Your lawyer must be successful in the courtroom. Some lawyers say they are trial lawyers but never go to trial. Many only plead their clients guilty and are afraid to try a contested case. Prosecutors know which lawyers are formidable in court and will often handle your case based on your lawyer’s track record. You should always ask what specific cases a lawyer has taken to a jury and hire a lawyer with the ability to fight the government and win. Each case is different and we would be happy to evaluate yours. Here are some of the results we have achieved for the people we represent:
Sexual Assault and Rape
- Enlisted servicemember at Norfolk Naval Station charged with sexual assault and two counts of rape. Not guilty to all charges after trial by military jury.
- Staff sergeant charged with more than 30 sexual assault counts. All charges dismissed before trial.
- Army officer charged with rape and other sexual assault offenses after night of drinking and celebrating. Found not guilty of all rape and sexual assault offenses.
- Marine sergeant accused of sexual assault and fraternization by female Marine. Found not guilty of all charges.
- Colonel charged with sexual assault and sexual harassment. All charges dismissed before trial.
- Soldier charged with three counts of rape by 2 different women. Acquitted of all charges at trial.
- Lieutenant charged with forcible sodomy. Found not guilty and avoided a possible life sentence.
- Army officer charged at general court-martial. Found not guilty of oral sex assault and sodomy.
- Staff sergeant accused of rape and assault. Case dismissed after successful defense at Article 32 hearing.
- Marine Lance Corporal charged with rape and sodomy of exotic dancer. Charges dismissed before trial.
- Sergeant accused of sexual assault and assault of female servicemember. Found not guilty of all charges at court-martial.
Sexual Harrassment
- Colonel accused of sexual harassment of military members and civilians. All charges dismissed and the Colonel was allowed to retire with full pay and benefits.
- Staff Sergeant investigated for sexual harassment of two subordinates. Found not guilty of all charges and cleared of all misconduct.
- Army officer accused of sexually harassing a female soldier during off-duty hours. Found not guilty of sexual harassment, after lengthy investigation and court-martial.
- Sergeant Major accused of sexual harassment of a junior Marine. The charges were dismissed and he was allowed to retire with an Honorable Discharge.
- Female officer accused of sexual harassment and adultery with male senior NCO. All charges dismissed.
Assault and Domestic Violence
- Marine Corporal charged with assault of another Marine in the barracks and orders violations. Found not guilty of all charges and restored to full duty.
- Marine officer charged with aggravated assault and battery in Afghanistan. Found not guilty.
- Army Major accused of multiple domestic violence charges. Cleared of all wrongdoing.
- NCO charged with multiple domestic violence assaults and communicating a threat by his spouse. All charges dismissed and spouse banned from the base.
- Senior officer accused of spousal abuse in government housing. All court-martial charges dismissed.
- Sergeant accused of assaulting a drunken subordinate after a New Year’s Eve party. Not guilty of all charges.
- Female and federal employee charged with assault of a spouse. Worked with district attorney to get all charges dismissed before trial.
War Crimes and Crimes in Combat Zones
- Defense of Marine squad leader charged with 13 counts of murder during the infamous Haditha Massacre, a highly significant war crimes case due to international context, political interest, and media coverage. Resulted in all murder charges being dismissed.
- 1st Lieutenant platoon commander found not guilty of murder and assault charges for participation in combat operations in Helmund Province, Afghanistan.
- Special Forces sergeant accused of murder, conspiracy, and obstruction of justice for events occurring on an Afghanistan combat patrol. All charges dismissed and the sergeant was promoted.
- Army soldier charged with murder in shooting death of local man in Afghanistan during combat patrol. All charges dismissed.
- Civilian contractor charged with kidnapping and aggravated assault in federal court. These charges were dismissed.
- Marine captain charged with murder and other offenses during the Battle of Fallujah, Iraq for killing of an insurgent through hand-to-hand combat. All charges dismissed after the Article 32 Investigation.
- Cleared a senior officer of all charges resulting from the death of an Iraqi detainee.
- Army soldier charged with homicide of another soldier in combat. Homicide charges dismissed.
- Mr. Vokey has also provided representation regarding combat operations to numerous service members serving with Special Forces.
Murder, Manslaughter, and Homicide
- Lance Corporal charged with murder of her child. Through extensive defense investigation and work with multiple expert witnesses, exposed untruthful prosecution witnesses and a faulty NCIS investigation. Charges were reduced to manslaughter and then negligent homicide. After litigation of numerous pre-trial motions, charges were dismissed outright.
- Army soldier charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. After constant and intense battles against military prosecutors, both in and out of court, all charges were dismissed.
- Marine charged with manslaughter for killing a motorcycle driver in an auto accident after a late night in Mexico. Charges were reduced to negligent homicide and his confinement was reduced from 15 years to one year.
- Officer charged with murder for the choking of another man. Officer acquitted of all charges after proving self-defense.
- Military member charged with manslaughter for negligent discharge of his M-16 rifle. Worked with prosecutor to reduce charges and the accused was immediately released from confinement.
- NCO suspected of murder in a combat zone. Case sent to Federal Grand Jury but indictment was prevented.
