SERIOUS CRIMINAL DEFENSE
Top criminal defense attorneys for serious cases.
Our lawyers are among the best criminal defense attorneys in the United States. Page Pate and Jess Johnson have been recognized for many years as “Super Lawyers” in criminal defense, in the Top 100 Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers, and Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite. More importantly, our firm has won dozens of serious criminal trials in federal courts across the country. We have also kept clients from being charged and/or avoid being incarcerated in international criminal investigations in Spain, England, Ireland, Italy, and the Bahamas.
We represent a lot of people who are charged with serious crimes. It really is the backbone of our practice. I’ve been representing people in serious criminal cases for well over 20 years now. The reason I think we’re so successful and the reason I think people should hire us for a serious case is that we put in the time and the effort necessary to win. In my experience, there are basically four things that really determine the difference between a good criminal defense lawyer and a great criminal defense lawyer.The first is experience. I mean, as a lawyer, you have to know the law. You have to know the rules of evidence, the procedures. You have to know what it takes to win and have the proven strategies to get there. The second thing that’s critically important is hard work. You have to be willing to outwork the other side. If that means you stay at the office late at night, you do it. You come in on the weekends if necessary.
Whatever it takes, because in serious criminal cases there’s usually a mountain of evidence you have to go through. Independent investigations, defense experts, all of that takes time and effort. And if you want to be great at this, you have to be willing to put in that time and effort. The third thing, of course, is you can’t quit. Don’t quit on your client. Don’t quit on the case. Don’t take the first plea offer simply because it’s easy or it sounds good.
Don’t be afraid to keep trying new strategies if you think it may help your client. Don’t worry about upsetting the judge or the prosecutor. You have to keep going with the case. Persistence, in my experience, really does pay off. But you know, all of those things really don’t matter unless you first sit down and really listen to the person you’re representing. What’s important to them? What’s important to their family? What do they think is a good result in this case?
I have to hear their side of the story. I have to understand from their perspective what really happened so that I can believe it. And if I can believe it, then I can support them, then I can fight for them with the prosecutor and potentially with a judge and a jury. So if you’re being represented now by a lawyer who’s not doing all of those things, or not even doing one of those things, it’s probably time for a different lawyer.
In addition to our impressive record of “not guilty” verdicts in criminal trials, our firm has also obtained pretrial dismissals and very favorable plea deals in many other criminal cases without the need for a trial. In fact, we are not aware of any criminal defense law firm with more recent successful results in serious criminal cases.
We have law offices staffed with experienced criminal defense attorneys in Atlanta and Brunswick, Georgia, as well as a satellite office in Washington, D.C.
Our experience:
Our results in serious criminal cases:
RICO CHARGES AGAINST BUSINESS OWNER – DISMISSED
Convinced prosecutors to dismiss a RICO indictment after we filed a Motion to Dismiss with the court. The case involved allegations of theft by deception and racketeering.
(State v. S.F.)
FEDERAL DRUG CONSPIRACY – NOT GUILTY
Won a federal criminal jury trial for a client charged with being in a large-scale drug conspiracy. The client was facing mandatory life in prison if convicted. The jury found him “not guilty” on all counts, despite wiretap evidence and the testimony of alleged co-conspirators.
(U.S. v. V.W.)
FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CASE – DISMISSED
Convinced federal prosecutors to dismiss a child pornography case a week before the trial was scheduled to begin. Our client was facing a minimum of 10 years in prison.
(U.S. v. M.K.)
AGGRAVATED CHILD MOLESTATION – NOT GUILTY
Won a criminal jury trial for a client falsely accused of multiple aggravated child molestation charges in Gainesville, Georgia. The client was facing 25 years to life in prison if convicted. He was acquitted on all 6 counts.
(State v. A.C.)
DRUG CHARGES AGAINST DOCTOR – NOT GUILTY
Won a criminal jury trial for a doctor charged in Northeast Georgia with the unlawful distribution of controlled substances. He was facing up to 100 years in prison if convicted.
(State v. P.R.)
FEDERAL DRUG CONSPIRACY – NOT GUILTY
Won a federal jury trial for a pilot falsely charged with importing several hundred kilos of cocaine into the U.S. from Mexico. Our client was facing life in prison if convicted.
(U.S. v. D.F.)
ARMED ROBBERY AND KIDNAPPING – NOT GUILTY
Won a criminal jury trial for a client charged with armed robbery and kidnapping in Marietta (Cobb County), Georgia. The judge granted our motion and dismissed all charges after we questioned the state’s key witnesses. Our client was facing life in prison.
(State v. D.P.)
FEDERAL GUN CHARGES – NOT GUILTY
Won a federal criminal jury trial in Atlanta, Georgia for a client indicted for possessing illegal firearms. He was facing up to 10 years in federal prison.
(U.S. v. M.H.)
FEDERAL DRUG CONSPIRACY – DISMISSED
Convinced federal prosecutors to dismiss a federal drug case against our client in Macon, Georgia. We argued that the search of our client was unlawful and the government dismissed all charges. Our client would have been sentenced up to 30 years if convicted.
(U.S. v. G.D.)
FEDERAL DRUG CHARGES – DISMISSED
Successfully resolved a federal drug case in Atlanta when we helped convince prosecutors to dismiss an indictment against our client after he was arrested, but prior to the trial. The client was facing up to 20 years in prison.
(U.S. v. H.W.)
FEDERAL FRAUD CASE – DISMISSED
Convinced the federal government to dismiss a multi-million dollar fraud case against our clients in Atlanta a week before trial. Our clients could have been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
(U.S. v. V.R.)
AGGRAVATED CHILD MOLESTATION – CONVICTION REVERSED
Won a new trial for a client who had been convicted of rape, child molestation and related charges and sentenced to 25 years in prison after the client’s prior lawyer had been ineffective in representing him at the first trial.
(State v. J.S.D)
MALICE MURDER CHARGES – DISMISSED
Resolved a murder case in Athens, Georgia when the district attorney dismissed the charges against our client before trial. Our client was facing life in prison, but he was released from prison without ever having to go to trial.
(State v. J.H.)
A recent review on avvo.com:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating = 5/5
“Page and his firm worked tirelessly, diligently, and professionally at all times,
leaving no stone unturned. After interviewing countless attorneys, my husband and I hired Mr. Pate’s firm to defend against unfortunate and serious criminal charges brought against him in 2006. (He is a family practice physician in Northeast GA.) These charges not only threatened to end his medical career after 20+ years of training & experience, but shook the very foundation of our family itself. After a lengthy legal battle lasting almost 6-years, his case finally went to trial with proceedings lasting 3 days. After only a brief 25 minutes of deliberation, the jurors returned a NOT GUILTY verdict. Mr. Pate worked tirelessly, diligently, and professionally at all times, leaving no stone unturned. He always patiently & thoroughly answered our questions, returned our phone calls immediately, and offered us strength, honesty, and hope during very difficult days. While our family lost much sleep during those challenging years, we rested soundly knowing that Page Pate was our attorney. He made us feel as if he were fighting not only for my husband’s career as a doctor, but whole-heartedly for our family every step of the way. My husband looks forward to many years of continuing to meet the needs of his patients in our community as he feels God has called him to do, and I as a wife and mother of 3 little ones can enjoy peace-of-mind as we look forward to brighter days ahead. Thank you, Mr. Pate!
Tonette R., wife of a former client
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