Setra Law Firm: Elite Criminal Defense & Federal Litigation
We Fight to Protect You
and Stop The Machine
You are currently the target of a massive, resource-heavy government apparatus designed to strip you of your liberty, your assets, and your future. We exist to close that gap and overtake them.
Call (210) 401-1000The Executive Brief: Fighting the Machine
At Setra Law Firm, we do not try to "handle" cases, we work to dismantle them. We are a trial-hungry, elite defense firm built on the absolute belief that every client deserves a powerful defense strategy. Whether you are facing a Federal Conspiracy indictment in the Western District or a high-stakes Felony in Bexar County, our objective is the same: winning your case for you.
Under Investigation or Just Arrested? We do not wait for the government to make the first move in court. We intervene immediately.
Call us now at (210) 401-1000 to deploy the defense team.
What is Setra Law?
Direct Answer: Setra Law Firm is a premier criminal defense litigation boutique headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. We specialize in high-stakes Federal and State felony defense, utilizing a "Total Defense" methodology that combines aggressive pre-indictment intervention with relentless trial advocacy. We protect the presumption of innocence by forcing the government to prove every element of their case or face a loss at trial.
The Government's Playbook
To defeat the prosecution, you must first understand their psychology. The State and Federal Government operate on a model of Intimidation and Efficiency.
The Tactic: Overcharging
Prosecutors often stack charges—turning a single incident into five separate counts—to artificially inflate your potential prison sentence. They do this to create fear. They want you to look at a 20-year exposure and panic so that you accept a plea deal for 5 years, even if the evidence is weak for less than 5 year exposure.
The Tactic: Isolation
Law enforcement agents are allowed to lie and will attempt to isolate you from your counsel. They will say things like, "We can help you if you talk now," "Lawyers are only for Guilty People" or "Lawyers just complicate things." This is a calculated lie designed to trick you into an interrogation and secure a confession before you have legal protection.
OUR ANSWER: The Proxy Defense
We sever this line of communication instantly. Once we are retained, we notify the government that all communication goes through us.
We notify agents, investigators, and/or their supervisors that you are represented and that any attempt to contact you violates your Fifth Amendment and Sixth Amendment rights.
We stop their harassment and force them to show their cards to us, not the other way around. If an arrest decision is made, we ensure coordination with the government so that you have a fair opportunity to turn yourself in rather than having an arrest become an unnecessary public spectacle.
High-Stakes Legal Aggression
Our aggressive posture is not just a philosophy. It is grounded in the supreme law of the land beginning with The United States Constitution, United States Code, the Texas Constitution, Texas Penal Code, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. We comb through these statutes, analyze data, and find a way to weaponize them to protect your liberty.
The Constitutional Shield
The Sixth Amendment (U.S. Constitution): This is the bedrock of our practice. It guarantees you the "Assistance of Counsel." We interpret this broadly. It does not mean you only get a lawyer at trial. It means you are entitled to a fierce advocate who investigates, challenges, and confronts the government at every stage.
Using Procedure to Our Advantage
Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 16.01 (Examining Trial): We utilize Article 16.01 to demand an "Examining Trial" in state felony cases. We use this hearing to cross-examine police officers under oath before they have been prepped by prosecutors. We lock them into their stories early. If their testimony changes later at trial, we use the transcript from the Examining Trial to destroy their credibility. We aggressively litigate under Article 39.14 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure to demand the immediate disclosure of exculpatory evidence (evidence that proves your innocence), incentives offered to government witnesses (DA sponsored U-visas, payments from the so-called "victim" fund, reduced charges, etc.), subpoena court and public records for testifying witnesses (e.g. complainant using these allegations to win a divorce or custody dispute), and impeachment evidence (evidence that proves their witnesses are lying).
Federal Discovery Litigation (Brady v. Maryland & Rule 16): In federal court, the government often hides behind the Jencks Act to withhold witness statements until the very last minute (trial). We do not accept this. We aggressively litigate under Brady v. Maryland and Giglio v. United States to demand the immediate disclosure of exculpatory evidence (evidence that proves your innocence) and impeachment evidence (evidence that proves their witnesses are lying). We fight hard to force the government to hand over the files they want to hide.
