(1) Significant victory in the highly publicized organized crime case entitled United States v. Joseph Merlino, et al. At the conclusion of a federal criminal defense trial in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania which lasted almost five months, the jury acquitted NiaLena's client, Frank Gambino, an alleged made member of La Cosa Nostra (LCN), of attempted murder and RICO / racketeering charges. The Pulitzer Prize-winning Philadelphia Daily News described NiaLena as an "extremely thorough" and "tireless advocate [who] allows no legal issue to escape her attention" as well as the "youngest and lone female attorney" who is "a thorough advocate with courtroom poise beyond her years." Mob On Trial: For The Defense ... The Greatest Lawyers On The East Coast. Click on "Links / News Videos" on the left to read excerpts from NiaLena's closing argument and also to view video clips of the news coverage from ABC News, NBC News, and Fox News of the Merlino / Gambino trial.
(2) Successfully represented a client in two separate and unrelated multi-defendant indictments that received headline news and charged him as a lead defendant with multiple counts of conspiracy and federal drug trafficking charges in the United States District Court as well as multiple counts of conspiracy, corrupt organizations, and drug trafficking charges in state court and exposed him to potential mandatory and consecutive sentences of at least 10 years up to possible sentences of 15 years to life in each case. Following 3 1/2 years of the most intense, grueling, and relentless advocacy, during which time multiple winning arguments were developed and set forth on behalf of her client, the end result was that the client received only a 6-month period of incarceration in a federal facility followed by a 6-month term in a federal halfway house for both cases and, as a result, will be able to start his life anew. (Please visit Avvo.com by clicking on the "Links / News Videos" page of this website in order to read the full client review entitled "The Person Who Gave Me A New Life" in which the client describes NiaLena as "fighting the prosecution like a rabid pitbull," coupled with the fact that "she sees me as a person and not a criminal," being "undoubtedly one of her strongest weapons in the courtroom" that concluded "the long process of fighting for my life" with an "ending [that] mirrored that of a fairytale and not a tragedy.")
(3) Successfully represented a New York Arab American client in the United States District Court in a multi-defendant white collar federal indictment with voluminous electronic surveillance. Due to relentlessly aggressive and strategic advocacy over the course of one year as well as meticulous analysis of audio and video surveillance recorded by a confidential informant, succeeded in getting the charges of conspiracy to internationally traffic in counterfeit goods and conspiracy to commit passport fraud dismissed. The young man is now a full-time college student on the honor roll and is also volunteering his talents with an international organization that builds schools in Africa. (Please visit Avvo.com by clicking on the "Links / News Videos" page of this website in order to read the full client review entitled "Second Chance" in which the client describes NiaLena as "not your typical attorney" but as someone who "will go well beyond her professional mandate and help you as a person" and who "will defend your rights and protect you when the prosecution attempts to exploit your weaknesses." The client further explains that "meeting NiaLena" was "the only positive thing that came from this bad experience" and shares his opinion that "believe me you want her on your side.")
(4) Successfully represented a medical doctor against various charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, which threatened his ability to maintain his license and practice medicine. In a race against the clock, the defense embarked upon a path of intensely aggressive and proactive pretrial representation and succeeded in having all charges withdrawn only four months after his arrest. The doctor is now continuing his promising career of being able to practice medicine and help patients in need. (Please visit Avvo.com by clicking on the "Links / News Videos" page of this website in order to read the full client review entitled "This lawyer saved my career and life" in which the client describes NiaLena as "responding to all my emails within hours" and "really taking charge in the courtroom" and also credits NiaLena for "saving my career as a doctor!")
(5) Successfully represented a fellow attorney in the United States District Court during a criminal investigation by a federal grand jury regarding allegations of possession of child pornography that had allegedly been acquired through the Internet. All charges were eventually dropped against the client, and all computer equipment that had been seized by the government was later returned.
(6) Successfully represented a client against drug trafficking charges regarding crystal methamphetamine. The case had been described in the press as the "largest meth bust ever in the city of Philadelphia." Following aggressive pretrial representation over the course of almost 1 1/2 years, all charges against the client were dismissed on the morning of trial.
(7) Successfully represented a client in a capital homicide trial which lasted one month. Despite a lifelong criminal history which involved 30 violent felony convictions, and the fact that the defendant had allegedly killed a government witness in order to prevent that individual from testifying against him, the defendant did not receive the death penalty.
(8) Successfully represented a client charged with multiple homosexual sex offenses. Following aggressive advocacy on behalf of her client, all charges were dropped against him on the morning of trial.
(9) Successfully represented a client against alleged child sexual assault charges upon 2 minor male complainants. At trial, the defendant was acquitted of multiple sex crimes, including involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, statutory sexual assault, and sexual abuse of children.
(10) Succeeded in reversing a 22-year-old first degree murder conviction following three years of evidentiary hearings and winning a new trial for the defendant who had been serving a life sentence without parole.
(11) Successfully represented a client accused of being the shooter in a first degree murder case in which the death penalty was sought. Following intensely aggressive advocacy in an effort to suppress two alleged confessions, succeeded in defeating the charge of first degree murder. The client, who had previously been raised in a ghetto environment and had dropped out of school, has since learned to read and write, passed his GED exam, and was accepted to a local university where he has been on the Dean’s List every semester. (Please visit Avvo.com by clicking on the "Links / News Videos" page of this website in order to read the full client review entitled "You Are Appreciated" in which the client explains that NiaLena "never came across as if we were interrupting her from something more important" and that "what was truly humbling to me was [her] willingness to befriend a kid who in his own eyes was a lost cause at the time. During the years NiaLena has become a mentor encouraging me to finish school [and] has shown me what is to be dependable, trustworthy, honest, caring and hard working by her example. I once heard someone say 'Life isn't measured in minutes; it's measured in moments'. One of those moments for me was meeting NiaLena.")
(12) Successfully represented a client in a high-profile white collar case that received nationwide media attention, wherein the client was charged federally in the United States District Court with using the U.S. mail to send threatening communications to the head coach of an NFL team. Following an aggressive exploration of “diminished capacity,” succeeded in winning a variance from the prison term recommended by the federal sentencing guidelines and obtaining a probationary sentence for the client. Click on "Links / News Videos" on the left to read excerpts from New York Sports and NBC Bay Area news coverage.
(13) Successfully represented a university student accused of rape and sexual assault. Through relentless and aggressive and proactive pre-indictment investigation and advocacy, succeeded in convincing law enforcement authorities that the sexual activity was consensual, that the client did not commit any crimes, and that he should not be charged. The young man has now returned to school to continue pursuing his studies and striving toward his future promising career. (Please visit Avvo.com by clicking on the "Links / News Videos" page of this website in order to read the full client review entitled "Best Lawyer Possible" in which the client explains that "during the first weeks of having been squeezed by the long arm of the law, NiaLena kept me updated about my case by the hour daily" and "left no stone unturned.")
(14) Successfully represented a client in the United States District Court in two federal drug trafficking and firearms trials. The defendant was first acquitted at trial of multiple counts alleging the possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and the possession of firearms by a convicted felon. After 8 months of arguments, NiaLena then succeeded in reversing the federal drug trafficking counts for which the defendant had been convicted and subsequently won a new trial for her client.
(15) Successfully represented a client in the United States District Court in two federal drug trafficking and firearms trials. In the first instance, the jury hung and a mistrial was declared. At the retrial, the defendant was acquitted of multiple counts involving the distribution of crack cocaine as well as multiple counts alleging the possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and the possession of firearms by a convicted felon.
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