In the Press
Federal Probation Granted for Client Charged with Money Laundering
San Antonio, TX – The law firm of Daniel & Halstead is pleased to announce that it has successfully secured federal probation for one of its clients at sentencing. The client, who had been facing up to 20 years in federal prison for Money Laundering, will now be able to serve her sentence in the community under strict supervision.
The client was one of five individuals charged with laundering nearly $1 million derived from a Business Email Compromise (BEC) scheme. In a BEC schemes, scammers target businesses and individuals making wire transfer payments, especially those employees with access to company finances. The scammers trick the employees into wiring payments to bank accounts they believe belong to trusted partners but that are actually controlled by the fraudsters. Sometimes the scammers use computer intrusion techniques to alter legitimate payment request emails by changing the recipient bank accounts. Sometimes they send spoofed emails that appear to be from trusted partners. The client, who had been lured into the money laundering conspiracy worked as a ”money mule” using her bank account to launder the money stolen by other co-defendants.
The case was handled by Woodrow Halstead, who worked tirelessly to develop a strong defense strategy and negotiate with the prosecution for a favorable outcome. Through Woodrow’s diligent efforts, the client was able to avoid incarceration and instead receive a sentence that allows her to continue working, supporting her family, and rebuilding her life.
“We are thrilled to have been able to secure probation for our client,” said Woodrow Halstead, partner at Daniel & Halstead. “This outcome is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team, as well as our client’s commitment to making positive changes in her life.”
The law firm of Daniel & Halstead has a proven track record of success in handling complex criminal cases, including federal offenses. The firm’s attorneys have a deep understanding of the federal sentencing guidelines and are skilled at negotiating with prosecutors to achieve the best possible outcome for their clients.
If you or a loved one is facing federal charges, contact the law firm of Daniel & Halstead to schedule a consultation and learn how their experienced criminal defense attorneys can help.
Five Years of Federal Probation for Woman Charged with Computer Fraud and Abuse and Wire Fraud
San Antonio, TX – A San Antonio woman was sentenced to five years probation in a federal court in San Antonio for her role in a SIM card swapping fraud scheme.
Zena Elisa Dounson, 24, pled guilty to conspiring to access and transfer assets from victims’ cryptocurrency accounts via SIM swapping. A mobile phone uses a SIM card to store information that identifies and authenticates the subscriber to that cellular phone. A SIM swapping scheme allows a person to use other phones or devices as though they were the authorized subscriber. Dounson had originally been facing up to five years in federal prison for her role in the scheme. During sentencing, her attorney Woodrow Halstead provided mitigating evidence that supported Dounson’s request for probation. Dounson’s co-defendant was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for his involvement.
If you or a loved one is facing federal charges, contact the law firm of Daniel & Halstead to schedule a consultation and learn how their experienced criminal defense attorneys can help.
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Charges Dismissed for Woman Charged with Possession of Prohibited Firearm
San Antonio, TX – A 22-year-old San Antonio woman who was facing up to 20 years in prison for two separate charges of Possession of a Prohibited Firearm in Bexar County’s 437th District Court had her cases dismissed. The woman had been accused of possessing a short barrel firearm as well as a pistol with a “Glock switch” which made the pistol fully automatic. Her attorney, Woodrow Halstead filed a Motion to Quash and Set Aside Indictment challenging the constitutionality of the charges based on the United States Supreme Court’s recent ruling in New York Rifle Association v. Bruen. After considering the defense’s motions, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office dismissed all charges against the woman.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime, contact the law firm of Daniel & Halstead to schedule a consultation and learn how their experienced criminal defense attorneys can help.
Charges Dismissed Against Man Accused of Inappropriate Touching
San Antonio, TX – A 44-year-old San Antonio man charged with Indecency with a Child had all charges against him dismissed after his attorneys Douglas Daniel and Woodrow Halstead presented additional information to Bexar County prosecutors. The client, who was working as a manager at a local restaurant, was accused of inappropriately touching a teenage employee while at work. Doug and Woody were able to provide additional information that contradicted the complainant’s story and were able to show that she was not even at work on the day she alleged their client touched her. Additional investigation into the complainant’s background caused prosecutors to question her credibility and her motive to fabricate the story.
“This was a victory earned by the entire Daniel & Halstead Team,” said Woodrow Halstead. “Our staff did an excellent job investigating the complaining witnesses background and discovered evidence of her motive to fabricate her allegations. It’s troubling that she would make such claims against an innocent man just to further her own personal goals.”
The law firm of Daniel & Halstead works hard to investigate not just the allegations against its clients, but to engage in a “deep dive” into the backgrounds and surrounding circumstances involving its clients. The firm’s attorneys have over 65 years of combined experience in criminal law and are committed to zealously defending their clients.
If you or a loved one has been accused of sexual offense, it’s vitally important to have an attorney who will fight to protect your interests. Contact the law firm of Daniel & Halstead to schedule a consultation and learn how their experienced criminal defense attorneys can help.
Federal Probation Granted to Former Mail Carrier
San Antonio, TX – A former mail carrier received federal probation after pleading guilty to stealing mail while he was employed by the United States Postal Service. The man was originally facing up to five years in federal prison, but his attorney Woodrow Halstead successfully argued in favor of placing the man on probation for 2 years.
The client had been charged with stealing gift cards and other items from the mail while he was working as a contracted carrier for the United States Postal Service.
The case was handled by Woodrow Halstead, who presented compelling mitigating evidence of financial hardship to his client which had resulted from the Covid-19 pandemic. This background information and negotiation with federal prosecutors enabled a favorable outcome for the client. Through Woodrow’s hard work, the client was able to avoid incarceration and instead receive a sentence that allows him to continue working at his new job and be present for the birth of his new grandson.
The law firm of Daniel & Halstead has a proven track record of success in handling complex criminal cases, including federal offenses. The firm’s attorneys have a deep understanding of the federal sentencing guidelines and are skilled at negotiating with prosecutors to achieve the best possible outcome for their clients.
If you or a loved one is facing federal charges, contact the law firm of Daniel & Halstead to schedule a consultation and learn how their experienced criminal defense attorneys can help.
Aggravated Assault Charges Dismissed Against Air Force Veteran
Jourdanton, TX –An Atascosa County man had his Aggravated Assault charges dismissed by the State of Texas the day his jury trial was scheduled to begin. The man, a 65-year-old retired Air Force Veteran, had been accused of assaulting his wife and causing serious bodily injury. The man’s attorneys Douglas Daniel and Woodrow Halstead were prepared to litigate the case and prove that the accusations were false, but as the defense was preparing to go to trial they were informed that prosecutors would be dismissing the case.
Daniel & Halstead’s legal staff and investigators were able to gather evidence that law enforcement had failed to collect during their initial criminal investigation. This evidence significantly changed the facts surrounding the alleged offense and called into question the complaining witness’s motivation to fabricate her claims she had been injured.
“We had pointed out a number of inconsistencies in the complainant’s story about what happened,” said Douglas Daniel. “Most importantly, we were able to gather additional medical evidence that prosecutors had not obtained which showed the injuries the complainant said were caused by our client did not occur on the day of the alleged offense and could not have been caused by our client.”
If you or a loved one has been charged with a felony, contact the law firm of Daniel & Halstead to schedule a consultation and learn how their experienced criminal defense attorneys can help.