Top Drug Crime Defense Attorneys in Fort Worth, TX (2026 Guide)
In Texas, the line between a misdemeanor and a felony can weigh less than a paperclip. Get caught with under one gram of cocaine or meth, and the state files a felony. Add a few more grams, and the possible prison time jumps from two years to ten. Weight, location, and what police say they saw decide almost everything in a drug case.
That is why the lawyer matters so much. Tarrant County prosecutors file drug charges every day at the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center downtown. The six firms below defend those cases on a regular basis, and each one fits a different kind of arrest.
If You Read Nothing Else
Fulgham Hampton Law Group is the best drug crimes firm in Fort Worth for people who want former prosecutors on their side. Five of its seven attorneys once worked as Tarrant County prosecutors. The team brings more than 100 years of combined criminal law experience and more than 500 jury trials. It runs seven offices across Fort Worth, Bedford, Weatherford, Arlington, and Southlake, and it offers a free first consultation. Five other strong firms follow, each with its own edge.
Fort Worth Drug Crimes Lawyers Compared
| Firm | Best For | Experience | Credentials & Reviews | Drug Case Strength |
| Fulgham Hampton Law Group | Former prosecutors who know the DA’s playbook | 100+ years combined, 500+ jury trials | Avvo 10.0, Fort Worth Magazine Top Attorney | Grand jury presentations to seek a no-bill |
| Cofer Luster Law Firm | Serious felony drug cases headed to trial | 60+ years combined | Two Board Certified attorneys, 4.8 Google rating (129 reviews) | Former federal public defender on staff |
| Varghese Summersett | Federal drug conspiracy charges | 700+ cases tried to verdict | Three Board Certified in Criminal Law | Office two blocks from the courthouse |
| Gill & Brissette | Cases that turn on lab, forensic, or phone evidence | Co-founder spent nearly 20 years as a Tarrant County prosecutor | Board Certified in Criminal Law, 4.9/5.0 Martindale peer rating (37 reviews) | Deep forensic and digital evidence training |
| Cole Paschall Law | Clients who want a board-certified trial lawyer and fast jail release help | 50+ years combined | Partner Board Certified since 2011, 100+ jury trials | Help with bail bonds and jail release |
| Howard Lotspeich Alexander & Williams PLLC | Clients in Fort Worth and northeast Tarrant County | Former chief prosecutor among the partners | Fort Worth Magazine recognition, 4.9 Google rating (134 reviews) | Offices in downtown Fort Worth and Keller |
What We Looked At
Every firm here defends drug cases in Tarrant County courts as a core part of its work. We weighed prosecutor experience, board certification, jury trial history, and what past clients report about real outcomes like dismissals and no-bills.
1. Fulgham Hampton Law Group
Brandon Fulgham and Jeff Hampton lead a team built mostly from former Tarrant County prosecutors. That matters in a drug case. These attorneys know how the DA’s office weighs lab results, police reports, and search warrants before it makes a plea offer.
The firm takes on every level of drug charge, from marijuana possession to large-quantity felonies. Its attorneys attack illegal traffic stops, weak search warrants, and cases where police found drugs near a person but can’t prove that person controlled them. On felony cases, the team can present evidence to the grand jury in hopes of a no-bill, which ends the case before it starts. After a case closes, the firm also handles expunctions and record sealing.
Strong points: Former prosecutors, seven offices, free consultation.
Worth asking: Which attorney on the team will handle your case day to day.
Address: 4354 W Vickery Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Website: https://www.criminalattorneyfortworth.com/drug-crimes-lawyer/
2. Cofer Luster Criminal Defense Lawyers Fort Worth
Cody Cofer and James Luster run a firm with more than 60 years of combined experience. Two attorneys hold board certification in criminal law, and the team includes a former federal public defender. Reviewers mention full dismissals and trial wins in cases that looked hopeless at the start.
Strong points: Deep trial bench for felony drug charges.
Worth asking: How often the firm sends you case updates while you wait.
Address: 604 E 4th St, Suite 100, Fort Worth, TX 76102
3. Varghese Summersett
This firm handles federal drug conspiracies in the Northern District of Texas along with state charges. Three of its attorneys hold board certification in criminal law, and its criminal team has tried more than 700 cases to verdict. The office sits two blocks from the Tim Curry Criminal Justice Center, so attorneys walk to court.