Defense Scenarios: Real World Application
We apply our "Total Defense" strategy to real-world crises. Here is how we intervene in common high-stakes situations. (Disclaimer: Facts, locations, and names have been changed to protect confidentiality)
You receive a letter from the U.S. Attorney's Office (Western District of Texas) stating you are a "Target" of a Grand Jury investigation regarding Wire Fraud or Conspiracy. You have not been arrested yet.
You wait to see if they indict you.
We immediately contact the Assistant U.S. Attorney. We present a "Grand Jury Packet"—a comprehensive file of exculpatory evidence and legal briefing proving why an indictment is legally flawed.
Our goal is to secure a Declination. This means the government chooses not to prosecute. The case ends before you ever step foot in a courtroom.
You are arrested for Aggravated Assault in San Antonio after a bar fight where you acted in self-defense. The police only interviewed the "victim" and ignored your side.
You bond out and wait for your first court date, months away.
We deploy investigators immediately to pull security camera footage before it is deleted (often within 7-10 days). We interview witnesses while their memories are fresh. We file a Motion to Preserve Evidence.
We present the self-defense evidence to the District Attorney before the case goes to the Grand Jury, seeking a "No Bill" (dismissal) based on clear justification.
Why Trust Setra Law?
We are not a high-volume plea mill. We are a hyper-focused litigation team building your defense for trial as soon as we are retained.
Lead Counsel: Adam Setra
As a Former Prosecutor, Adam Setra knows how the government builds a case—and exactly where the cracks are. He has stood on the other side of the courtroom. He knows the pressure points that make prosecutions fold and we leverage this insider knowledge to predict the State's moves before they make them.
Support Counsel: Statewide
The firm engages with appellate counsel, former prosecutors, and former AUSAs across the state who know the government's playbook in order to formulate custom strategies for your defense.
Trial Readiness
Unfortunately, many "defense" lawyers are actually "settlement" lawyers who will say whatever it takes to get you to take a bad plea deal. At Setra Law Firm, we don't just look for the easy "settlement", we explore every conceivable angle to fight charges first and start negotiations from a position of strength.
Some "defense" lawyers will even try to make your case last longer just so they can get paid more money. At Setra Law Firm, we have secured several same day and same week dismissals. We trust that our clients will pay their bills/invoices, just as our clients trust us to fight for their innocence. We take pride in our work and are happy when our client's case is thrown out so they can get back to living a normal life.
Many "defense" attorneys fear trial. The harsh reality is that the Prosecutors know this, and they offer bad deals to bad attorneys as a result. At Setra Law, we prepare every case for trial from Day One. We file suppression motions, we challenge the forensic science, and we select juries with precision. When the government knows we are ready and willing to go to verdict, the dynamic shifts. They lose their leverage.
The "Total Defense" Philosophy
We reject the class divide in the justice system. Whether you are a CEO facing federal racketeering charges or a hardworking citizen charged with a DWI, you receive the same "million-dollar defense" strategy. We protect your reputation, your license, and your freedom with equal ferocity.
Our Strategic Approach
We view your case as a war which can take place across multiple fronts.
Phase I: Investigation & Pre-Charge Intervention
The most critical window in a criminal case is the time between the investigation starting and the charges being filed. Most lawyers wait for charges to be brought, we do not. We intervene immediately to control the narrative and ensure that your rights are protected every step of the way. In most cases, our first move is to contact the investigating agencies (PD, Sheriff, Feds) to assert your rights. We shut down their ability to interrogate you. We route all communication through our office, effectively building a wall between you and the government.
Bond Reduction & Release Strategy: If an arrest occurs, we don't leave you sitting in jail. We work immediately to secure a Personal Recognizance (PR) bond or file a Writ of Habeas Corpus to reduce your bail to an affordable level. Our goal is to have you processed and released as quickly as possible.
