Notable Cases & Expertise
Tax Fraud, Tax Evasion and Failure to File
Our firm has represented numerous business owners, and individuals, charged with tax fraud, tax evasion and failure to file in federal courts across the country. We also have an active practice representing clients under investigation with the Criminal Investigation Division of the IRS.
In 2019 alone, our firm persuaded CID to pull three cases out of the criminal investigation process and back under the civil division of the IRS.
In 2020, our firm represented a business owner out of Houston, Texas. The client was accused of filing false returns to the IRS which failed to report business income. The proposed tax loss was $1.7 million and the client’s exposure was up to five years in federal prison. After reviewing the business’ books, we determined the government failed to account for significant expenses when calculating the tax loss. Based on our work, the government agreed to lower the tax loss to approximately $300,000. The client received five years probation in the Southern District of Texas.
In 2021, our firm represented a business owner out of Monahans, Texas. The client was accused of not paying over federal withholdings for his employees, a felony tax offense. The government alleged the client retained nearly $5.9 million in his employee’s withheld taxes. We conducted the client’s sentencing in Alpine, Texas in 2021. The client received five years probation and was allowed to return home to his family. Sentences of probation are exceedingly rare for felony tax offenses with a tax loss exceeding $5 million.
In 2021, our firm represented a business owner out of Austin who was charged with various counts of filing a fraudulent return and tax evasion. The government alleged the client’s conduct resulted in millions of dollars in unpaid taxes. After our criminal tax attorneys explained the intricacies of the tax code involved in the client’s business, the government dismissed the indictment. Dismissals are exceedingly rare in federal court. This result ended a multi-year journey for the business owner.
In 2022, our firm represented an individual accused of not declaring over $4 million of income. Our criminal tax attorneys, along with our retained forensic accountant, reviewed the client’s books and records to determine the proper classification of the funds for tax purposes. We determined that the funds were not income, but rather, monetary gifts from his father who owned a large international company based in Pakistan. We presented our findings to the government. The IRS shut down the investigation three months later.
In 2023, our firm represented an attorney based out of Lafayette, Louisiana. The criminal division of the IRS launched an investigation into the attorney and his firm for failing to declare substantial income over the preceding five years. The attorney’s firm handled personal injury cases with a focus on car wrecks. After reviewing the firm’s books, it became obvious that the IRS did not understand the operations of a personal injury firm. The IRS believed the firm retained 100% of settlement checks as income. In reality, the law firm’s income only included the 30% cut they were entitled to under their contracts. We presented the business model to the special agent. The case was shut down within months.
In 2024, our firm represented a business owner out of Houston. The criminal division of the IRS was investigating the client for evading the payment of over $3 million in taxes generated by his business. If charged with tax evasion, the client was facing up to five years per count of conviction. After two years of negotiations, the government agreed to allow a plea to the misdmeanor offense of failure to file a tax return. The client was sentenced in 2026 and received three years probation.
Health Care Fraud
Our firm has represented numerous physicians and clinics charged with health care fraud.
In 2020, our firm represented a physician charged with billing Medicare for medically unnecessary services and billing Medicare for services that were not rendered. Our firm represented the physician at trial and obtained not guilty verdicts on all 25 counts of a health care fraud indictment. This win resulted in national recognition for our firm’s successful defense. Not guilty verdicts in the federal system are exceedingly rare as the government prevails on over 90% of cases.
We have represented numerous other clients during the investigation stage. Many of these clients have avoided charges, including a physician investigated for billing for services that were not rendered in 2026.
RICO
Our firm tried the first RICO case in the Southern District of Texas, as well as one of the first “hate crime” cases in the country. Our firm represented a general of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (“ABT”) in 2018. Members of the gang were charged under the RICO statute for committing various violent and drug offenses to further the gang’s interests. We were able to work out a deal with the government that avoided life in prison for our client.
In 2025, our firm represented a member of a street gang in Houston charged in the Southern District of Texas with a VICAR murder. The VICAR murder statute allows the government to prosecute killings that take place in furtherance of a racketeering enterprise. The case went to trial in late 2025. Our attorneys hung the jury who could not reach a verdict. The government believed their case was very strong; however, they were unable to convince the jurors of our client’s guilt. That case remains open in 2026.
Homicide and Major Offenses
We have tried three death penalty cases; one of which resulted in a “not guilty.” We have tried numerous non-death penalty capital murders in various counties throughout Texas, including two cases that received national attention. In 2020, our firm obtained a dismissal on a death penalty capital murder in federal court. This was the first dismissal of a federal death penalty case in decades.
In the course of our practice, we have tried a large number of cases – involving allegations from aggravated sexual of a child, possession of controlled substances, aggravated robbert and other serious state felonies – many of which resulted in “not guilty” verdicts. We tried one of the first Super Aggravated Sexual Assault of a Child cases in Harris County. Furthermore, on more than one occasion, we were asked to be special prosecutors when the District Attorney’s Office had conflicts of interest, usually involving prosecution of assistant district attorneys or state agents.
Drug Distribution Crimes
Our firm has handled numerous drug cases in federal court, including multiple “pill mill” cases and cocaine trafficking conspiracies.
Computer Crimes
In 2023, our firm represented a software engineer charged with illegally entering his employer’s computer “network” and destroying a program worth more than $2 million. We took the case to trial in February of 2025. After a week long jury trial, we obtained a verdict of “not guilty.” Armed with superior experts and working knowledge fo the facts, our firm overpowered the prosecution team throughout the trial. This was a major win for a client that deserved this verdict.
Presentations
We have been asked to present seminars and speak in public forums as well as national media including Dateline, the Today Show, 48 hours, and the Nancy Grace show. Wendell has authored three books concerning Pattern Jury Instructions, used by defense attorneys throughout the state of Texas.