THE CHETSON FIRM
Criminal Defense Attorneys
Call or Text (919) 352-9411
19 W. Hargett St., Suite 400, Raleigh, NC 27601 | info@chetson.com
Selected outcomes from over 15 years of criminal defense practice in Wake County, Johnston County, Durham County, and federal courts throughout North Carolina. Represented by a Board Certified Specialist in State and Federal Criminal Law.
State & Federal Criminal Law (2016–Present)
One of fewer than 12 in Wake County, NC
Eastern District of North Carolina
Court-vetted for federal criminal cases
Capital Defender First Chair Roster
NC Habeas Capital Roster
Defended client in what the Department of Justice described as the largest federal RICO prosecution in U.S. history. Damon Chetson was the only defense attorney to successfully win a suppression motion during the entire two-year prosecution — a result that directly protected his client when 81 other defendants faced the full weight of the evidence.
Client faced federal wire fraud charges alongside nearly a dozen co-conspirators. Through thorough sentencing preparation, mitigation presentation, and strategic advocacy before the court, Damon Chetson secured a 24-day sentence for his client. Co-defendants in the same case received multi-year federal prison sentences.
Week-long trial. Vigorous cross-examination of key witnesses secured complete acquittal on all charges.
Presented comprehensive mental health mitigation. Secured life sentence instead of death penalty for client facing capital punishment.
Exposed lead investigator's inconsistencies at trial. Ten of twelve jurors voted to acquit. Case did not result in conviction.
First time in 15 years a judge granted extraordinary mitigation in this court. Client convicted but went home on probation — no prison time.
Client faced mandatory 5-year consecutive sentences under 18 USC 924(c). Not guilty on all firearm counts at trial. Mandatory sentences avoided entirely.
Millions of pages of discovery. After thorough preparation and trial, jury found client not guilty of conspiracy charges.
Independent investigation proved innocence. All charges dismissed and later expunged from client's record.
Jury returned not guilty verdict after trial on first degree sexual offense charge. Client avoided mandatory sex offender registration.
Federal cases handled in the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina, and before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.
| Case | Court / Year | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 82-Defendant RICO Prosecution Largest federal RICO case in U.S. history |
EDNC, 2019 | Only attorney to win suppression motion in entire case |
| Federal Wire Fraud Conspiracy (18 USC 1343) Nearly a dozen co-defendants |
EDNC, 2021 | 24-day sentence — co-defendants received years |
| Federal Firearms Charges (18 USC 924(c)) | EDNC, 2020 | NOT GUILTY — mandatory 5-year consecutive sentences avoided |
| Federal Kidnapping Conspiracy | EDNC, 2018 | NOT GUILTY at trial |
| Gulf Cartel Cocaine Conspiracy 15+ kilograms of cocaine |
EDNC, 2020 | Bottom-of-mandatory-minimum sentence negotiated |
| Methamphetamine Trafficking 10-year mandatory minimum exposure |
EDNC, 2019 | 40-month sentence — Safety Valve avoided mandatory minimum |
| Russian Money Laundering $150 million bribery scheme |
Federal Court, 2018 | Client released from federal custody |
| Mexican Cartel Cocaine Conspiracy Co-defendant received life sentence |
Federal Court, 2017 | Two-year sentence — co-defendant received life |
| Dog Fighting / Drug / Firearms Conspiracy Government sought 7 years |
Federal Court, 2016 | 120-day sentence with probation |
| Child Pornography Distribution Full confession, distribution counts charged |
Federal Court, 2015 | Distribution counts dismissed — below-guidelines sentence |
| International Tax Fraud 10-year maximum and heavy fines |
Federal Court, 2015 | Sentence dramatically reduced |
| Federal Bank Robbery | Federal Court, 2015 | State charges dismissed — shortest sentence of any co-defendant |
| MARPOL Environmental Crimes Prosecution DOJ Environmental Crimes Section |
Federal Court, 2016 | Client received whistleblower reward |
| Club Shooting — Federal Conspiracy | Federal Court, 2019 | Hung jury — four jurors refused to convict — later pled to significantly reduced charge |
| Seafood Mislabeling — Grand Jury Five clients facing federal grand jury |
Federal Court, 2019 | Motion to Quash succeeded — none of five clients charged |
| Prison Guard Heroin Smuggling Videotaped offense |
Federal Court, 2011 | Below-guidelines sentence |
Selected outcomes from murder, assault, robbery, and violent felony cases in Wake County and surrounding courts.
Selected outcomes in cases involving sexual offense charges, where a conviction carries mandatory sex offender registration and lifelong consequences.
Selected outcomes in state felony drug, theft, and other serious criminal cases throughout Wake County and surrounding courts.
Selected outcomes in embezzlement, fraud, and financial crime cases at state and federal levels.
| Charge | Court | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Federal Wire Fraud Conspiracy (18 USC 1343) | EDNC, 2021 | 24 days — co-defendants received years in federal prison |
| Russian Money Laundering / Bribery $150M scheme |
Federal Court, 2018 | Client released from federal custody |
| International Tax Fraud 10-year max, heavy fines |
Federal Court, 2015 | Sentence dramatically reduced |
| Federal Tax Evasion | Federal Court | Civil resolution negotiated — no criminal prosecution |
| Felony Embezzlement (Employer Funds) | Wake County Superior Court | Suspended sentence, probation, restitution — no active prison |
| Felony Larceny by Employee | Wake County Superior Court | Reduced to misdemeanor — no jail, no felony record |
"In 2021, Damon Chetson exposed a Raleigh Police Detective who had arrested more than 20 Black men on fabricated drug charges. The City of Raleigh settled for $2 million."
These results have been covered by national and local media — an independent signal of their significance.
These results were built case by case, through preparation, investigation, and advocacy. If you are facing criminal charges, call for a free and confidential consultation.
Board Certified Specialist in State & Federal Criminal Law · Raleigh, NC · Serving all NC state and federal courts
Results vary by case. Past outcomes do not guarantee future results. These results are presented for informational purposes only and do not constitute a guarantee, warranty, or prediction regarding the outcome of any other matter. Client names are not included. Damon Chetson is licensed to practice in the State of North Carolina and is admitted to practice before the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. NC Bar RPC 7.2.