J. Alex "Alex" Little

When our client was convicted of bank fraud for misrepresentations in mortgage loan applications, our attorneys identified a fundamental legal flaw: the government charged him under a statute that didn’t apply. The loans came from mortgage companies—not banks—at a time when the law didn’t yet treat the two as equivalent. We built an appellate strategy grounded in legal precision, arguing that prosecutors misapplied federal criminal statutes and failed to prove essential elements of the offense.
Our team focused on statutory interpretation, proving that the mortgage companies involved were not “financial institutions” under the federal bank fraud statute in 2006–2007. We demonstrated that our client had no intent to defraud a bank and that the losses weren’t suffered by banks themselves. We also exposed how the government improperly used the longer statute of limitations for bank fraud after missing the deadline to file other charges. While the appeal was pending, we successfully secured our client’s release, ensuring he never served a day in prison.
In August 2019, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed all three convictions, ordered an acquittal, and sharply criticized the government’s overreach. This landmark decision didn’t just clear our client’s name—it reaffirmed that prosecutors must charge the right crime, within the right timeframe, and with the right evidence. It’s a powerful example of how legal clarity and a strong appellate team can restore justice.

When Amazon accused Carl Nelson—a former real estate manager at AWS—of participating in a massive fraud scheme, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Carl faced a civil lawsuit, an FBI raid, government asset seizure, and the looming threat of federal criminal charges. Amazon’s claims alleged kickbacks and contract violations, but with no criminal charges filed and no proven damages, it quickly became clear this was a high-powered overreach.
Our legal team mounted a strategic, multi-year defense that focused on contract clarity, evidentiary scrutiny, and aligned responses across civil and criminal fronts. We proved Nelson’s developer relationships were permitted under his employment terms, dismantled Amazon’s claims of financial harm, and challenged the government’s aggressive seizure of family assets. Most of Amazon’s claims—including fraud and RICO violations—were ultimately dismissed by a federal judge.
After four years, Carl Nelson was cleared of all allegations. The court affirmed his actions were lawful, the Department of Justice declined to prosecute, and the family recovered most of their seized funds. This case shows that with the right legal team, individuals can stand up to corporate power—and win.