Houston Interstate Drug Trafficking Defense Attorney

Defending Against Multi-State Drug Charges

Interstate drug trafficking charges involve the transportation, distribution, or conspiracy to move controlled substances across state lines. These cases typically trigger federal jurisdiction and carry severe mandatory minimum sentences. The complexity of multi-state investigations, combined with enhanced penalties for interstate commerce, requires an attorney with specific experience in cross-border drug defense.

Understanding Interstate Drug Trafficking

What Constitutes Interstate Drug Trafficking?

Interstate Commerce Elements:

• Physical transportation – Moving drugs across state boundaries
• Mail and shipping – Using USPS, FedEx, UPS for drug distribution
• Interstate conspiracy – Coordinating drug operations across multiple states
• Financial transactions – Money transfers related to multi-state drug sales

Why Interstate Cases Become Federal

Federal Jurisdiction Triggers:

• Commerce Clause authority – Constitution grants federal power over interstate commerce
• 21 U.S.C. § 841 – Federal drug distribution laws apply to interstate conduct
• Multi-district investigations – Cases spanning multiple U.S. Attorney offices
• Federal resources – DEA, FBI, and HSI lead interstate investigations

Common Interstate Drug Trafficking Scenarios in Houston

Highway Interdiction Cases

Interstate 10 Corridor:

Texas-Louisiana Border:

• Traffic stops on I-10 between Houston and Louisiana
• “Criminal interdiction” units targeting eastbound traffic
• Drug courier profiling and pretextual stops
• K-9 units at rest areas and weigh stations

Texas-Arizona Connection:

• I-10 westbound trafficking from Houston to Phoenix, Los Angeles
• Border Patrol checkpoints near El Paso
• Commercial vehicle inspections and searches
• Hidden compartment discoveries

Interstate 45 and Mexico Border Routes

Houston as Distribution Hub:

• Drugs entering through Texas-Mexico border
• Distribution to Dallas, Oklahoma, Arkansas via I-45 North
• Drop houses in Houston area for interstate shipments
• Stash locations before multi-state distribution

Houston Airports and Interstate Trafficking

George Bush Intercontinental (IAH):

TSA and DEA Airport Operations:

• Carry-on luggage drug discoveries
• Checked baggage inspections and drug dog alerts
• Cash seizures and currency transportation violations
• Passenger profiling and secondary screening

Hobby Airport (HOU):

• Domestic flight drug courier cases
• Southwest Airlines routes to major cities
• One-way ticket purchases flagged by authorities
• Nervousness and behavioral indicators

Parcel and Mail Trafficking

Commercial Shipping Interdiction:

FedEx and UPS Houston Facilities:

• Drug dog screening of packages
• Suspicious package indicators (excessive tape, odor, fictitious sender)
• Controlled deliveries to recipient addresses
• Search warrant execution after delivery

U.S. Postal Service:

• Federal mail trafficking under 18 U.S.C. § 1716
• Postal inspectors and drug interdiction programs
• First-class mail warrant requirements
• Parcel tracking and pattern analysis

Federal Laws Governing Interstate Drug Trafficking

Enhanced Penalties for Interstate Commerce

21 U.S.C. § 841(b) Sentencing Enhancements:

Quantity-Based Mandatory Minimums:

• Same thresholds as federal trafficking (5-year and 10-year minimums)
• Interstate element proves federal jurisdiction
• Sentencing guidelines Chapter 2D drug quantity table
• No parole in federal system (85% minimum time served)

Travel Act Violations

18 U.S.C. § 1952 – Interstate Travel:

Additional Federal Charges:

• Using interstate facilities (roads, phones, mail) to facilitate drug trafficking
• Traveling across state lines with intent to distribute drugs
• Using interstate wire communications for drug business
• Separate offense stacked with drug trafficking charges

Money Laundering in Interstate Cases

18 U.S.C. § 1956 and § 1957:

Financial Transaction Charges:

• Transporting drug proceeds across state lines
• Structuring cash transactions to avoid reporting
• Wire transfers between states for drug payments
• Asset forfeiture and property seizures

Interstate Investigation Methods

Multi-State Task Force Operations

Coordinated Federal Investigations:

High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA):

• Houston HIDTA coordinating with other regions
• Information sharing between multiple DEA divisions
• Joint operations with state and local agencies
• Multi-jurisdictional wiretap investigations

Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF):

• High-priority target investigations
• Enhanced resources for complex cases
• Conspiracy charges involving multiple states
• RICO and continuing criminal enterprise prosecutions

Interstate Surveillance and Tracking

Multi-State Monitoring:

• GPS tracking devices on vehicles crossing state lines
• Cell phone location data showing interstate travel
• Toll booth records and license plate readers
• Hotel and rental car records in multiple states

Confidential Informants and Controlled Buys

CI Operations Across State Lines:

• Informants making controlled purchases in multiple states
• Recorded phone calls and text messages between states
• Cooperating co-defendants providing multi-state information
• Informant travel to establish interstate element

Defense Strategies for Interstate Drug Trafficking

Challenging Federal Jurisdiction

Interstate Commerce Arguments:

Insufficient Nexus to Interstate Commerce:

• Purely intrastate conduct mischaracterized as interstate
• Lack of evidence drugs actually crossed state lines
• Speculative assumptions about drug origin or destination
• Improper venue – case filed in wrong federal district

Tenth Amendment Federalism:

