Trial-tested drug trafficking defense in Dallas County. 25 minutes from L and L Law Group's Frisco office via the Dallas North Tollway. Free, confidential consultation 24/7. Call (214) 466-1398.
Texas Bar Licensed20+ Years Criminal DefenseTCDLA MemberFormer Dallas County DAAvailable 24/7Se Habla Español
If you or someone you love is facing drug trafficking charges in Dallas County, the next 24 to 72 hours matter. Bond conditions, license obligations, target-letter response windows, and digital evidence preservation are all decided early. The right attorney moves quickly to lock in advantages while options are still open. We answer the phone at any hour because that is when most drug trafficking cases need defense work.
Drug Trafficking Attorney Texas cases in Texas are governed by Texas Health & Safety Code §481.112 (manufacture/delivery). The State must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt — and there is almost always more room to challenge the case than the prosecutor first lets on. Stops, searches, statements, lab procedures, witness identifications, chain of custody, and constitutional rights are all open ground for a defense built on Dallas County uses a hybrid system: most agencies upload body-cam and digital evidence to Defender Data; some Dallas Police Department evidence routes through Axon Evidence.com.
L and L Law Group is a Frisco-based criminal defense firm built around two trial lawyers — Njeri London and Reggie London. Reggie London prosecuted in the Dallas County District Attorney's Office before joining the defense bar. That prosecutor's eye on every offense report is what shapes the defense from day one. We are 25 minutes from L and L Law Group's Frisco office via the Dallas North Tollway.
Your Attorneys
Trial-Tested Texas Criminal Defense Counsel
Njeri London
Co-Founding Partner
Texas Bar No.: 24043266
Licensed since: 2006
Law school: Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Memberships: State Bar of Texas, TCDLA
“Texas drug cases break on the search. Article 38.23 is the most powerful tool we have — if the stop, the consent, or the warrant is bad, the entire case usually goes with it. We challenge every link in that chain.”
Reggie London
Co-Founding Partner
Texas Bar No.: 24043514
Licensed since: 2005
Law school: Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Former: Dallas County District Attorney’s Office
Memberships: State Bar of Texas, TCDLA
“I prosecuted Texas drug cases. We had a saying inside the office: a weak search makes a weak case. The defense bar that knows where to push usually wins those motions. We push there.”
This page was written and reviewed by Njeri London, State Bar of Texas No. 24043266, and Reggie London, State Bar of Texas No. 24043514. Last reviewed: April 2026.
Quick Answer
Drug Trafficking Attorney Texas cases in Texas are governed by Texas Health & Safety Code §481.112 (manufacture/delivery). Penalties depend on offense level, prior history, and aggravating facts. Dallas County cases are filed at the Frank Crowley Courts Building. L and L Law Group provides free, confidential 24/7 consultations across the DFW Metroplex. Call (214) 466-1398.
Texas Law Governing Drug Trafficking Cases
Drug Trafficking Attorney Texas charges in Texas arise under Texas Health & Safety Code §481.112 (manufacture/delivery) and related provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Punishment ranges in Texas run from Class C misdemeanor (fine only) through first-degree felony (5 to 99 years or life) under Texas Penal Code Chapter 12. The specific subsection charged, the alleged conduct, prior history, and aggravating facts all change the exposure dramatically.
The first job of defense counsel is to read the offense report carefully against the elements of the charged statute. Many drug trafficking cases are filed quickly — sometimes before the State has all of its evidence — and a careful elemental review often surfaces gaps that translate into pretrial leverage. We use the Michael Morton Act discovery rights under Article 39.14 aggressively from the first appearance forward.
How a Drug Trafficking Case Moves Through Dallas County Courts
After arrest, booking and magistration occur at Lew Sterrett Justice Center, 111 W Commerce St, Dallas, where magistration occurs within 24 hours of arrest under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 15.17. Bond is set and conditions imposed. The case is then filed in the appropriate court — county criminal court for misdemeanors, district court for felonies, federal district court for federal charges. First setting (arraignment) is typically 4 to 8 weeks after arrest; pretrial appearances follow over several months.
