Jorge Vela Austin
Criminal Lawyer

Jorge Vela is an Of Counsel criminal defense attorney with Michael & Associates Criminal Defense Attorneys. A former Assistant United States Attorney, state felony prosecutor, and Travis County prosecutor, Jorge brings more than a decade of courtroom experience handling some of Texas's most serious criminal cases. His background prosecuting violent felonies and complex federal crimes provides clients with valuable insight into how criminal cases are investigated, charged, negotiated, and tried in both state and federal courts.

Jorge earned his bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University before receiving his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law in 2011. He began his legal career as a felony prosecutor in the 49th District Court of Webb County, where he prosecuted serious violent crimes, including aggravated robbery, aggravated assault, intoxication manslaughter, aggravated kidnapping, murder, and solicitation of capital murder.

In 2014, Jorge joined the United States Department of Justice as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. There, he investigated and prosecuted large-scale drug trafficking organizations connected to violent Mexican drug cartels operating along the U.S.-Mexico border. His federal practice also included firearms trafficking, human smuggling, online solicitation of a minor, child exploitation offenses, visa fraud, and other complex federal criminal prosecutions. He successfully tried numerous federal cases, including securing a life sentence against the leader of a major drug trafficking organization.

After moving to Austin in 2017, Jorge served as an Assistant District Attorney for Travis County, where he prosecuted felony offenses including aggravated assault, robbery, aggravated robbery, aggravated kidnapping, murder, and capital murder. His experience prosecuting serious felony cases at both the state and federal levels gives him a comprehensive understanding of how prosecutors evaluate evidence, develop trial strategy, and build criminal cases.

Since entering private practice in 2018, Jorge has focused exclusively on criminal defense, representing clients facing felony and misdemeanor charges throughout Texas. Drawing on his experience as both a federal and state prosecutor, he develops strategic defenses designed to challenge the State's evidence, protect his clients' constitutional rights, and pursue the best possible outcome in every case.