Federal Criminal Lawyer in Greensboro, NC
Federal court is not state court with higher stakes. It is a different building, different prosecutors, a different sentencing system and no parole at the end of it. If you have been indicted in the Middle District of North Carolina, or had a letter saying you are a target, the first few weeks matter more here than anywhere else.
Where are you in the process?
Target letter, subpoena, arrest or indictment. Each one is a different moment and a different plan.
Sending this form does not make us your lawyer yet.
If you have a target letter and no charge yet, that is the most valuable moment in the whole case. It is the one point where the charging decision has not been made. Once an indictment is returned, that window is closed.
Federal detention is not a money bond question. The judge decides whether any conditions will reasonably assure your appearance and the safety of the community, and for several categories of charge the statute starts by presuming the answer is no. That presumption is rebuttable, and rebutting it takes preparation the same week.
There is no parole in the federal system. It was abolished in 1984. Good conduct credit is capped at 54 days a year, so roughly 85 percent of a sentence is served. The sentence imposed is close to the sentence done, which is why the sentencing work starts early.
- The court your case is actually in
- How federal differs from state
- What happens, in order
- Getting out before trial
- How a federal sentence is calculated
- The three ways below a mandatory minimum
- Plea agreements and the appeal waiver
- If you have a target letter but no charge
- What a federal criminal lawyer costs in Greensboro
- How to choose a federal defense lawyer
- Our criminal defense team
- What clients say
- Where we practice
- Questions people ask us
The court your case is actually in
Greensboro and Guilford County sit in the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. That is set by statute, 28 U.S.C. 113(b), which also says court for the district “shall be held at Durham, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem.”
A detail other pages get wrong. The Middle District has no statutory divisions. If a website offers to represent you in the “Greensboro Division,” that division does not exist. There are three places where court is held, and Greensboro is one of them.
| The Place | The Detail |
|---|---|
| The courthouse | L. Richardson Preyer Courthouse, 324 W. Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27401. The Clerk’s Office is on (336) 332-6000 and is open 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday, closed on federal holidays. |
| Who prosecutes | The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of North Carolina, 101 South Edgeworth Street, 4th Floor, Greensboro, NC 27401, (336) 333-5351. Assistant United States Attorneys are appointed, not elected. |
| If you cannot afford a lawyer | The Federal Public Defender for this district is at 301 N. Elm Street, Suite 410, Greensboro, NC 27401. The court also maintains a Criminal Justice Act panel of private attorneys who can be appointed. |
| Which counties | Twenty four, including Guilford, Forsyth, Alamance, Rockingham, Randolph, Davidson, Rowan, Orange, Durham in part, and Surry. |
| Where appeals go | The Fourth Circuit, in Richmond, Virginia. A notice of appeal in a criminal case must be filed in the district court within 14 days of the judgment, under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(b)(1)(A). That is a hard deadline and it is short. |
On where people are held. There is no federal detention center in the Middle District. People held before trial are housed in county jails under contract with the United States Marshals Service, and which facility depends on where the Marshals have space. It can change during a case. Anyone who tells you with certainty which jail your relative will be in is guessing.
How federal differs from state
People who have been through Guilford County District Court assume federal court is the same process with bigger numbers. It is not the same process.
| Question | Federal Court | North Carolina State Court |
|---|---|---|
| Who prosecutes | Assistant United States Attorneys, appointed | Assistant district attorneys under an elected District Attorney. Guilford is Prosecutorial District 24 |
| Who investigates | FBI, DEA, ATF, Homeland Security Investigations, IRS Criminal Investigation, Postal Inspection Service, Secret Service | Greensboro and High Point police, the Guilford County Sheriff, the State Bureau of Investigation |
| How charges are brought | A grand jury of 16 to 23 people, with 12 having to concur to indict. An indictment is required for anything punishable by more than a year unless you waive it | Indictment in Superior Court, or warrant or citation in District Court |
| Sentencing framework | Advisory Sentencing Guidelines: an offense level from 1 to 43 crossed with a criminal history category from I to VI, then weighed against the statutory factors | Binding structured sentencing grid: ten felony classes crossed with six prior record levels, each cell giving a disposition and three ranges |
| Parole | Abolished. Repealed by the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, effective for offenses after 1 November 1987. What follows release is court imposed supervised release | Also abolished for felonies under structured sentencing, replaced by post release supervision |
| Credit off the sentence | Up to 54 days per year of the sentence imposed for good conduct, which works out at roughly 85 percent served | The minimum term is served in full. Earned time can reduce the maximum but never below the minimum |
| Pretrial release | Decided under the Bail Reform Act, with rebuttable presumptions of detention for several categories of charge | North Carolina bail statutes, with secured and unsecured bonds |
| Speedy trial | 30 days to indict, 70 days to trial by statute, subject to broad exclusions | No general statutory clock of that kind |
What happens, in order
- Investigation and grand jury. Often months or years before anyone is charged. Under Rule 6 a grand jury has 16 to 23 members and sits in secret.