Dallas County uses a hybrid system: most agencies upload body-cam and digital evidence to Defender Data; some Dallas Police Department evidence routes through Axon Evidence.com — this matters because the defense file is built around what the State must produce. Resolution comes through dismissal, motion to suppress, plea, deferred adjudication under Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 42A, pretrial diversion, or jury trial in Dallas County courts.
Video: DEA Diversion Control — Controlled Substance Schedules and Enforcement — Drug Enforcement Administration. Visit the official channel →
Defenses Commonly Raised in Drug Trafficking Cases
Article 38.23 motion to suppress — Texas drug cases live or die on the search. If the stop, consent, or warrant was constitutionally defective, the evidence is inadmissible.
Affirmative-links challenges — Texas requires the State to prove the defendant's knowing possession. Mere proximity to drugs in a shared space is not enough.
Lab analysis challenges — quantity, weight, and substance identity must be proven by the lab. Hemp-versus-marijuana under the 0.3% THC threshold has dismissed many marijuana cases.
Drug-free zone challenges (§481.134) — the State must prove the location element; many enhancement allegations fail at the proof stage.
Pretrial diversion — available in Collin County and several others for qualifying first-time PG-1 possession defendants.
Treatment-track resolutions — drug-court programs and treatment alternatives to incarceration in qualifying cases.
Collateral Consequences You Should Know About
A Texas drug conviction triggers federal student-aid ineligibility under 20 U.S.C. §1091(r) for offenses occurring during enrollment; immigration consequences including deportability under 8 U.S.C. §1227(a)(2)(B) for any controlled-substance conviction; driver-license suspension under Transportation Code §521.372; professional-license sanctions for healthcare, nursing, education, and pharmacy licensees; federal firearm disability under 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(3); and severe child-custody and family-court consequences.
How We Defend Drug Trafficking Cases
Our Five-Step Defense Process
01
Free 24/7 Consultation + Search Analysis
On the call, we walk through the stop or warrant — every Texas drug case lives or dies on the search. We identify the constitutional grounds for challenge before any other defense work begins.
02
Investigation: Lab, Affidavits, Body-Cam
Once retained, we pull body-cam, dash-cam, the search warrant and supporting affidavit, lab reports, and chain-of-custody documents. We test the affidavit for Franks violations and review every link in the chain to the lab.
03
Article 38.23 Suppression
Motion to suppress under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 38.23 if the stop, consent, or warrant fails constitutional scrutiny. Successful suppression usually ends the case because the State has no admissible evidence of possession.
04
Pretrial Diversion or Charge Reduction
Where appropriate, we negotiate pretrial diversion (available in Collin County and several others for qualifying first-time offenders), reduction from PG-1 to a lesser penalty group, dismissal of drug-free zone enhancements under Health & Safety Code §481.134, or treatment-track resolutions.
05
Trial-Ready Defense + Record Clearing
If trial is the right call, we are ready: lab-tech cross-examination, affirmative-links challenges, and expert toxicology. After resolution, we screen for expunction or nondisclosure — many drug cases sealed under SB 731 (2023).
Client Outcomes
Social Proof & Case Results
5.0
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Average rating across verified client reviews
Recent Client Reviews
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“Traffic stop turned into a search and a felony charge. The traffic basis didn't hold up. Article 38.23 motion granted, evidence suppressed, case dismissed.”
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“PG-1 felony for under 4 grams. They got me into pretrial diversion in Collin County and the case was dismissed twelve months later. No felony, no record.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“Marijuana possession with intent to distribute. They got the lab to confirm hemp-vs-marijuana under the 0.3% THC threshold. Case dismissed after the lab report came back.”
Representative Case Results
Federal §924(c) count dismissed — Firearm-in-furtherance count dropped at Rule 11 plea. TXED, 2023.