Drug and Alcohol Offenses
- Non-commissioned officer charged with unlawful use of marijuana. Due to pre-trial investigation and motions, all charges were dismissed, resulting in the accused reenlistment and promotion.
- Senior Air Force pilot charged with unlawful drug use. Through use of defense of unknown ingestion, accused officer found not guilty at trial.
- Sergeant charged with unlawful drug use sent to an administrative discharge board. Through the use of defense expert tests and an aggressive investigation, the sergeant was found to have committed no misconduct and returned to service.
- Navy petty officer accused of illegal possession and use of prescription drugs. Cleared of all charges.
- Marine corporal charged with drunk and disorderly. Found not guilty of the charge at trial.
- Air Force Special Operations officer charged with drug distribution and importation. Evidence suppressed and case dismissed.
- Federal defendant charged with distribution of large amounts of steroids. Case resolved with no confinement time.
- Female charged in major drug conspiracy in federal court. She was originally facing 10-20 years in prison. Worked with the U.S.Attorney and federal investigators to get case dropped to a minor offense and time served.
- Student charged with public intoxication. Charges dismissed before trial.
- Male accused of possession of marijuana. Case ultimately dismissed and record cleared.
Military Administrative Boards
- Discharge Review Board – Sailor discharged for drug abuse. Other Than Honorable discharge upgraded after hearing in Washinton, D.C.
- Board for Correction of Naval Records – Performance evaluation removed from Marine Captain’s record, allowing him to be promoted to Major.
- Discharge Review Board – Airman First Class discharged for pattern of misconduct. Discharge upgraded after submission of petition and presentation of case before the Air Force board.
- Army Clemency and Parole Board – private first class convicted of war crimes from Iraq granted parole from Fort Leavenworth after several previous denials.
- Board of Inquiry – Marine officer accused of false statements, assault, leadership failures, and conduct unbecoming an officer. Awarded Honorable Discharge.
- Administrative Separation Board – Sergeant accused of using marijuana. Found not guilty and restored to full duty.
- Board of Inquiry – Major accused of abusing Iraqi detainees. Found not responsible, cleared of all charges, and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel.
- Performance Evaluation Review Board (PERB) – Fitness Report removed from official record for Marine Staff Sergeant after many years in his record. Results in his promotion to Gunnery Sergeant.
- Army Clemency and Parole Board – sergeant convicted of two counts of murder in Iraq and sentenced to 25 years. Granted parole from Fort Leavenworth after the first parole hearing with me, having only served 10 years.
- Army Clemency and Parole Board – private first class convicted of multiple murders in Iraq and sentenced to 18 years. Granted parole from Fort Leavenworth after first parole hearing with me.
- Board for Correction of Military Records – Senior NCO with adverse documents in his military file. All negative records removed, making him eligible for a remedial promotion board and back pay.
- Administrative Separation Board – Navy petty officer accused of fraudulent enlistment, forgery, and false statements. Board found no basis for alleged misconduct. Sailor retained and full military rights and benefits restored.
DWI/DUI
- Private First Class charged with DWI and manslaughter – facing 22 years confinement. At trial, charge was reduced and victim’s family asked that accused be released.
- 20 year old charged with driving under the influence (DUI). Through aggressive pre-trial negotiations with prosecutor, charge was dismissed and removed from his record.
- Marine officer charged with DWI. Worked with prosecutor to dismiss charges and send to non-judicial punishment, avoiding a criminal conviction.
- Staff Sergeant charged with DWI in state court. Worked with district attorney to reduce charge to a traffic violation and saved the Sergeant’s military career.
- Woman charged with DWI after hitting another car on a busy roadway. Through use of expert witness and pre-trial investigation, case was dismissed by the judge on day of trial.
- Elderly woman charged with DWI, while driving under the influence of medication. After investigation and pre-trial testimony, case was dismissed outright before trial.
Recoupment of Educational Benefits and Indebtedness to the Department of Defense
- Navy midshipman separated from Navy ROTC program after changing colleges. Debt settled. Amount of debt reduced by more than $70,000 due to aggressive negotiations.
- Air Force Academy cadet dismissed from the school. Debt settled. Reduction of over 60 percent of debt.
- Navy ROTC student dismissed from program due to misconduct. Debt settled. Debt reduced by over $65,000.
Additional Legal Experience
- Defended high profile, white collar crimes case involving Oklahoma public official.
- Represented U.S. contractors from Iraq in federal MEJA cases.
- Federal defendant charged with white collar fraud. Caused felony case to be dropped to a misdemeanor. Defendant received minimal probation, no jail time.
- Managed defense team, as lead counsel for accused terrorist, in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
- Submitted Writ of Certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Supervised the defense of eight service members charged with war crimes.
- Prosecuted a Marine officer in a highly publicized bank fraud case involving the Federal Reserve.
- Served as instructor in trial advocacy courses for Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force.
- Staff Instructor at Gerry Spence’s Trial Lawyers College, Dubois, Wyoming
- Staff Instructor and Sexual Assault Course Coordinator for Center For American and International Law in Plano, Texas.
- Advisor, National Institute of Military Justice, Washington, D.C.
- Committee member, The Constitution Project, Washington, D.C.
- Served as expert witness on military laws, matters and regulations for civil litigation and criminal cases.