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Federal Weapons Charges Defense Lawyers in Texas

Federal weapons charges are among the most aggressively prosecuted offenses in the Northern District of Texas. The ATF, FBI, and local task forces investigate and prosecute firearms offenses ranging from prohibited person possession to large-scale gun trafficking operations. These cases carry mandatory minimum sentences that can add years or decades to any existing charges, and they are often used as leverage to pressure defendants into cooperation agreements. At Deandra Grant Law, Attorney James Lee Bright leads our federal weapons defense. Lee has more than 25 years of federal trial experience, including a nationally prominent three-month federal trial in the District of Columbia. He is admitted to practice in all four federal districts in Texas, the District of Columbia, the Fifth Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court, giving him the broadest possible federal practice footprint.

Federal Weapons Statutes

• 18 U.S.C. §922(g) — Felon in Possession. The most commonly charged federal firearms offense. Maximum 15 years. Under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), defendants with three prior qualifying convictions face a mandatory minimum of 15 years.
• 18 U.S.C. §922(a)(1)(A) — Unlicensed Dealing in Firearms. Dealing without a federal firearms license. Used in gun trafficking prosecutions.
• 18 U.S.C. §924(c) — Firearm During Crime of Violence or Drug Trafficking. Mandatory minimum 5 years consecutive. Brandished: 7 years. Discharged: 10 years. Second conviction: 25 years.
• 18 U.S.C. §924(h) & §932 — Straw Purchasing and Firearms Trafficking. Enacted under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022. Maximum 15 to 25 years.
• 26 U.S.C. §5861 — NFA Violations. Unregistered short-barreled rifles, silencers, machine guns, destructive devices. Maximum 10 years.

Common Federal Weapons Cases in Texas

• Felon in possession — arising from traffic stops, probation searches, or domestic violence calls.
• Firearms trafficking and straw purchases — ATF operations targeting individuals and networks transferring firearms to prohibited persons or for export.
• Firearms in connection with drug trafficking — §924(c) charges adding mandatory consecutive time.
• Unlicensed dealing — regular buying and selling without an FFL.
• NFA violations — possession of silencers, short-barreled rifles, or other NFA items without registration.

How We Challenge the Government’s Evidence

Constructive Possession Many federal weapons cases allege “constructive possession” rather than actual possession. Lee challenges these arguments by examining whether the firearm was in a shared space accessible to multiple people, whether the government can prove actual knowledge, whether forensic evidence (fingerprints, DNA) connects the defendant to the weapon, and whether the theory of possession is supported by physical evidence or relies solely on inference. ATF Trace Evidence and Forensic Ballistics Our firm’s ACS-CHAL forensic credentials allow us to evaluate the reliability of ballistic matching evidence, chain of custody for seized firearms, ATF trace documentation, and whether forensic ballistics conclusions are supported by the physical evidence. Prior Conviction Status Following the Supreme Court’s decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (2022), the constitutionality of §922(g) as applied to certain categories of prohibited persons is an active area of litigation. Lee evaluates whether the prior conviction qualifies as a disabling felony, whether restoration of rights has occurred, and whether constitutional challenges are available. Search and Seizure Challenges Many weapons cases begin with a search. Lee evaluates the legality of every search and seizure and files suppression motions when the evidence supports them.

Federal Sentencing in Weapons Cases

The Armed Career Criminal Act can increase a felon-in-possession sentence to a mandatory minimum of 15 years. Section 924(c) adds mandatory consecutive time.

Lead Attorney: James Lee Bright

James Lee Bright is one of the most experienced federal criminal defense attorneys in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with more than 25 years of practice focused on federal criminal cases.

• Juris Doctor, University of Tennessee College of Law (1996)
• M. in International Law, SMU Dedman School of Law (2003) — Phi Delta Phi honor fraternity
• Admitted to all four U.S. District Courts in Texas (Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts)
• Admitted to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
• Admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Admitted to the United States Supreme Court
• Three-month federal trial in the District of Columbia — brought national prominence, covered by legal and news organizations worldwide
• President, Dallas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association (2010–2011)
• Super Lawyers® (2021–2024)
• D Magazine Best Lawyers — multiple appearances

Facing Federal Weapons Charges? Contact Us Immediately.

Contact Deandra Grant Law for a free, confidential consultation with Attorney James Lee Bright. We serve clients in the Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas, the District of Columbia, and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Call (214) 225-7117 or schedule an appointment online.