SOAH contested hearing victory — Administrative judge ruled in educator's favor on all counts. Texas, 2024.
ALR hearing won — License retained after officer failed to establish probable cause at hearing. Tarrant County, 2024.
Indecency negotiated without registration — Plea structured to avoid Chapter 62 registration requirement. Tarrant County, 2023.
Marijuana case dismissed — Lab analysis confirmed hemp under 0.3% THC threshold. Denton County, 2023.
Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and depends on its own facts and applicable law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Drug Trafficking — FAQ
Drug Trafficking charges in Texas are governed by Texas Health & Safety Code §481.112 (manufacture/delivery). Penalties depend on offense level, prior history, aggravating facts, and the specific subsection charged. The State must prove every element beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
L and L Law Group offers free initial consultations. Engagement fees for drug trafficking cases in Dallas County vary based on case complexity, charge level (misdemeanor versus felony), and whether trial is anticipated. We offer flat-fee pricing with payment plans. Call (214) 466-1398 for a confidential quote tailored to your case.
The first setting is typically arraignment at the Frank Crowley Courts Building. In most Dallas County misdemeanor cases the defendant's attorney can appear without the client; felony arraignments require the defendant's presence. We will tell you exactly what is required for your case before the setting.
Yes — though never guaranteed. Common dismissal pathways include motions to suppress under Code of Criminal Procedure Article 38.23 when the stop, search, or interrogation was unlawful, insufficient evidence, witness recantation, pretrial diversion, and prosecutorial discretion in marginal cases.
It depends on the disposition. A dismissal makes you eligible for expunction under Code of Criminal Procedure Chapter 55A. A deferred-adjudication completion may qualify for nondisclosure under Government Code §411.0735. SB 731 (2023) expanded eligibility materially. We screen every case for record-clearing options at intake.
Yes. Even when a plea is the right outcome, the negotiated terms — dismissal of greater counts, deferred adjudication versus straight probation, conditions, and the path to record sealing — vary widely with skilled negotiation. A plea entered without counsel is rarely the best plea available.
Misdemeanor drug trafficking cases typically resolve within 6 to 12 months in Dallas County. Felony cases often run 9 to 18 months, longer if trial. Federal cases routinely run 12 to 24 months. The timeline depends on court docket, evidence complexity, and motions filed.
You have an absolute Fifth Amendment right not to testify, and a jury cannot hold silence against you. The decision is yours and yours alone, made with full advice from counsel after seeing how the State's case develops at trial.
Local agencies in Dallas County build cases that route through the Dallas County District Attorney's Office. Discovery is typically delivered through Dallas County uses a hybrid system: most agencies upload body-cam and digital evidence to Defender Data; some Dallas Police Department evidence routes through Axon Evidence.com. Knowing the local agency's practices, the prosecutor unit assigned, and the trial judge's preferences shapes the defense.
Do not talk to law enforcement without counsel present. Do not consent to searches. Do not delete digital records — that can be charged separately as tampering with evidence under Texas Penal Code §37.09. Call us — the first 24 to 72 hours of an investigation are when defense leverage is highest.
Before You Go to Court
Frank Crowley Courts Building
Conveniently located in Frisco — 25 minutes from L and L Law Group's Frisco office via the Dallas North Tollway
On-site garage at 133 N Riverfront ($5–$10/day). Pearl/Arts District DART station 5-min walk. Free 2-hour street parking is rare; plan for paid.
Security & What to Bring
Photo ID required. No firearms, knives, or large bags. Cell phones permitted but must be silenced. Allow 15–25 min at security during peak hours (8:30–9:30 a.m.).
Hours & Clerk
Building 7 a.m.–6 p.m. weekdays. Clerk's window 8 a.m.–4 p.m. District Clerk: (214) 653-7307. County Clerk: (214) 653-7099.
Dress Code
Conservative business casual at minimum. Closed-toe shoes. Avoid clothing with profanity, drug imagery, or gang-affiliated colors. Hats off in courtroom. Phones must be silenced or off.
