Communicating with your Attorney

  • You can call your attorney collect at (877) 511-4686 (Albuquerque) and (855) 527-6930 (Las Cruces). These calls will be kept confidential. If your attorney is not available, your call will not be accepted. Please remember that your attorney has other clients and must attend matters outside of the office.
  • You can communicate with your attorney by letter. Send it to the address listed below on this page. However, do not write confidential matters.


Courtroom Conduct

  • Do not talk while court is in session.
  • Be attentive and respectful.
  • Always stand and speak clearly when giving a statement to the court.
  • Dress appropriately for court.
  • Never appear in court under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
  • Remember, cell phones, weapons, knives, etc., are not allowed in the courthouse.
  • Always have a photo id when visiting the courthouse.


Preparing Your Case

  • After you are charged your attorney will begin gathering all the facts necessary to advise you on your case, including the strengths and weaknesses of the government’s case as well as any defenses you may have. Your attorney will also advise you of the possible sentence you face if convicted. Then, you and your attorney can decide whether it is best to go to trial or plead guilty. Your attorney will keep you informed by letters and in-person visits. You can always write or call with any questions.
  • In order to better investigate and prepare your case, an investigator from the office may be assigned to your case. The investigator may need to meet with you, as well as with your friends and family. Anything you talk with the investigator about regarding your case is confidential, just as if you were talking with your attorney.
  • It is helpful to your attorney if you can provide names and contact information for potential witnesses in your case. Do not contact these individuals yourself.
  • It is also helpful to alert your family about the importance of cooperating with your attorney.
  • The Government will provide you and your attorney with discovery.
  • Your attorney may file motions in your case, including motions to continue and motions to suppress. You should not file any motions on your own.


Beware of early-BOP-release scam

Has someone called out of the blue to report that an incarcerated person close to you has been approved for early release? Look out---the caller is probably scamming you. Do not send them money or give them any personal identifying information. As reported to us, these callers may pose as correctional employees and tell you that, in order to get your friend or family member released, you need to put up hundreds of dollars (for ankle monitoring) and share information such as your SSN and DL number (so you can pass a background check in order to serve as a custodial guardian). The US Parole Commission has published the following warning on its website (scroll past the logo), and asks that anyone receiving this sort of call report it to the FTC:

The U.S. Parole Commission has been alerted of a phone scam that is impacting members of the public where callers are identifying themselves as U.S. Parole Commission employees in an attempt to secure personal information or money for the release of a federal prisoner. Please note that the USPC does not contact members of the public regarding any release decisions except for victims who have the legal right to provide input into parole decisions. Any other persons who receive phone calls from persons purporting to be USPC staff members related to the potential release of a prisoner should report these calls to the Federal Trade Commission online, or by phone at 1-877-382-4357 (9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.).