- Target letter or subpoena. Department of Justice policy describes a “target” as someone the prosecutor has substantial evidence linking to a crime and regards as a putative defendant. A “subject” is someone whose conduct is within the investigation’s scope. The distinction matters and the letter usually says which you are.
- Indictment or information. Rule 7 requires an indictment for any offense punishable by more than a year, unless the defendant waives indictment in open court and proceeds by information. A waiver is normally part of a negotiated resolution.
- Initial appearance. Rule 5 requires that an arrested person be taken before a magistrate judge without unnecessary delay. The judge covers the charge, the right to counsel, the circumstances of any pretrial release, and the right to say nothing.
- Detention hearing. Usually immediately at the first appearance. See the next section, because this is where federal cases are frequently decided in practice.
- Arraignment. Under Rule 10 the court confirms you have the charging document, states the substance of the charge, and then takes your plea.
- Discovery. Rule 16 requires the government to disclose your own statements, your record, documents material to preparing the defense, test results and written expert disclosures.
- Pretrial motions. Rule 12(b)(3) lists what must be raised before trial, including suppression of evidence, defects in the indictment and venue. Miss the stage and the issue is generally gone.
- Plea or trial. See the plea section below.
- Sentencing. Rule 32 sets the presentence report timetable: disclosed at least 35 days before sentencing, written objections within 14 days of receiving it, final report to the court at least 7 days before. Those three deadlines are where a sentencing is actually won or lost.
- Appeal. 14 days to file the notice.
About the 70 day clock. 18 U.S.C. 3161 says an indictment must be filed within 30 days of arrest, and trial must start within 70 days of the indictment or first appearance, whichever is later. Real federal cases routinely take far longer, because the statute excludes long periods from the count. Anyone promising you a trial in ten weeks has not read subsection (h).
Indicted in the Middle District, or think you are about to be?
Tell us what you have received and which agency it came from. That alone tells us a great deal about where the case is and what can still be influenced.
Call (336) 379-0539Free consultation, answered 24/7Getting out before trial
This is the part that surprises people most, and it is the part where early work changes the most.
Under 18 U.S.C. 3142 the judge must order detention if they find that “no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the appearance of the person as required and the safety of any other person and the community.” It is not a question of what you can afford.
For several categories of charge the statute starts from a presumption against you. Subject to rebuttal, detention is presumed where there is probable cause to believe the person committed:
- A drug offense under the Controlled Substances Act carrying a maximum of ten years or more
- An offense under 18 U.S.C. 924(c), a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking or violent crime
- Certain terrorism offenses, human trafficking offenses and offenses involving a minor victim
Two things worth knowing about the hearing itself. It normally happens immediately at the first appearance, and a continuance on your own motion is limited to five days except for good cause. And the rules of evidence do not apply, which cuts both ways but means a defense case can be presented by proffer rather than by witnesses.
Rebutting a presumption means arriving with a release plan: a third party custodian, a verified address, employment, a treatment option where relevant, and answers to the risk the government will raise. That takes days of work, not an afternoon, and the hearing is usually within days of the arrest.
The hearing can also be reopened later if information comes to light that was not known at the time and has a material bearing on release.
How a federal sentence is calculated
The Sentencing Guidelines are advisory, not binding. They were made advisory by the Supreme Court in United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005). But a judge still has to calculate them correctly and consider them, so the calculation drives everything.
- Offense level. A base level for the offense, from 1 to 43, then adjusted up for specific characteristics such as loss amount, drug quantity, a weapon, or a leadership role, and adjusted down where something applies in your favor.
- Criminal history category. I through VI, driven by prior convictions and whether the offense was committed while under another sentence.
- The grid. Offense level crossed with criminal history gives a range in months.
- Acceptance of responsibility. Guideline 3E1.1 can reduce the offense level, with a further reduction available on the government’s motion where the plea was timely. On higher offense levels this is one of the largest single movements available.
- The statutory factors. 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) requires the court to consider the nature of the offense, your history and characteristics, deterrence, protection of the public, and the need to avoid unwarranted disparities, among others. This is where a sentence below the guideline range is argued.
- Any mandatory minimum. A statutory minimum overrides a lower guideline range. The guidelines cannot go below it, and neither can the judge, except in the specific ways described next.