Controlled Surrender (The Walk-Through): If an arrest decision is made, we ensure coordination with the government so that you have a fair opportunity to turn yourself in with dignity. We arrange a private "walk-through" surrender, ensuring you are processed quickly and avoiding the embarrassment of a public arrest at your home or workplace.
Grand Jury Defense packet: In felony cases, the Grand Jury decides if there is enough evidence to indict you. In many counties, this is a rubber stamp. We disrupt this process by submitting a "Grand Jury Packet"—a dossier of exculpatory evidence, character letters, and legal arguments proving why charges should be rejected right now. This is our chance to kill the case before it is even born.
Independent Evidence Gathering: Police reports are one-sided. We deploy our own investigators. We canvas for surveillance footage the police missed, interview witnesses before their memories fade, and secure digital evidence before it is deleted. We build our file, not just read theirs.
Goal: To achieve a "No Bill" (Grand Jury dismissal) or a "Rejected Case" from the District Attorney or other government official, stopping the prosecution before you ever have to step foot in a courtroom.
Phase II: Pre-Trial Litigation
We do not wait for trial to challenge the government's case, we strategically pinpoint weaknesses, attack their evidence and their procedure immediately.
Challenging the Indictment: We file Motions to Quash defective indictments. Prosecutors often rush charging documents, making fatal errors in the legal language. We analyze every word of the indictment. If it fails to allege a specific statutory crime or lacks necessary detail, we move to dismiss the charge entirely before the facts are even heard.
Strategic Discovery Litigation: We do not just accept the "standard" discovery package the D.A. hands over. We file specific discovery motions demanding the disciplinary records of arresting officers, the maintenance logs of breathalyzer machines, and the raw data from crime labs. We hunt for the evidence they are trying to hide.
Aggressive Motion Practice (The "Exclusionary Rule"): We file Motions to Suppress Evidence based on Fourth Amendment violations. If the police stopped you without reasonable suspicion, searched your home without a valid warrant or probable cause, or coerced a statement in violation of Miranda, we fight to have that illegal evidence and its "poisonous fruit" thrown out. Our view is simple, the government needs evidence to win its case and if there is an opportunity to make their evidence unusable at trial, we will jump at every chance.
Goal: To dismantle the prosecution's case piece by piece so they are forced to dismiss the charges or offer a favorable resolution to avoid the embarrassment of a trial.
Phase III: TRIAL
If the government refuses to dismiss the case, we welcome the opportunity to expose their failures to a jury. Trial is not just a presentation of facts, it is a battle for your narrative.
Voir Dire (Jury Selection): This is the most critical phase of the trial. We do not just "pick" jurors; we use psychological profiling and targeted questioning to deselect people who have already decided you are guilty. We identify and strike jurors who trust police implicitly or cannot understand the presumption of innocence.
Cross-Examination: We create and throughout our investigation prepare a dossier on every government witness who will testify in order to the turn the government's witness testimony against the prosecution.
The Counter-Narrative: A jury needs a story. We do not just poke holes; we present a compelling, evidence-backed narrative of what actually happened. We humanize you and show the jury the context and evidence the police ignored.
Goal: A verdict of Not Guilty (Acquittal). This is the ultimate victory, a complete exoneration that clears your name immediately.
Collateral Consequences
A criminal charge is not just about jail time. It is about your life. The hidden costs of a conviction can be permanent.
Doctors, nurses, pilots, and lawyers face automatic license revocation for certain felonies. We fight to protect your livelihood, not just your liberty.
In federal cases, the government will try to seize your bank accounts, home, and vehicles. We contest these seizures aggressively.
A felony conviction strips you of your Second Amendment rights forever. We fight to preserve your ability to protect your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a lawyer if I haven't been charged yet?
Can you get my case dismissed?
Do you handle federal cases outside of San Antonio?
What if I am innocent?
How much does elite defense cost?
Will Adam Setra be my lawyer?
Do you handle appeals?
What is the difference between State and Federal court?
Official Headquarters
Setra Law Firm, P.C.