• Federal overreach into state police powers
• Appropriate state prosecution vs. federal charges
• Commerce Clause limitations on federal authority
• Case law supporting state jurisdiction

Fourth Amendment Interstate Challenges

Constitutional Search Issues:

Highway Interdiction Defenses:

• Pretextual traffic stops lacking reasonable suspicion
• Prolonged detention exceeding traffic stop scope
• Coerced consent searches on interstate highways
• Drug dog reliability and false alert challenges

Border and Checkpoint Searches:

• Illegal vehicle searches at interior checkpoints
• Exceeding border search exception authority
• Racial or ethnic profiling in vehicle selection
• Lack of reasonable suspicion for secondary inspection

Package and Mail Searches:

• Warrantless parcel searches violating Fourth Amendment
• Insufficient probable cause for search warrant
• Privacy expectations in sealed packages
• Controlled delivery execution problems

Attacking Interstate Element of Offense

Lack of Proof Beyond Reasonable Doubt:

• Government unable to prove drugs crossed state lines
• Speculation about drug source or destination
• Circumstantial evidence insufficient for interstate element
• Motion to dismiss for failure to establish federal jurisdiction

Vehicle Stop Interstate Cases

Texas DPS Criminal Interdiction

Highway Drug Enforcement:

Interstate Highway Targeting:

• Commercial interdiction units on I-10, I-45, I-20
• Out-of-state license plates flagged for stops
• Minor traffic violations as pretext for drug investigation
• Criminal indicators and drug courier profiles

Illegal Stop Tactics:

• Stops based solely on out-of-state plates
• Following vehicles waiting for minor violation
• Traffic violations fabricated to justify stop
• Extending stop beyond reasonable time for traffic purpose

Hidden Compartment Cases

Vehicle Modification Prosecutions:

Trap/Hidden Compartment Laws:

• Texas Penal Code § 521.457 – hidden compartment vehicle registration
• Federal hidden compartment statute – 49 U.S.C. § 30117
• Aftermarket modifications and secret compartments
• Defending against compartment awareness charges

Compartment Discovery Issues:

• Searches exceeding scope of consent
• Lack of probable cause for invasive vehicle search
• Mechanical inspection without warrant
• Chain of custody for drugs found in compartment

Multi-State Conspiracy Defense

Conspiracy Across State Lines

21 U.S.C. § 846 Interstate Elements:

Interstate Conspiracy Challenges:

• Proving agreement to traffic drugs across states
• Overt act requirement in conspiracy jurisdiction
• Withdrawal defense before interstate conduct
• Scope of conspiracy limitations

Co-Conspirator Liability Issues

Pinkerton Doctrine in Interstate Cases:

• Liability for co-conspirator conduct in other states
• Foreseeable acts by conspiracy members
• Drug quantity attributable from multi-state operation
• Sentencing exposure for conduct in other jurisdictions

Venue Challenges in Multi-State Cases

Where Case Should Be Prosecuted:

Improper Venue Arguments:

• Venue proper only where overt conspiracy act occurred
• Multiple possible venues in multi-state conspiracy
• Strategic forum selection by prosecutors
• Motion to transfer to more appropriate district

Airport and TSA Interstate Cases

TSA Drug Discoveries

Airport Screening Cases:

Constitutional Issues in Airport Searches:

• TSA administrative search authority limits
• Drug discovery outside scope of security screening
• Referral to law enforcement and Fourth Amendment
• Abandoned baggage and expectation of privacy

Suppression Strategies:

• TSA exceeded security screening purpose
• Illegal detention after drug discovery
• Coerced statements to TSA or police
• Miranda violations in airport interrogations

Cash Seizure Cases

Interstate Currency Transportation:

Bulk Cash Smuggling:

• 31 U.S.C. § 5332 – failure to report currency over $10,000
• Civil asset forfeiture of undeclared currency
• Criminal prosecution for currency structuring
• Defending legitimate cash transportation

Defending Parcel Interdiction Cases

Package Profile and Suspicion

Challenging Parcel Searches:

Insufficient Probable Cause:

• Package indicators insufficient for search warrant
• Drug dog alert unreliability on packages
• False sender information as only suspicious factor
• Profiling based on source state (California, Colorado)

Controlled Delivery Defense

Post-Seizure Investigation:

Challenging Controlled Deliveries:

• Lack of knowledge of package contents
• No connection to sender or shipment
• Refusing to accept or open package
• Lack of dominion and control over drugs

Why Choose Cory Roth Law Office for Interstate Defense

Multi-Jurisdictional Experience

Interstate Defense Expertise:

• Licensed in Texas state and federal courts
• Experience with multi-district federal cases
• Relationships with federal defenders in other states
• Understanding of venue and jurisdiction strategy

Proven Interstate Trafficking Defense Results

Track Record in Interstate Cases:

• Suppression victories in I-10 and I-45 vehicle stops
• Dismissed charges for lack of interstate jurisdiction
• Below-guideline sentences in multi-state conspiracies
• Acquittals in airport and parcel interdiction cases

Comprehensive Investigation Resources

Defense Team Capabilities:

• Private investigators for multi-state witness interviews
• Digital forensics for cell phone location analysis
• Transportation and logistics experts
• Fourth Amendment and federal jurisdiction experts

Immediate Response for Interstate Arrests

24/7 Availability:

• Arrests can occur anywhere along interstate routes
• Initial appearance in nearest federal courthouse
• Immediate bond hearing representation
• Interstate transfer and detention issues