The three ways below a mandatory minimum
Mandatory minimums are the hardest number in federal law. Drug quantity thresholds under 21 U.S.C. 841 and firearm counts under 18 U.S.C. 924(c) are the two most people meet. There are exactly three routes beneath one, and knowing which is realistic is the difference between a plan and a hope.
| Route | Authority | What It Requires |
|---|---|---|
| Safety valve | 18 U.S.C. 3553(f) | Applies to certain drug offenses. Limited criminal history, no violence or weapon, not an organizer, no death or serious injury, and a full and truthful disclosure to the government before sentencing. The First Step Act widened the criminal history condition. It does not depend on the government agreeing. |
| Substantial assistance | USSG 5K1.1 and 18 U.S.C. 3553(e) | Cooperation. The guideline motion moves below the guideline range. Going below a statutory minimum requires the separate motion under 3553(e). Both are the government’s to file. |
| Charge resolution | Negotiated | Where the count carrying the mandatory minimum is not the count of conviction. This is negotiated before the plea, not argued at sentencing, which is why the timing of getting a lawyer involved matters. |
Plea agreements and the appeal waiver
Most federal cases resolve by plea, and the type of plea agreement decides how much control you actually have.
| Type | What the Government Agrees | Does It Bind the Judge? |
|---|---|---|
| Rule 11(c)(1)(A) | Not to bring, or to dismiss, other charges | The dismissal does. The sentence is still open. |
| Rule 11(c)(1)(B) | To recommend or not oppose a sentence | No. The rule says such a recommendation does not bind the court, and the judge must tell you that you cannot withdraw the plea if the recommendation is not followed. |
| Rule 11(c)(1)(C) | That a specific sentence or range is appropriate | Yes, once the court accepts the agreement. If the court rejects it, you get the chance to withdraw the plea. |
Two provisions worth understanding before you sign anything.
The appeal waiver. Rule 11(b)(1)(N) requires the judge to confirm you understand any term of the agreement waiving the right to appeal or to collaterally attack the sentence. Most federal plea agreements contain one. It is negotiable, and what it does and does not cover is worth reading closely.
The conditional plea. Rule 11(a)(2) allows a guilty plea that reserves in writing the right to have an appellate court review a specified pretrial ruling, with the consent of the court and the government. If you win on appeal you may withdraw the plea. It is the mechanism for preserving a suppression ruling rather than losing it, and it is almost never explained.
If you have a target letter but no charge
This is the best position anyone reading this page can be in, and most people do not treat it that way.
Before an indictment, the charging decision has not been made. There is still a prosecutor who can be given information, a theory that can be corrected, and in some cases a resolution that avoids the most serious count or avoids charges altogether. After the grand jury returns a true bill, almost all of that leverage is gone.
Two things not to do. Do not talk to agents without a lawyer, because a false statement to a federal agent is its own federal crime regardless of what happens with the underlying investigation. And do not delete, move or tidy anything, because that is how an investigation into one thing becomes an obstruction case.
What a federal criminal lawyer costs in Greensboro
Federal defense is quoted by stage and you get the number on the first call.
Federal cases cost more than state cases because they are more work. Discovery volume is larger, often far larger. The guideline calculation has to be done independently rather than accepted. A detention hearing on a presumption charge is a piece of litigation in its own right, in the first week. And the sentencing stage, with its 35 day and 14 day deadlines, is frequently where the real result is produced.
Ask any firm which stages their fee covers, and specifically whether sentencing and the presentence report objections are included or quoted separately.
How to choose a federal defense lawyer
North Carolina State Bar rules do not permit a lawyer to claim to be the best. Ask things with exact answers instead:
- “Are you admitted in the Middle District of North Carolina?” Admission to the state bar is not the same thing as admission to this federal court.
- “Does my charge carry a presumption of detention, and what is the plan for the hearing?” If the answer is vague and the hearing is this week, keep calling.
- “What is my likely guideline range, and what drives it?” They should be able to name the offense level drivers in your case, not just say it depends.
- “Is safety valve available to me?” It has specific conditions and does not depend on the government agreeing. A federal practitioner knows this immediately.
- “What does the appeal waiver in this agreement give up?” Ask before signing, not after.
Our criminal defense team
Jason Aycoth
Federal Criminal Defense, Felony Charges, State and Federal Court
Jason handles criminal cases in state and federal court across North Carolina. He has served as Editor of the True Bill and was Commencement Speaker at Elon Law School's graduation.
- Former President, Greensboro Criminal Defense Lawyers Association
- Elected member, Criminal Justice Section, North Carolina Bar Association
- Selected to present the Wade M. Smith Award for Top Criminal Defense Lawyer in North Carolina
Chad D. GarrettFounderJason AycothPartner
Sean OlsonPartner
Brandon GoldsboroughCriminal Defense
Stephanie GoldsboroughCriminal Defense
Rebecca ElliottCriminal Defense
Patrick BidwellCriminal Defense
Samantha HeplerCriminal DefenseWhat clients say
4.9 out of 5 from 587 Google reviews. A few recent ones:
Where we practice
Our office is two minutes from the Guilford County Courthouse.
