Dallas Human Trafficking Attorney

Aggressive Defense Against Forced Labor Allegations

Facing a federal indictment for human trafficking or forced labor under 18 U.S.C. § 1589 places your freedom, livelihood, and reputation under immediate threat. Federal agencies devote enormous resources to these prosecutions, often treating the accused as guilty before the first hearing begins. 

At Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC, we respond with disciplined force. Led by a former federal prosecutor, former judge, and U.S. Marine Corps officer, our team brings the command presence and courtroom strategy necessary to confront federal power head-on.

Speak with a Dallas human trafficking attorney now. Call (214) 238-9392 or message us online for a free and confidential consultation.

How Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC Builds a Strategic Defense

Every trafficking investigation begins long before an arrest. Agents quietly collect digital evidence, witness statements, and financial data while prosecutors build a narrative designed to make you look guilty before trial even begins.

Our defense approach starts by taking immediate control of the facts and preventing the government from setting the tone. We conduct an independent investigation and create a defense plan that challenges each element of the alleged offense.

Our methodical process includes:

• Early Intervention. As soon as we are retained, we contact federal investigators or prosecutors to stop interrogations and unlawful evidence gathering.
• Evidence Breakdown. Our attorneys dissect every piece of the government’s file, including emails, phone records, travel logs, and surveillance, to expose contradictions.
• Witness Examination. We identify whether alleged victims or witnesses were influenced, misinformed, or coerced by investigators during questioning.
• Motions to Suppress. If evidence was obtained through illegal searches, digital overreach, or violation of Miranda rights, we move to have it excluded before trial.
• Expert Consultation. We bring in forensic psychologists, data analysts, and immigration specialists whose testimony can dismantle the prosecution’s theories.

Accessible Defense When You Need It Most

Legal problems rarely unfold on a schedule. Arrests happen late at night, and federal agents do not wait until Monday to make contact. 

Accessibility is part of our commitment to service. When you reach out, you reach us. Our attorneys are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer questions, guide urgent decisions, and begin protecting your rights immediately.

We also recognize that not every client can meet in person. Whether you are based outside Dallas County, stationed overseas, or simply need to discuss your case from home, our firm provides confidential video consultations for your convenience and security.

Your initial consultation is free. It is an opportunity to speak directly with an attorney, understand your situation, and learn how our defense team approaches cases like yours.

Focused Defense Through Every Stage of the Process

Federal human trafficking cases test more than the law. They test resolve. The process is invasive, draining, and often publicly humiliating. We take control early and stand between you and the government’s power. From the first consultation to the final decision, we stay engaged, honest, and unwavering in your defense.

Our defense philosophy defines how we work and how we treat every client:

• Aggressive Litigation. We fight smart and stay relentless. Every hearing, motion, and argument is used to expose weakness in the prosecution’s case and protect your rights.
• Strategic Negotiation. We evaluate every option with precision. If negotiation serves your best interest, we pursue terms that minimize damage and preserve your future.
• Direct & Honest Communication. You will always know the truth about your case. Our attorneys tell it like it is, with no sugarcoating and no empty reassurances. We believe clients make the best decisions when they have clear, unfiltered information.
• Compassionate Counsel. While we are aggressive in court, we never lose sight of the person behind the case. We listen to our clients, understand what they are going through, and make sure they feel heard, respected, and supported.
• Comprehensive Protection. We work to safeguard every part of your life, not only your freedom. That means protecting your career, finances, and reputation from collateral harm.

Proven Results in High-Stakes Federal Defense

A strong defense is measured by results, not rhetoric. Over the course of more than 3,500 criminal cases, Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC has achieved dismissals, acquittals, post-conviction reversals, and significantly reduced sentences in some of the toughest venues in Texas and across the United States. Our record includes victories in federal sex crime and white-collar cases where clients faced overwhelming odds.

Clients and peers have described our firm as relentless, strategic, and results-driven. We invite you to review our Case Results and Client Testimonials to see how our defense team’s work has made a measurable difference for individuals accused of serious federal crimes.

