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William W. Johnston

Partner at Johnston & McLean PLLC

Top Rated Family Law Attorney in Houston, TX

Criminal Law, White Collar Crime

4200 Montrose, Suite 540, Houston, TX 77006

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About William W. Johnston

Practice Areas

Criminal Law
White Collar Crime

Education

Baylor University School of Law, Waco, Texas
Texas A & M University

Representative Cases

United States v. Branch, et al (The Branch Davidian Cult case). , Two-month long jury trial in San Antonio, Texas. 8 of 11 defendants were convicted of crimes related to the killing of 4 ATF agents and attempted murder of agents of the FBI during the federal raid and stand-off near Waco, Texas.
United States v. Pierson , Federal mail bombing case included the first federal prosecution in the United States under the Violence Against Women Act. The defendant was convicted by a federal jury and received a 38 year federal prison sentence.
United States v. Laws, “Car-jacking” resulting in death of elderly Texas man. Case involved the first federal jury trial in the United States in which mitochondrial DNA was used in evidence against a defendant. FBI lab DNA Branch Chief Mark Wilson suggested the novel use of this sort of non-nuclear DNA in trial. Defendant was convicted and received a life sentence in federal prison.
United States v. McDuff (Kenneth McDuff serial killer case), Sought and obtained a warrant for serial killer Kenneth McDuff and worked on 6 week manhunt for the killer. McDuff had killed 3 teenagers in Ft. Worth, Texas in the late 1960’s and received death penalty. He was released from prison in the 1990’s and began to kill again. Directed investigation into the reasons behind killer’s release. The investigation revealed improper dealings by the Chairman of the Texas Parole Board. Johnston successfully prosecuted the Chairman, Dr. James Granberry.
United States v. Urick and Young, This federal murder-for-hire case centered on an individual named Sammy Leldon Urick, who abducted, tortured, and murdered a man from Waco, Texas. The investigation revealed that Urick had also been a part of an international espionage network involving two CIA Officers who had been corrupted by Libyan Dictator Muammar Gaddafi. These two agents, Frank Terpil and Edmund Wilson, had been assisted by Urick after they provided large quantities of plastic explosives to Libya. These explosives were later used in international terrorism. The two fled. One was in U.S. prison, the other fled to Cuba. Urick was convicted of the offense of foreign travel in aid of murder-for-hire and received a life sentence.
International Narcotics Investigations , Was one of the few Assistant U.S. Attorneys to work in Mexico on narcotics investigations. Cases included the investigation of a Mexican attorney who brokered the smuggling of some 20 tons of cocaine from Columbia to Northern Mexico. The case involved corrupt Mexican federal police officers who off-loaded much of the cocaine.
Jane Doe(s) v. Baylor University, From 2015-2018 represented, along with John Clune and Chris Ford of Hutchison, Black and Cook – Boulder, Colorado, 5 women who had alleged sexual assault by members of the Baylor University football team. Claims were brought under Title IX. Each case was settled favorably.
Bank of America & McClinton v. Atalla, This case involved a wealthy Brazilian family who breached a loan agreement and defrauded the bank and the guarantor regarding collateral. Traveled to Brazil on 3 occasions to work with U.S. Secret Service and Sao Paulo State Police officials to determine the extent of the fraud. Used a federal civil suit in the U.S. to gain jurisdiction and pursue fraud. Favorably settled.
In Re Glossop Estate (2018), A will contest case regarding alleged self-dealing and breach of fiduciary duty by executor. Investigation by retired IRS Special Agent working for Johnston revealed misconduct which gave rise to claim. Case settled for well in excess of 10 million dollars.
Dulin v. Baker, This action was brought as a wrongful death case to investigate and pursue a suspicious death. Discovered information which proved that Baptist preacher had murdered his wife and staged the crime scene as a suicide. Turned forensic evidence over to District Attorney who prosecuted case and had defendant receive 60 year sentence. (Texas Monthly magazine cover story, March, 2008)

Classes and Seminars

Served as Lecturer – United States Naval Justice School, Newport, Rhode Island
Served as instructor – Complex Litigation Course, Baylor Law School

Qualifications

Past Positions

Associate, Haley & Davis, primary area of practice in medical malpractice defense and government defense, 1984 - 1987
Judge Advocate General Corps, United States Army Reserve, HHC III Corps and Ft. Hood, 1991 - 2002
Partner, Johnston & Johnston, practice in federal and state court, 2001 - 2013
Lecturer, Naval Justice School, United States Navy, Newport, Rhode Island, 2006
Principal, The Law Office of William W. Johnston, 2014 - 2022