Guilford County: Greensboro · High Point · Jamestown · Gibsonville · Summerfield · Oak Ridge · Pleasant Garden · Stokesdale · Whitsett · McLeansville · Sedalia
Also serving: Randolph, Forsyth, Alamance, Rockingham and Davidson Counties
Questions people ask us
How do I find the best federal criminal lawyer in Greensboro?
No lawyer in North Carolina may claim to be the best, under State Bar rules. Ask whether they are admitted in the Middle District of North Carolina, whether your charge carries a presumption of detention and what the plan for that hearing is, and what drives your guideline range. Each has a specific answer.
Which federal court covers Greensboro?
The United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. Under 28 U.S.C. 113(b) court for the district is held at Durham, Greensboro and Winston-Salem. The Greensboro courthouse is the L. Richardson Preyer Courthouse at 324 W. Market Street. The district has no statutory divisions, so there is no "Greensboro Division" despite what some websites say.
What is a target letter and what should I do?
It is a notice, grounded in Department of Justice policy, that the prosecutor has substantial evidence linking you to a crime and regards you as a putative defendant. It usually arrives before any charge, which makes it the point of maximum influence on the case. Get a lawyer before responding and do not speak to agents on your own.
Can I get bond in federal court?
Federal pretrial release is not a money bond question. Under 18 U.S.C. 3142 the judge decides whether any conditions will reasonably assure your appearance and the safety of the community. For ten year drug offenses, 924(c) firearm counts and several other categories the statute presumes detention, though the presumption can be rebutted with a concrete release plan.
Is there parole in the federal system?
No. Federal parole was abolished by the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, effective for offenses committed after 1 November 1987. What follows a prison term is supervised release, imposed by the judge. Good conduct credit is capped at 54 days per year of the sentence imposed, which is why roughly 85 percent of a federal sentence is served.
Are the Federal Sentencing Guidelines mandatory?
They are advisory, after United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005). The judge still has to calculate the range correctly and consider it, alongside the statutory factors in 18 U.S.C. 3553(a). So the calculation matters enormously even though it does not bind the court.
Can anything get me below a mandatory minimum?
Three things. The safety valve in 18 U.S.C. 3553(f) for certain drug offenses, which has specific conditions and does not require the government to agree. Substantial assistance, which needs a government motion under USSG 5K1.1, and a separate motion under 18 U.S.C. 3553(e) to go below a statutory minimum. Or a charge resolution in which the count carrying the minimum is not the count of conviction.
What is an appeal waiver?
A term in a plea agreement giving up the right to appeal or collaterally attack the sentence. Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(b)(1)(N) requires the judge to confirm on the record that you understand it. Most federal plea agreements contain one, the scope varies and it is negotiable before signing.
If I plead guilty, do I lose my suppression motion?
Usually, but not necessarily. Rule 11(a)(2) allows a conditional plea that reserves in writing the right to appellate review of a specified pretrial ruling, with the consent of the court and the government. If the appeal succeeds the plea can be withdrawn. It has to be set up at the time of the plea.
How long does a federal case take?
The Speedy Trial Act sets 30 days from arrest to indictment and 70 days to trial, but 18 U.S.C. 3161(h) excludes long periods from the count, so most federal cases run considerably longer. Expect many months, and in a document heavy case longer than that.
Where will my family member be held?
There is no federal detention center in the Middle District of North Carolina. People held before trial are housed in county jails under contract with the United States Marshals Service, and the facility depends on where the Marshals have space. It can change during a case, so anyone who tells you with certainty which jail is guessing.
Can a federal conviction be expunged?
Federal law has no general expungement statute comparable to North Carolina's, so a federal conviction is not cleared the way a state charge can be. That is one more reason the charging stage and the plea stage carry so much weight.
Talk to a federal criminal lawyer in Greensboro
Tell us what you have received and which agency it came from. Free, and there is no obligation.
Garrett, Walker, Aycoth & Olson, Attorneys at Law
317 South Greene St, Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 379-0539 · answered live, 24 hours
Free consultation · Se habla español
This page explains North Carolina law in general terms as of October 2026. It is not legal advice about your case, and penalties and statutes change. Figures come from 28 U.S.C. 41 and 113, 18 U.S.C. 3142, 3161, 3553 and 3624, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 16 and 32, Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(b), United States Sentencing Guidelines 3E1.1 and 5K1.1, United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220 (2005), and from the published pages of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina and the U.S. Department of Justice. Court addresses and telephone numbers were checked in October 2026.