Why Experience Inside the Federal System Matters

Human trafficking cases are not ordinary criminal prosecutions. They involve complex federal investigations directed by career prosecutors, federal agents, and multiple government agencies. To compete at that level, a defense firm must understand the prosecution’s structure, its tactics, and its priorities from the inside out.

Our team holds that advantage. The firm’s foundation is built on the leadership and insight of Patrick J. McLain, whose decades of service as a Marine Corps officer, military judge, and Assistant U.S. Attorney established the playbook our attorneys use today. Every member of our defense team applies that institutional knowledge to protect clients facing human trafficking and forced labor cases under 18 U.S.C. § 1589.

Get to know the attorneys who will stand beside you in federal court:

Deep Resources for Complex Federal Litigation

Federal human trafficking cases often turn on the smallest detail: a single digital file, a text message, or a witness statement recorded months earlier. To compete with government-backed resources, we maintain a deep, tested network of professionals who strengthen our defense operations. It’s a network we have built over decades.

Our integrated resources include:

• In-house Private Investigator who conducts independent interviews and locates evidence beyond government discovery.
• Forensic & Financial Experts who examine digital data, banking records, and alleged transactions linked to forced labor.
• Psychological Consultants who assess the credibility and motives of alleged victims or cooperating witnesses.
• Bilingual Legal Team fluent in English and Spanish to ensure accurate communication across all stages of defense.

Every element of our preparation is designed to meet the government’s resources head-on. We do not rely solely on what prosecutors disclose. We build our own record, challenge their assumptions, and prepare for trial as if it were the only path forward.

Protecting Your Freedom & Reputation in Federal Trafficking Cases

The federal sentencing guidelines treat forced labor and exploitation charges as among the most severe categories of non-violent offenses. We confront that pressure directly by focusing on prevention, mitigation, and strategic control from day one.

Potential penalties our firm works to challenge or reduce include:

• Up to 20 years imprisonment per count, and life in prison if kidnapping, sexual abuse, or death is involved
• Asset seizure and forfeiture of property alleged to be connected to the offense
• Mandatory restitution to alleged victims, which can reach into hundreds of thousands of dollars
• Lifetime federal supervision and registration requirements in certain related offenses

Our team also addresses the collateral consequences that can destroy a person’s future even after the legal battle ends. These include:

• Permanent loss of professional licenses or security clearance
• Ineligibility for federal contracts or benefits, which can end a career or business
• Deportation or visa revocation for non-citizens
• Public stigma from heavily publicized indictments and digital records

Because we understand how prosecutors use these consequences as pressure points, we counter them with immediate action. We move to preserve your assets, manage reputation damage, and protect professional standing while we fight the case itself.

Understanding  Federal Human Trafficking Charges Under 18 U.S.C. § 1589

Human trafficking and forced labor allegations prosecuted under 18 U.S.C. § 1589 are federal crimes that carry extraordinary penalties. The law targets conduct involving coercion, threats, or fraud used to compel another person to work or provide services.

Federal prosecutors often allege that a defendant:

• Used physical force, psychological pressure, or threats to make someone perform labor or services
• Withheld identification documents, money, or immigration paperwork
• Benefited financially from another person’s coerced labor

Conviction can mean decades in prison, massive fines, and forfeiture of assets. When multiple counts or related charges such as conspiracy, harboring, or transportation for forced labor are added, exposure can reach life imprisonment.

These cases are rarely confined to a single agency. They often involve joint investigations by the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and state task forces, each using aggressive tactics such as digital forensics, undercover operations, and cooperating witnesses.

At Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC, we understand how federal agencies investigate and build trafficking cases because our founding attorney once worked within that same system.  That experience enables our team to identify procedural flaws, challenge overreach, and respond with precision at every stage of a federal investigation.

Call (214) 238-9392 or contact our team online to schedule your free consultation with a Dallas forced labor defense attorney today.