Dallas Continuing Criminal Enterprise Attorney 

Relentless & Aggressive Defense for “Drug Kingpin” Allegations

Under 21 U.S.C. § 848, often called the “Drug Kingpin Statute,” the government must prove the accused directed, organized, or financed a group involved in drug trafficking. These cases can carry life-altering penalties and attract national attention. Federal prosecutors often pursue charges aggressively to make an example out of defendants they claim to be in command. 

When you are targeted under this law, your defense must be structured, coordinated, and relentless. } delivers that level of defense every day. Our team handles federal drug prosecutions across Texas and throughout the country, bringing military precision, courtroom focus, and decades of federal litigation experience to every client we represent.

Call (214) 238-9392 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Accessible & Powerful Counsel When You Need It Most

Federal investigations and indictments can unfold without warning. When that happens, immediate access to your defense team matters. Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC ensures clients can reach us whenever critical developments occur, day or night.

• 24/7 Availability for Urgent Concerns: Our team answers calls at all hours to address new arrests, search warrants, or contact from federal agents. You will never be left waiting for guidance when timing matters most.
• Free Initial Consultations: We provide no-cost consultations so potential clients can understand the scope of their situation and receive clear direction before taking the next step. Every discussion is confidential and focused on immediate strategy.
• Secure Video Consultations for Remote Clients: Federal cases often involve clients outside Dallas or under travel restrictions. We offer secure video meetings that allow full participation in your defense from anywhere.

How Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC Confronts “Drug Kingpin” Allegations

A continuing criminal enterprise case centers on allegations of control and profit. Prosecutors claim one person managed, directed, or financed others in a large-scale drug operation. Our defense lawyers challenge that theory by dissecting how the government builds its hierarchy narrative and proving those links are weaker than they appear.

We conduct a targeted defense review that includes:

• Breaking Down the Alleged Chain of Command. We analyze communications and relationships to expose assumptions and unsupported connections within the prosecution’s claimed structure.
• Challenging Inflated Leadership Roles. Routine or peripheral involvement is often portrayed as authority. We correct that exaggeration with documented context and factual evidence.
• Testing Financial Motive Claims. Every transaction or asset is examined to show legitimate sources of income and undermine claims of illicit profit.
• Scrutinizing Witness & Informant Testimony. We confront unreliable cooperators who distort facts to protect themselves or enhance plea outcomes.
• Reframing the Enterprise Allegation. Many cases combine unrelated conduct to meet enterprise thresholds. We isolate and separate those events to weaken the government’s case.

By exposing these structural flaws, we dismantle the story prosecutors use to label clients as organizers or leaders.

We Mount a Coordinated Defense Against Multi-Agency Prosecution

Drug kingpin investigations rarely stop at one agency. They often involve the DEA, FBI, IRS, Homeland Security, and local law enforcement, each collecting pieces of evidence that may not fully align. Without a coordinated defense, those fragments can be arranged into a misleading picture.

Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC mirrors that federal coordination with our own. Each case is handled through a unified defense model that ensures speed, communication, and accountability. Every attorney, investigator, and paralegal operates under a centralized plan that tracks filings, discovery, and new leads in real time.

Our process keeps federal investigators from setting the pace of the case. We respond immediately to new developments, counter subpoenas and search warrants, and maintain oversight of all parallel investigations. When agencies attempt to broaden their jurisdiction or merge unrelated conduct into a single enterprise, we act to confine the scope and protect the client’s position.

Investigative & Financial Analysis That Exposes Federal Overreach

The government often builds a continuing criminal enterprise case through profit tracing. Prosecutors point to cash flow, property, or transactions to argue that a defendant derived income from illegal operations. Those claims frequently rest on circumstantial accounting or incomplete data.

Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC integrates financial and investigative analysis into every defense plan. We collaborate with forensic accountants, transaction auditors, and data analysts who review how the government calculated alleged proceeds and connections. When financial evidence is overstated or misinterpreted, our team documents those discrepancies and presents verifiable counter-analysis.

We also examine the chain of custody for digital and paper records, searching for errors that can invalidate financial tracing. Every dataset and statement the government relies on is tested for accuracy. 

Leadership Experience That Strengthens Every Federal Strategy

Complex enterprise litigation demands disciplined leadership. At Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC, that leadership is built into our structure. Founding attorney Patrick J. McLain’s background as a U.S. Marine Corps judge and former federal prosecutor shapes the way our entire team operates. The principles of preparation, precision, and accountability guide every attorney in the firm.

Defense Strategies Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC Uses in Continuing Criminal Enterprise Cases

Defending a § 848 charge requires both immediate containment and long-term strategy. Our attorneys deploy focused tactics that directly target the elements prosecutors must prove.
We work to:

• Challenge claims of a managerial or supervisory role over five or more people
• Dispute alleged profit or income derived from illegal activity
• Attack the reliability of informants and cooperating witnesses
• Separate distinct offenses to reduce sentencing exposure
• Identify constitutional or procedural violations in federal investigations

Managing High-Exposure Federal Drug Litigation

Cases under the “Drug Kingpin Statute” often attract attention far beyond the courtroom. The government may pursue forfeiture, seek media coverage, and use pre-trial publicity to build pressure. Handling these cases requires control over both the legal and public dimensions of defense.

Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC manages that pressure with disciplined communication and containment. We coordinate directly with prosecutors to clarify discovery timelines, prevent premature disclosure, and negotiate from a position of preparation. Our attorneys also advise clients on interacting with investigators, the press, and co-defendants to avoid missteps that could compromise the case.

Safeguarding Your Future Beyond the Allegation

A continuing criminal enterprise case threatens more than freedom; it can dismantle a person’s career, finances, and family stability. A life sentence or asset forfeiture order can erase years of work in a single verdict.

Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC protects against that outcome by integrating long-term planning into every defense. We assess collateral consequences such as license revocation, business loss, or immigration impact and design mitigation strategies that preserve what can be saved. The goal is not only to win in court but to safeguard what remains after the case is closed. 

Frequently Asked Questions About 21 U.S.C. § 848

What qualifies as a “continuing criminal enterprise”?

It involves a series of federal drug law violations managed by a person who supervises five or more others and profits substantially from the operation. The government must prove each element beyond a reasonable doubt.

How does the government claim someone is a leader or organizer?

Prosecutors rely on witness statements, communication records, and financial links to suggest command authority. A strong defense challenges those assumptions and demonstrates lack of control or direct involvement.

Are penalties under § 848 different from conspiracy charges?

Yes. Conviction under § 848 can carry a 20-year mandatory minimum and up to life in federal prison, along with asset forfeiture. It is one of the harshest sentencing frameworks in federal law.

Charged with running a drug enterprise in Texas? Call (214) 238-9392 or contact us online to consult with Dallas federal defense lawyers today.