By the Numbers
Dallas County, Texas — Drug Trafficking Statistics
<1g / 1–4g / 4–200g
Texas Penalty Group 1 weight tiers determining state-jail through first-degree felony exposure.
Source: Texas Health & Safety Code §481.115
2–20 yrs
Second-degree felony range for PG-1 possession of 4 to under 200 grams.
Source: Texas Penal Code §12.33
2 oz
Marijuana possession threshold: under 2 oz is Class B misdemeanor; over 5 lbs is felony.
Source: Texas Health & Safety Code §481.121
§481.134
Drug-free zone enhancement adds one offense level when within 1,000 ft of schools/parks/youth centers.
Source: Texas Health & Safety Code §481.134
County Prosecution Approach
How the Dallas County District Attorney's Office Handles Drug Trafficking
the Dallas County District Attorney's Office files drug trafficking cases through specialized trial divisions at the Frank Crowley Courts Building. Initial filings move through intake; specialized trial divisions then handle the case to resolution. Knowing which division has the file, the supervising prosecutor's practices, and the trial judge's preferences shapes how the defense is best presented. Dallas County DA's Office →
Dallas County operates a high-volume docket. Cases that sit without active defense work tend to follow the State's default trajectory toward conviction or unfavorable plea. Cases where the defense files motions early, requests discovery aggressively under Article 39.14, and engages the prosecutor on the merits routinely resolve more favorably. The Dallas County DA also operates several specialty courts and pretrial-diversion programs that, where eligible, can convert a conviction-track case to a dismissal-track case.
Every case is different. The information above reflects general patterns and does not constitute a prediction or guarantee of any specific outcome.
What to Expect
Your Case Timeline
STEP 1
Arrest & Booking → Magistration
Timeframe: Within 24–48 hours
Booking and magistration occur at Lew Sterrett Justice Center, 111 W Commerce St, Dallas, where magistration occurs within 24 hours of arrest under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 15.17. Bond is set; conditions imposed; counsel may be requested at this stage.
STEP 2
Bond Posting & Release Conditions
Timeframe: Same day to 72 hours
Bond posting (cash, surety, or PR bond), conditions reviewed, MOEP issued in family-violence cases. Compliance from hour one is non-negotiable.
STEP 3
First Setting / Arraignment
Timeframe: 2 to 6 weeks after arrest
First court setting in Dallas County. The defendant's attorney can typically appear without the client at the first misdemeanor setting; felony arraignments require the defendant's presence.
STEP 4
Discovery & Pretrial Motions
Timeframe: 2 to 8 months
Dallas County uses a hybrid system: most agencies upload body-cam and digital evidence to Defender Data; some Dallas Police Department evidence routes through Axon Evidence.com. Defense files Article 39.14 demands, Article 38.23 motions to suppress, motions to quash, and motions in limine.
STEP 5
Negotiation, Plea, or Trial
Timeframe: 3 to 18+ months
Resolution through dismissal, motion-to-suppress ruling, plea (with or without deferred adjudication), pretrial diversion, or jury trial in Dallas County courts.
STEP 6
Post-Resolution Record Clearing
Timeframe: Eligibility varies
After resolution, eligibility for expunction (CCP Chapter 55A) or nondisclosure (Government Code §411.0735) is screened and pursued where available, including SB 731 (2023) expansions.
Every case is different. Case timelines vary based on court docket, evidence complexity, and the specific facts of your situation. L and L Law Group will give you a realistic timeline assessment at your free consultation.
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This website is for general information purposes only and constitutes attorney advertising under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes. Each case is unique and must be evaluated on its own facts and circumstances.
L and L Law Group, PLLC attorneys are licensed to practice in the State of Texas. Njeri London (Texas Bar No. 24043266) is the attorney responsible for the content of this page. Reggie London (Texas Bar No. 24043514). None of the attorneys at L and L Law Group, PLLC are Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization unless specifically and separately stated.
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