07/09/2022
A 2009 graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Law, Damon Chetson has represented more than 2,000 clients in cases ranging from federal tax fraud investigations to RICO conspiracies to First Degree Murder throughout North Carolina's state and federal courts.
Since 2019, Damon has defended clients in jury trials in four federal trials, including the largest RICO conspiracy trial in the history of the United States (USA v. Addison et al), and in five murder trials (in Wake, Johnston, and Wayne counties).
In 2021, he won a complete acquittal on first degree murder charges in a state case, and a 924(c) gun count in a federal trial in Elizabeth City. In 2020, he won multiple gun counts in federal trial in New Bern. In 2019, he, along with co-counsel, secured a life sentence for a client who had confessed to a triple homicide; the State of North Carolina had sought to put the client to death.
Also in 2019, Damon was the only defense lawyer in the largest criminal prosecution in United States history to secure any victory at trial, convincing a federal jury to find that his client had not committed any murders on behalf of a national criminal gang. That case remains on appeal.
Damon Chetson was first certified as North Carolina specialist in State and Federal Law by the North Carolina State Bar's Board of Specialization in 2016 and was recertified in 2021. He lives in Raleigh with his wife Catherine and their three bulldogs.
