Joe has defended criminal cases involving allegations of fraud, tax crimes, antitrust violations, customs violations, environmental crimes, banking crimes, computer crimes, money laundering, and drug crimes.  He regularly represents indigent persons in murder cases involving the death penalty across North Carolina.

Joe has defended clients in scores of trials in federal and state court, with a high number of successful outcomes.  His expertise in the area of criminal defense is recognized by his “AV” rating by Martindale Hubbell, as well as his being selected by his peers for inclusion in the “Best Lawyers in America” since 2003 and among Business North Carolina’s “Legal Elite” since 2008. Joe has been selected for inclusion among Law & Politics’ “North Carolina Super Lawyers” since 2006, and in 2010 was recognized by that publication as one of the “Top 100” lawyers in North Carolina.

A large portion of Joe’s practice involves assisting individuals and businesses under investigation in avoiding the return of criminal charges altogether. He has extensive experience in representing businesses and their employees in grand jury investigations, and assisting those clients in avoiding the return of criminal charges. Some of his most recent experience in this area includes: 

• Represented businessman investigated by federal authorities for alleged criminal tax violations relating to nonpayment of millions of dollars of employment taxes collected by the client’s business. Investigation was terminated with no charges being brought against client. 
• Represented construction business in federal antitrust investigation relating to alleged price-fixing. Investigation was terminated with no charges being brought against business or its employees. 
• Represented businessman charged in federal court with distribution of counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Case against client was terminated by entry into pretrial diversion agreement wherein charges against client were dismissed.