual client, including relevant personal history, family circumstances, rehabilitation, employment, community ties, and other facts that may support a below-Guideline sentence. We also examine departures, variances, and safety-valve eligibility where applicable.
Ready to build a defense? Reach out to our team for a confidential review of your options.
Why choose Keith & Lorfing for your federal case
A former federal prosecutor leads the firm. Managing partner Russell Lorfing is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney who ran a federal human trafficking task force on Saipan. In 2024 he was selected Co-Chair of the Federal Criminal Defense Committee for the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and named a Super Lawyers honoree.
Russell also has deep personal ties to Houston. He grew up in the greater Houston area, and his family’s connection to the city stretches back generations through his great-grandfather. His federal background also includes cyber investigations and electronic evidence, including service as a Cyber Hacking Intellectual Property Prosecutor and lecturing for agencies including the FBI, IRS, and DEA.
Federal defense rewards experience on both sides of the courtroom. Our team has it.
- A retired federal judge sits of counsel. The Hon. E. Scott Frost (Ret.) brings more than 30 years of federal courtroom experience to our strategy.
- A veteran trial lawyer at the firm’s foundation. Trey Keith has defended the accused for over 20 years, with many “Not Guilty” verdicts.
- A deep bench. Our team includes former federal prosecutors and defenders, former FBI agents, and IRS criminal investigators — people who know how federal cases are built.
- Admitted where your case lives. Russell Lorfing is admitted in the Southern District of Texas, along with the Northern and Western Districts, the Fifth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
We represent clients in federal courts across the country, and our team is drawn from the highest levels of the federal system — former federal prosecutors and defenders, former FBI agents, former IRS criminal investigators, and a retired federal judge. Federal law is national, but effective federal defense still depends on understanding the court, the government’s case, and the strategy required in the individual matter.
One honest note: past results never guarantee a future outcome. Every case turns on its own facts, and we’ll tell you straight what yours looks like.
What to expect in the federal process
Federal cases move quietly but constantly. These cases don’t move fast on the surface, but underneath they’re moving the entire time — by the time it feels real, it’s usually much further along than you think.
Here’s the general path a Houston federal case follows:
- Investigation: Agencies like the FBI, DEA, ATF, HSI, or HHS-OIG gather evidence, often for months, before anyone is charged. Target letters and grand jury subpoenas surface here.
- Charging: The government brings charges by indictment or information filed in the Southern District of Texas.
- Initial appearance and detention: You appear before a magistrate judge, and the court decides on release or detention.
- Pretrial: Both sides exchange discovery, and the defense files motions to suppress evidence or dismiss counts.
- Resolution: The case ends in a negotiated plea or a trial before a district judge at the Bob Casey courthouse.
- Sentencing: If there’s a conviction, the court sets a sentence guided by the advisory Guidelines and the arguments both sides make.
Knowing the path is one thing; having someone who has walked it from the prosecution side is another. You can contact our firm at any stage — the earlier, the better.
Talk to a Houston federal defense team before the government decides for you
A federal investigation is frightening, but you are not out of options — and you don’t have to face it alone. The sooner you have a former prosecutor reviewing your situation, the more room there is to change where it goes.
Keith & Lorfing defends federal cases in Houston and throughout the Southern District of Texas. We’ll listen, tell you honestly what you’re facing, and start building a defense.
Schedule a confidential consultation with our federal defense team today.
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5005 Riverway Dr #250, Houston, TX 77056
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lawyer if I’ve only received a target letter or subpoena?
That can be one of the most important times to speak with a lawyer. A target letter or subpoena may indicate that the government is actively investigating you before formal charges have been filed.
Early representation allows counsel to understand what the government is asking for, manage communications, preserve evidence properly, and assess what options may still be available before a charging decision is made.
What should I do if federal agents want to question me?
You have the right to remain silent and to speak with a lawyer before answering substantive questions about an investigation.
Making a materially false statement to a federal agent can itself create serious legal problems under 18 U.S.C. § 1001. It is generally better to remain polite, decline to discuss the substance of the investigation, and contact counsel.
If you have already spoken with agents, do not try to repair the conversation by calling them back and adding more information. Tell your lawyer exactly what happened.
What if federal agents search my home or business?
Contact a federal defense lawyer as soon as possible.
Counsel can review the warrant, what investigators were authorized to search or seize, what was actually taken, and what the search may reveal about the government’s investigation.
Do not destroy, alter, or hide records after a search. Preserve potentially relevant evidence and get legal advice before taking further action.
What’s the difference between a state and federal charge in Houston?
Texas criminal cases are prosecuted under state law in state courts. Federal criminal cases are prosecuted by the United States government in federal court.
Federal cases involve different investigative agencies, procedures, sentencing statutes, and Sentencing Guidelines. Federal investigations also frequently develop for months before an arrest or indictment occurs.
Where will my federal case be heard in Houston?
Federal criminal cases assigned to the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas are generally handled at the Bob Casey United States Courthouse at 515 Rusk Avenue in Houston.
The Houston Division includes Harris County along with Austin, Brazos, Colorado, Fayette, Fort Bend, Grimes, Madison, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Walker, Waller, and Wharton counties.
What are mandatory minimums, and can they be avoided?
A mandatory minimum establishes a statutory sentence that a judge generally cannot go below unless a legal exception applies.
Depending on the charge and facts, some defendants in federal drug cases may qualify for the safety valve under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(f). Substantial assistance can also create a mechanism for a sentence below an otherwise applicable minimum when the statutory requirements are satisfied and the government makes the required motion.
Whether either applies depends on the individual case.
Are the federal Sentencing Guidelines mandatory?
No. The federal Sentencing Guidelines are advisory, but they remain an important part of federal sentencing.
The court calculates the applicable Guideline range and also considers the factors set out in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). The defense can challenge disputed Guideline calculations and argue for an appropriate sentence based on the law and the circumstances of the individual case.
Does hiring a lawyer early really change anything?
It can.
Before charges are filed, counsel may be able to manage contact with investigators and prosecutors, determine what the government appears to be investigating, preserve and present relevant evidence, and sometimes address issues before prosecutors make a final charging decision.
The available options depend on how far the investigation has progressed.
Can a federal charge affect my immigration status or professional license?
It can.
Certain federal convictions or pleas can create immigration consequences for non-citizens, and criminal cases can affect professional licenses for doctors, nurses, financial professionals, and others.
Those collateral consequences should be considered as part of the defense strategy rather than after the criminal case has already been resolved.
Can deleting records make my case worse?
Yes.
Destroying or altering documents, emails, messages, or other evidence after learning about an investigation can create a separate obstruction issue under federal law.
Preserve the material and let your lawyer advise you on how requests for records should be handled.
How long does a federal case take?
There is no standard timeline.
Some federal matters resolve within months. Complex fraud, healthcare, conspiracy, or multi-defendant cases can continue for a year or longer, particularly when the investigation involves extensive financial records, electronic evidence, or numerous witnesses.
The investigation itself may also have been underway for months before the defendant became aware of it.
