What Thomas McHugh Knew — And What He Chose Not to Say
Filed Under: Conflict of Interest, Prosecutorial Misconduct, Wrongful Conviction
Keywords: Thomas McHugh San Antonio Attorney, conflict of interest, Fred Olivares FBI, Bradley Croft wrongful conviction, Universal K9
Thomas McHugh, once a federal prosecutor himself, crossed the aisle to represent Bradley Lane Croft as defense counsel. But instead of protecting his client’s constitutional rights, McHugh became part of a catastrophic breakdown in due process that led to Croft’s wrongful conviction.
At the very beginning of trial proceedings on October 8, 2019, McHugh introduced Fred Olivares to the court by stating:
“Also at the defense table with us is Mr. Fred Olivares, a retired, but not retired FBI agent.”
This was no slip of the tongue. It was a startling admission made in open court, with McHugh’s co-counsel William Brooks sitting silently beside him. McHugh openly acknowledged that a key member of the defense team was still effectively aligned with the FBI—the very agency involved in prosecuting Croft.
Yet McHugh filed no conflict motion. He offered no Brady disclosure. He took no steps to protect Croft’s Sixth Amendment right to conflict-free counsel.
McHugh had every reason to act. He had every opportunity. But he chose silence and complicity. That choice set in motion a trial poisoned by insider influence, hidden government ties, and suppressed truths.
To this day, not one court has grappled with the full implications of that early admission. But the record exists. The transcript is clear. The damage is done. And now, the public knows the truth McHugh tried to straddle:
You cannot serve two masters. And you cannot defend a man from a system you’re still part of.
Thomas McHugh was one of Brad Croft’s defense attorneys in San Antonio. He is now accused of betraying his client by hiding conflicts of interest and allowing Brady evidence to be buried.
What was McHugh’s conflict of interest?
McHugh knew that Croft’s private investigator, Fred Olivares, was a former FBI agent who had actually helped open the case against Croft in 2013. Instead of exposing this, McHugh allowed Olivares to embed himself in the defense team while still aligned with law enforcement.
What happened with the Midlothian subpoena?
William Brooks, another defense attorney, drafted a subpoena to Midlothian PD. Before it could be served, Olivares used FBI contacts to discover that Wes Keeling was Brady listed. Instead of disclosing this, the subpoena was buried under McHugh’s watch.
Why is the claim that Croft was supposed to deliver the subpoena impossible?
Years later, Olivares and Brooks claimed Croft was supposed to deliver the subpoena himself. This was impossible: Croft was on strict house arrest with an ankle monitor, barred from travel, and had already paid over $120,000 for his legal team to handle subpoenas.
What filings involve McHugh today?
McHugh is named in Rule 60(b) motions, civil rights lawsuits, and forthcoming bar complaints. These filings argue that McHugh knowingly permitted a compromised defense team, buried Brady evidence, and failed to act on government misconduct.
