Dallas Sex Trafficking of Minors Defense Attorney

We Never Back Down from Serious Criminal Charges

When you are accused of sex trafficking of minors under 18 (U.S.C. § 1591), you will be faced with one of the most serious federal crimes on the books, and the stakes could not be higher. Allegations like these bring the full weight of the federal government against you, and the penalties can be extreme and permanently life-altering. At the Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC, we know you may already feel like the justice system is against you. But we believe strongly in one principle: every person accused of a crime deserves a powerful defense.

As your Dallas sex trafficking of minors defense lawyers, our job will be to stand between you and the government, to challenge the evidence, and to demand that your constitutional rights are respected at every stage of the process. With a former Marine Corps military judge and federal prosecutor leading our team, we know how to push back against aggressive federal prosecutions and fight for your freedom.

If you have been accused, investigated, or charged under 18 U.S.C. § 1591, call us at (214) 238-9392 right now to get a fighter in your corner. Schedule your initial consultation today.

Understanding the Crime of Sex Trafficking of Minors

Federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 1591 defines sex trafficking of minors as knowingly recruiting, enticing, harboring, transporting, providing, obtaining, advertising, maintaining, patronizing, or soliciting a person under the age of 18 for a commercial sex act. Importantly, the law does not require direct proof of force, fraud, or coercion when the alleged victim is under 18. The mere involvement of a minor is enough for federal prosecutors to pursue charges.

The statute is often used broadly to bring more charges against more potential defendants. Many people accused of violating this law are shocked to learn how much conduct can fall within its definition. Even communications, arrangements, or indirect actions may be used as evidence to secure a conviction.

Penalties for Sex Trafficking of Minors

If convicted of sex trafficking of minors, you face some of the harshest penalties in the federal system. Federal sentencing guidelines impose mandatory minimums, and judges have little flexibility to reduce these punishments. Furthermore, most judges would not want to minimize penalties due to their own internal biases, which are not supposed to influence their rulings but, naturally, do.

Potential penalties if you are convicted of sex trafficking a minor include:

• Mandatory minimum imprisonment – At least 10 or 15 years, with up to life in prison in many cases.
• Hefty fines – Financial penalties that can devastate your finances, potentially reaching $10,000 or more.
• Mandatory registration as a sex offender – Required to register as a sex offender, possibly for life, which can affect your personal and professional lives in many ways.
• Forfeiture of assets – Property, money, and other items tied to the alleged offense may be seized by the government.
• Collateral or unofficial consequences – Loss of employment, professional licenses, and irreparable damage to your reputation.

Defenses Against Federal Sex Trafficking Charges

Even in cases where the government claims its evidence is overwhelming, defenses may be available. No two cases are the same, but we have seen federal prosecutions back down when the right defenses are raised.

Potential defenses that could apply to your case include*:

• Entrapment – Law enforcement induced you to commit an act you otherwise would not have engaged in.
• Mistaken identity – You were not the person who recruited, transported, or solicited the alleged victim.
• Insufficient evidence – The prosecution cannot prove every element of the offense beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Constitutional violations – Unlawful searches, seizures, or interrogations can lead to evidence being suppressed.

At the Law Office of Patrick J. McLain, PLLC, we know that federal prosecutors fight hard, but so do we. We use our background as a former federal prosecutor and Marine Corps judge to anticipate the government’s strategy, find weaknesses in their case, and fight for you.

(* No lawyer or law firm can guarantee that one defense strategy or another will apply to a case or lead to a specific outcome.)

Call Us Today Before the Prosecution Makes Another Move

When federal investigators are involved, chances are they have been building their case for months or longer before you learn about it. That means you cannot afford to wait now that they have moved against you. If you are being investigated or have already been arrested and charged with sex trafficking of minors, you need an aggressive defense team immediately.

Let our Dallas sex crime defense lawyers fight for you when no one else will. Call us at (214) 238-9392 right now to schedule your confidential consultation.