Reviews & Representative Cases
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
“Mr. Dowling has proven he will face the most fierce opponents, and he will exhaust himself for the benefit of his client through the very end. Mr. Dowling retains a special gift of working outside the box, producing greater results.”
— Former Client J.C.
“I want to thank you for everything you did for my case. All the energy you put into my case is highly appreciated.”
— Former Client D.T.
“Mr. Dowling’s uncanny ability to quickly master the highly complex concepts involved in our business, and reduce those to clear, succinct, and easy-to-understand legal briefs and memoranda, frankly, amazed us.”
— Former Client P.B.
“Mike is a brilliant lawyer who really listens to his clients’ needs and goals.”
“Mike Dowling is as dogged, thoughtful, smart and complete a lawyer as I have seen.”
A SMALL SAMPLING OF LEGAL WORK
Federal Criminal Trial Court Cases:
+ Fraud
- Partial acquittal and downward variance granted at sentencing after week-long trial in complex marriage fraud and obstruction of justice case. United States v. S.A. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
+ Drugs
- Dismissal of all felony charges and probationary sentence obtained for a client who attempted to smuggle controlled substances into a federal prison and was originally charged with four federal felony offenses. United States v. A.S. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
- 50 month sentence for client involved in substantial crack cocaine conspiracy, where the advisory guideline range recommended imprisonment for 22 to 27 years after conviction at trial. United States v. C.C. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
- 48 month sentence for client charged with various crimes related to the production of methamphetamine. The client’s advisory guideline range was 100 to 125 months of imprisonment. United States v. J.R. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
- 84 month sentence for client who faced a mandatory life sentence if convicted at trial on conspiracy to distribute cocaine charges. United States v. P.Q. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
- 66 month sentence imposed for client convicted of trafficking methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, where the advisory guideline range recommended a term of 97-106 months. United States v. F.D. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
- 130 month sentence imposed in firearm and drug trafficking case where the advisory guideline range recomended a term of 262-327 months of imprisonment. United States v. E.F. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
+ Firearms
- Probation for a client convicted of being a felon-in-possession of a firearm, despite the advice of the federal sentencing guidelines recommending a term of imprisonment, and despite the government demanding incarceration. United States v. D.B. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
+ Money Laundering
- Probation for Raleigh professional embroiled in nationwide money laundering conspiracy, where advisory guideline range suggested a term of imprisonment of 70 to 87 months of imprisonment. United States v. P.S. (Eastern District of North Carolina)
+ Section 2255 motions, First Step Act Compassionate Release motions, and related post-conviction relief
- Habeas corpus releif granted in firearm and drug distribution case based on a successful claim of ineffective assistance of counsel. Y.P. v. United States (Eastern District of North Carolina)
- Conviction and sentence for violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) (use of firearm in connection with a drug trafficking crime) vacated after a contested evidentiary hearing based on client’s actual innocence. D.T. v. United States (Eastern District of North Carolina)
- Motion for compassionate release granted and 180 month sentence reduced to time-served. J.D. v. United States (Eastern District of North Carolina)
- Multiple fraud convictions and 26 year sentence vacated after contested evidentiary hearing on ineffective assistance of counsel claim in complex Ponzi scheme case. D.M. v. United States (Eastern District of North Carolina)
Civil Trial Court Cases:
Dismissal of sprawling False Claims Act case seeking hundreds of millions of dollars based on alleged Medicaid fraud.
Dismissal of tens of millions of dollars of federal RICO and related claims, and successful defense on appeal. See U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc. v. Big South Wholesale of Virginia, LLC, 899 F.3d 236 (4th Cir. 2018).
Federal Criminal Appeals:
Reversed Sentences on Appeal:
262 month sentence reduced to just 120 months’ imprisonment after successful appeal in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. United States v. E.G. (Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals)
Upward departure and 108 month sentence reduced to just 84 months’ imprisonment following successful appeal in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. United States v. A.S. (Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals)
120 month sentence reversed on appeal based on prosecution’s false statement to the trial court at sentencing. United States v. J.R. (Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals)
*No reference on this website to a prior case result is a guarantee of a similar outcome in any current or future case.