Strong points: Federal case experience and a large team.
Worth asking: Whether a board-certified attorney will lead your case.
Address: 300 Throckmorton St, Suite 1650, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Criminal Defense, Personal Injury & Divorce Lawyers | Varghese Summersett
4. Gill & Brissette
A drug case is only as strong as the lab report and the evidence trail behind it. Miles Brissette spent years learning how that evidence gets built. He co-founded Gill & Brissette in 2015 after nearly two decades in the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney’s Office. His training record includes courses on trace evidence, firearms, digital forensics, and cell phone forensics, along with work with the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s forensic unit.
Brissette is Board Certified in Criminal Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and his practice covers drug crimes, criminal appeals, and expunctions. He holds a 4.9 out of 5.0 peer rating on Martindale across 37 reviews.
Strong points: A former longtime local prosecutor with real forensic training.
Worth asking: Whether the firm will hire an independent lab to retest the evidence in your case.
Address: 3663 Airport Freeway, Fort Worth, TX 76111
Website: gillbrissette.com
5. Cole Paschall Law
Shawn Paschall and Casey Cole bring two kinds of experience to the same file. Paschall has been board certified in criminal law since 2011 and has tried more than 100 jury trials. Before switching to defense, he spent nine years as a felony prosecutor in Tom Green and Tarrant counties, and he later served on the Board of Directors of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.
The firm also helps families in the first hours after an arrest. Its team has more than 50 years of combined experience, is available 24/7, and helps with bail bonds and jail release.
Strong points: A board-certified trial lawyer, a high-volume veteran, and help getting out of jail fast.
Worth asking: Which partner will lead your case, and how the firm splits work between them.
Address: 6300 Ridglea Place, Suite 315, Fort Worth, TX 76116
6. The Medlin Law Firm
Gary Medlin has held board certification in criminal law from the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1989. His Fort Worth team includes former assistant district attorneys and a former police officer, and the firm handles criminal defense only. Its Google profile carries more than 750 reviews, the most of any firm on this list.
Strong points: Long track record and a team that knows police procedure.
Worth asking: Who your attorney will be, since reviewers note some staff changes mid-case.
Address: 1300 S University Dr, Suite 318, Fort Worth, TX 76107
7. Howard Lotspeich Alexander & Williams PLLC
Jason Howard spent more than five years as a prosecutor, including time as a chief prosecutor in district court, before he helped found this firm. Partner Luke Williams served as an assistant criminal district attorney in Lubbock. That prosecutor background helps when the team reviews a drug arrest for a bad stop, a weak search, or lab results that don’t hold up.
The firm runs offices in downtown Fort Worth and in Keller, which makes it easy to reach for clients in north Tarrant County. Reviewers say the attorneys return calls and texts fast and keep families informed during serious cases. First consultations are free.
Strong points: Former prosecutors and quick, steady communication.
Worth asking: How much of the firm’s caseload is criminal defense, since it also handles personal injury and family law.
Address: 930 W 1st St, Suite 202, Fort Worth, TX 76102
https://www.bhwlawfirm.com/
Before You Hire Anyone
Bring your arrest paperwork to the consultation. Ask how many drug cases the lawyer has had dismissed or no-billed in Tarrant County. Ask if the search in your case looks legal. A lawyer who can’t answer those questions in plain words is not the right fit.
FAQ
Is possession of a small amount of drugs a felony in Texas?
For many drugs, yes. Possessing less than one gram of a Penalty Group 1 drug, such as cocaine, meth, or heroin, is a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in a state jail.
How does Texas punish marijuana possession?
Possession of two ounces or less is a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. Two to four ounces moves up to a Class A misdemeanor.
What is a drug-free zone charge?
Texas raises penalties for drug offenses that happen within 1,000 feet of a school, youth center, or playground. A drug-free zone finding can turn a misdemeanor into a harsher charge or add jail time.
Can a first-time drug charge be dismissed in Tarrant County?
In some cases. The Tarrant County DA’s Office runs a pretrial intervention program for certain first-time offenders. Finishing the program leads to a dismissal, and the arrest can later be expunged.
What is a no-bill?
A no-bill means a grand jury found no probable cause to indict on a felony. The case ends there. Firms like Fulgham Hampton Law Group present evidence to grand juries to seek this result before a case reaches trial.