Cases

United States v. Tran, et al, Cause #1:03-CR-7
State v. Tran, et al, # 87988, August 2003
The Defendant was stopped on IH-10 on January 10, 2003 at 3:00 a.m. The vehicle he was driving was searched. Concealed in one door were 35,000 ecstasy tablets. Concealed in another door was $360,000.00 cash. A Phillips head screwdriver and screws to the door panels were found in Defendant’s pocket. Federal and State charges were filed against Defendant. Motions to suppress the evidence were filed in both cases. The Federal charges were dismissed shortly before trial. The State case was tried and resulted in a mistrial because of a hung jury. On May 4, 2004, a week before trial, the State case was dismissed.

United States v. Hayden, Cause # 1:02-CR-11-1, February 14, 2003
The Defendant was charged in a two-count indictment with receiving and possessing child pornography that had been transported in interstate commerce by computer. A motion to suppress the evidence was granted by the Court who ruled that law enforcement had conducted an illegal search of the Defendant’s computer. As a result, all charges against the Defendant were dismissed.

State v. Shawn Berry, Cause # 8871, November 19, 1999
The Defendant was charged with capital murder. It was alleged that the Defendant and 2 others killed James Byrd, Jr. in Jasper, Texas by dragging him behind the Defendant’s pickup truck until his body separated. This case was alleged to be racially motivated and received national attention. Mr. Berry was the only Defendant to escape the death penalty. The case was featured by CBS newsman Dan Rather in a 1999 60 Minutes II broadcast.

United States v. Johnny Manning, Cause # 9:97-CR-33(1), 1998
The Defendant was charged with defrauding his employer of approximately $1,000,000.00. He was tried before a jury and found not guilty.

United States v. Billy Todd Bryan, Cause # 6:96-CR-38(1), 1996
The Defendant, a road oil contractor, was charged with defrauding a number of Texas counties by overcharging them for road oil. After a pretrial motion hearing, the government agreed to dismiss the charges against Mr. Bryan in exchange for his company paying a fine.

United States v. Steve Lacy, Cause # 1:92-CR-96(05), 1994
The Defendant, a banker, was charged with mail fraud. It was alleged he falsified a loan transaction. He was tried before a jury and found not guilty.

United States v. Lester Winfree, Cause # 1:92-CR-98, December 1992
The Defendant, chairman of the port commission, was charged with mail fraud. It was alleged he falsified port records concerning the sale of a grain elevator in order to gain income tax advantages for a friend. A jury found the Defendant not guilty.

State v. Andy Weller, Cause # 49280, November 30, 1987
The Defendant, the son of a prominent Beaumont attorney, was charged with murder. It was alleged the Defendant killed his parents by shooting them with a shotgun. The Defendant was found not guilty by reason of insanity.

State v. Rosine McFaddin Wilson, Cause # 47503, 1987
The Defendant, a prominent local citizen, was charged with murder. It was alleged that the Defendant shot and killed her ranch caretaker with a pistol, then threw the pistol away, denied her involvement, and blamed the caretaker’s wife for the shooting. She was tried before a jury and found guilty of the lesser offense, manslaughter, and assessed 5 years probation.

State v. Rusty Weir, Cause # 39822, August 21, 1981
The Defendant, a country and western singer, was charged with possession of cocaine. The evidence was suppressed in the case and the Defendant was found not guilty.