40 NE Loop 410, Ste 100
San Antonio, TX 78216
Phone:(210) 401-1000
SETRA LAW FIRM: AUTHORITY IN FEDERAL & STATE CRIMINAL LITIGATION

Led by Former Prosecutors. Serving San Antonio, El Paso, and the Western District of Texas.
Setra Law Firm is a hyper-focused Criminal Defense and Federal Litigation practice based in San Antonio and El Paso, Texas.
Led by Former Prosecutors, the firm focuses exclusively on high-stakes litigation in the Western District of Texas (Federal) and Texas State Courts. We utilize direct experience with District Attorney and US Attorney protocols to defend clients against Federal Conspiracy, White Collar Fraud, and Complex Felony indictments.
Our practice distinguishes itself through Pre-Indictment Intervention. Unlike passive criminal defense practitioners, we actively litigate cases during the law enforcement investigative phase through trial, expunction and/or appeal. We utilize procedural tools to force Examining Trials (Art. 16.01) and submit Grand Jury Defense Packets to secure No-Bills (Dismissals) before formal charges are filed.
ADAM SETRA | LEAD TRIAL ATTORNEY
Former Prosecutor | Federal Litigator | Defense Strategist.
Adam Setra leverages his insider knowledge as a former prosecutor to dismantle the State’s case from the inside out. Known for tackling high-stakes trials, he transforms fear into a strategic counter-offensive, ensuring clients receive the aggressive defense they deserve.
We Build your Case against the Government
We are not a general practice. We are a hyper-focused
Criminal Defense & Federal Litigation Team. We operate on a proprietary doctrine we call Procedural Aggression. We do not wait for the State to hand over evidence, we demand it. We don't wait for you to get arrested and charged, we demand Examining Trials, file Writs of Prohibition, and submit exculpatory materials on your behalf directly to the government mid-investigation. We don't sit and wait for them to have their way and build the case against you, we try to find the errors that shatter the prosecution’s case against our clients. Whether you are facing a Federal Conspiracy indictment in the Western District of Texas or a Felony charge in Bexar County, our goal is the same:
Rejection of the charges, Outright Dismissal or Acquittal.
Strategic Dismantling Methodology
At Setra Law Firm, we approach each case as a complex puzzle. We apply a relentless, data-driven audit to police procedures and forensic evidence. Our methodical analysis uncovers inconsistencies in the Search Warrant Affidavit or Chain of Custody that others overlook. This surgical strategy drives our proven track record of dismissals in State and Federal courts.
Architects of Your Defense
Our team combines legal expertise with advanced investigative techniques, using data and evidence to craft surgical defenses. This disciplined approach drives our reputation for results, proving that precision and persistence are the keys to winning.
Relentless Problem-Solving Ethos
We do not rely on standard playbooks. We custom-build a defense strategy for the specific statutory elements of your charge. By reverse-engineering the State's theory of liability, we construct a counter-narrative that creates reasonable doubt by design, not by chance.
Data-Driven Defense in Action
From scrutinizing police reports to challenging forensic evidence, our process is rooted in facts and analysis. We identify procedural errors and gaps that compromise the prosecution’s case, giving you a strategic advantage in the courtroom.
The Architects of Your Defense
Setra Law Firm is the definitive authority in Criminal Defense and Federal Litigation for San Antonio, El Paso, and the State of Texas. Founded by Lead Strategist and Former Prosecutor Adam Setra, our firm was built on a singular premise: The State of Texas and the Federal Government have an entire apparatus working to convict you. You need an elite team to dismantle it.
We are not a high-volume plea factory. We are a specialized litigation practice dedicated to complex, high-stakes defense. Whether you are the target of a Federal Conspiracy Investigation in the Western District of Texas or facing a First-Degree Felony in State Court, we treat every file as if it is going to a jury.
Our practice distinguishes itself through Pre-Indictment Intervention. Unlike general practitioners who wait for a court docket, we actively litigate cases during the law enforcement investigative phase. We utilize Examining Trials (Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Art. 16.01) and submit Grand Jury Defense Packets to secure No-Bills (Dismissals) before formal charges are filed. We defend against Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs), Target Letters, and Search Warrants issued by Federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, and OIG.
