John J. Dowling III

Managing Attorney

About

John J. Dowling III

Mr. Dowling represents clients charged with white-collar crimes in state and federal courts across the country. He regularly interacts with federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, DOJ, Homeland Security, and the US Secret Service. His practice is based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and he has tried cases, represented clients, or argued federal appeals in New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Miami, Kentucky, California, and more.

His clientele includes a range of professionals, including business owners, doctors, law enforcement officers, lawyers, political personnel, engineers, tax preparers, bankers, as well as a judge.

By and large, Mr. Dowling represents individuals charged with (or under investigation for) fraud- related offenses, especially wire, mail, and bank fraud, as well as bribery, money laundering, identity theft, embezzlement, and conspiracy.

His clientele includes a range of professionals, including business owners, doctors, law enforcement officers, lawyers, political personnel, engineers, tax preparers, bankers, as well as a judge.

A large fraction of Mr. Dowling’s practice also involves representing physicians, pharmacists, and other licensed medical professionals in federal court charged with violations of the federal Controlled Substances Act and federal health care fraud. In a recent case, Mr. Dowling, along with two colleagues, represented a physician at trial in federal court in New York and assisted in obtaining verdicts of not guilty on nine felony counts—including three witness tampering counts. Mr. Dowling’s opening statement in that case was covered in Newsday—Long Island’s largest print newspaper.

Also recently, Mr. Dowling represented a government employee under investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for bribery and honest services fraud. Mr. Dowling persuaded the government to decline charges altogether. In another case, he represented a tax preparer under investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Secret Service for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP loan) fraud involving nearly $500,000. Again, he persuaded the government to decline charges altogether. In addition, recently, in a case investigated by U.S. Homeland Security, he defended at trial a senior vice president at Wells Fargo indicted for an organized crime related offense.

Mr. Dowling earned his law degree from Syracuse University College of Law where he served as chairman of the disciplinary committee for the Moot Court Honor Society. He has earned two awards for legal writing and his essays on federal sentencing have been published in criminal defense newsletters.

In law school, he spent two years interning at the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Northern District of New York, helping those charged with a range of federal offenses including bribery, wire, bank, and social security fraud, international money laundering, death threats against public officials, identity theft, drug, and firearms offenses, and a capital punishment case.

He is an avid sailor.

Education

Honors

Admissions

North Carolina
U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina
U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit

Organizations

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
American Bar Association
White-Collar Crime Section, Mecklenburg County Bar Association
Charlotte Business Group
Charlotte Area Chamber of Commerce