One Focus.
For Over 30 Years.
When your freedom is at stake — in any courtroom in North Carolina — experience matters, and so does having an attorney who is personally committed to you and your case. That is the practice Benjamin Porter built. That is the standard he holds himself to every day.
Benjamin D. Porter, PLLC exists for one purpose: to provide North Carolinians facing criminal charges — in state or federal court — with the most focused, experienced, and personally attentive defense representation available. After more than thirty years of practicing criminal law, Ben Porter made a deliberate choice — to step away from a larger practice and build something different. Something better. A solo practice built entirely around the criminal law client.
The Practice
Whether you are confronting charges in a North Carolina district or superior court, or facing the full weight of a federal indictment, the stakes could not be higher — and the complexity of navigating both systems demands an attorney who has spent decades mastering them. Ben has argued in courtrooms across North Carolina, at the state and federal level, building the kind of deep, practical command of criminal law that only comes from thirty years of total dedication to this single field of practice. No divided attention. No junior associates handling your matter. When you retain Ben Porter, you get Ben Porter.
CREDIBILITY
Over thirty years in North Carolina’s state and federal criminal courts, with a reputation built one case at a time.
RELIABILITY
A solo practice by design so every client receives direct, undivided attention from first call to final verdict.
RESULTS
A sustained record of dismissed charges, acquittals, and reduced sentences across thirty years of criminal defense.
About Ben Porter
Ben Porter graduated from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1995 and has spent every year since in the practice of criminal law. He is a North Carolina Board Certified Specialist in both Federal and State Criminal Law – a designation held by a small fraction of attorneys in the state, and one that reflects not just experience, but a demonstrated mastery of the field.
His practice spans the full range of criminal defense work, from traffic matters to first degree murder, in both trial and appellate courts across North Carolina. He has been recognized on the North Carolina Super Lawyers list every year since 2010, a distinction reserved for the top five percent of attorneys in the state.
Ben Porter is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina; the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; the Supreme Court of North Carolina; and the Supreme Court of the United States.
Thirty years of criminal defense practice in North Carolina, across every courtroom and at every level, is not a credential that can be replicated. It is earned, case by case, over a career built entirely around this work.
What's at Stake
A criminal charge is something that happens to other people. Until it happens to you.
And when it does, it carries the weight of your reputation, your livelihood, your relationships, and in serious cases, your liberty. Most people encounter the criminal justice system without warning and without any preparation for the speed and force with which it moves. The moment charges are filed, the government begins building its case.
The question is whether your defense is being built with the same discipline and focus. Benjamin D. Porter, PLLC was built around a single answer to that question. When your freedom is at stake, experience is not a luxury. It is a necessity.
State and Criminal Defense
North Carolina’s criminal court system operates at two levels, and the consequences at each are distinct. State charges, from misdemeanors heard in district court to serious felonies tried in superior court, carry their own procedural demands and strategic considerations. Federal charges carry a different weight entirely: the full investigative and prosecutorial resources of the United States government, mandatory sentencing guidelines, and a system that demands a defense attorney who has spent years learning its particular rhythms and requirements.
Benjamin Porter has practiced in both systems for over thirty years. He understands not only the law, but the courtrooms, the judges, the prosecutors, and how cases in those systems actually move. That knowledge is not quickly gained, and it cannot be replaced.
How Benjamin Porter Works
The outcome of a criminal case turns on many variables: the nature of the charge, the strength of the evidence, the legality of how that evidence was obtained, the credibility of witnesses, and the quality of the defense strategy employed from the very first day. There is no formula. Every case is different, and every client’s situation demands individual attention.
When you retain Benjamin Porter, the first thing you will receive is honesty. An accurate assessment of where you stand, what the evidence shows, what the risks are, and what the realistic options look like. From there, a defense strategy is developed: not a template, but a plan built around the facts of your case and your goals. That plan is then carried out with the full preparation and commitment that thirty years of experience makes possible.
Some cases are resolved through negotiation. Others require trial. Benjamin Porter has tried cases in both state and federal court throughout his career. That record of preparation and follow-through is known. It shapes every negotiation.
Charges do not resolve themselves. But with the right counsel, experienced, prepared, and personally committed to your defense, the result is rarely out of reach.
Our
Practice Areas
Benjamin Porter defends clients facing a full range of criminal charges in North Carolina state and federal courts. These include felony and misdemeanor offenses, federal criminal charges, drug offenses, DWI and traffic violations, white-collar and financial crimes, sex offenses, homicide, and expungement matters. Each case is approached with the same standard: thorough preparation, honest counsel, and a defense strategy built around your specific circumstances and goals.
Federal Offenses
Federal drug trafficking, Federal firearms charges, Wire fraud, Mail fraud, Bank fraud, Healthcare fraud, Tax evasion, Money laundering, RICO offenses, Federal conspiracy charges, Public corruption, Immigration offenses, Cybercrime
Drug Offenses
Simple possession, Possession with intent to distribute or sell, Drug trafficking, Manufacturing or cultivation, Maintaining a dwelling for drug use, Prescription fraud, Drug conspiracy
Violent Crimes
Assault and battery, Assault with a deadly weapon, Armed robbery, Kidnapping, First and second degree murder, Voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, Domestic violence, Felony death by vehicle
Property & Financial Crimes
Breaking and entering, Felony and misdemeanor larceny, Robbery, Embezzlement, Identity theft, Forgery and uttering, Worthless checks, White-collar crime, Obtaining property by false pretenses
Sex Offenses
First and second degree sexual offense, Rape and statutory rape, Indecent liberties with a minor, Possession or distribution of child pornography, Sex offender registration matters, Sexual battery
DWI & Traffic Offenses
Driving while impaired (DWI/DUI), Habitual impaired driving, Felony death by vehicle, Hit and run, Reckless driving, License revocation and restoration matters, Serious traffic violations, Commercial driver license (CDL) matters
Weapons Offenses
Carrying a concealed weapon, Possession of a firearm by a felon, Possession of a stolen firearm, Discharging a firearm in occupied property, Federal weapons charges, Assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill
Misdemeanor Offenses
Simple assault, Simple possession of a controlled substance, Misdemeanor larceny, Trespassing, Disorderly conduct, Communicating threats, Resisting a public officer, Misdemeanor worthless checks
Post-Conviction Matters
Expungement of criminal records, Record sealing, Probation violations, Parole violations, Appellate representation, Sentence modifications, Motion for Appropriate Relief (MAR)
This list is representative, not exhaustive. If you are facing a charge not listed here, contact Benjamin D. Porter, PLLC directly. Thirty years of state and federal criminal defense practice in North Carolina covers considerably more ground than any single list can reflect.
Schedule a Free Consultation
If you or someone you know is facing criminal charges in North Carolina — in any court, at any stage — the first step is a direct,confidential conversation. Ben Porter will tell you what he sees, what he thinks, and what he believes can be done. No pressure. No false promises. Just thirty years of honest criminal defense counsel.
Get in Touch
Contact Benjamin D.Porter, PLLC to schedule a free consultation.