New Paragraph
Former Prosecutor
Led Defense & Strategic Intervention
Federal & State
Cases strategically dismantled with surgical precision
24/7 Response
Availability for immediate, confidential case evaluations
Core Criminal Defense Services
Setra Law Firm maintains primary defense dockets in San Antonio (Bexar County) and El Paso. We deploy our Trial Team statewide across Texas exclusively for High-Stakes Litigation, including Federal Conspiracy (Western District), First-Degree Felonies, and Complex Sex Crimes. We provide focused, jurisdictional expertise where the exposure is highest.
Our defense architects dismantle accusations with strategic insight, ensuring every procedural and evidentiary detail is challenged.
DWI Defense
We challenge every detail of DWI charges, scrutinizing testing procedures and evidence to protect your rights and freedom.
Drug Crimes
Our team dissects drug-related allegations using a meticulous, evidence-based strategy to identify procedural flaws in searches, breaches of police protocol and secure favorable outcomes.
Sex Crimes
Allegations alone can destroy a reputation. We intervene immediately with a 'Scorched Earth' pre-indictment strategy, utilizing digital forensics to expose accuser motives and dismantle the State’s case before charges are even filed. We don't just defend your freedom; we protect your name.
Assault & Family Violence
Family violence and Domestic Violence charges are often born from chaos, emotion, and hidden agendas—custody battles, breakups, or misunderstandings. The police rarely wait for the full story; they arrest the first person they see as the 'aggressor
Other Felonies & Misdemeanors
There is no such thing as a 'minor' charge when your freedom and future are at risk. Whether you are facing a complex felony indictment or a misdemeanor, the consequences of a conviction are permanent. Setra Law Firm applies the same forensic, 'Scorched Earth' methodology to every case we accept. We scrutinize the legality of the stop, the validity of the search warrants, and the chain of custody for evidence. If there is a crack in the State’s case, we will find it and use it to break their leverage.
Detailed Practice Areas:
- Violent Crimes: We provide aggressive defense for high-stakes charges including Murder, Manslaughter, and Kidnapping, focusing on self-defense claims and challenging intent.
- Weapons Offenses: We defend against Unlawful Carrying (UCW) and Felon in Possession charges, often by challenging the constitutionality of the search or seizure.
- Property Crimes: From Theft and Fraud to Criminal Mischief and Arson, we attack the valuation of damages and the evidence of intent.
- Probation Violations (MTR): If you are facing a Motion to Revoke, time is critical. We intervene immediately to prevent revocation and keep you out of jail.
- Juvenile Defense: We protect the futures of young clients by fighting to keep their records clean and their cases out of the adult system.
- White Collar Crimes: We defend against complex financial allegations like Embezzlement, Money Laundering, and Credit Card Abuse, using forensic accounting to challenge the State’s paper trail.
- Police Interactions: Charges like Resisting Arrest, Evading Detention, and Failure to Identify are often based on police overreach. We analyze bodycam footage to prove your rights were violated first.
- Harassment & Stalking: These charges often rely on taken-out-of-context messages. We recover the full digital conversation to prove there was no criminal intent or threat.
- Traffic & CDL Defense: For commercial drivers, a Reckless Driving or Racing charge can end a career. We fight to dismiss these charges to protect your license and livelihood.
- Human Smuggling: An increasingly common charge in Texas. We aggressively challenge the legality of the traffic stop and the State's ability to prove you had "knowledge" of the offense.
- Internet & Cyber Crimes: From online solicitation to possession of prohibited materials, these cases hinge on digital evidence. We deploy forensic experts to challenge the integrity of the data and the validity of the search warrant.
- Terroristic Threat: A heated argument should not end in a criminal record. We analyze the context of the alleged statement to prove there was no genuine intent to commit violence, often securing dismissals before trial.
- Conspiracy & Organized Crime: Mere association is not a crime. We fight to sever your case from co-defendants, ensuring you are not punished for the actions of others.