About Jim
Jim Melo is a criminal defense and immigration attorney based in Raleigh, North Carolina. He joined Tin Fulton Walker & Owen in 2018 after managing his own successful firm for many years. Jim is a North Carolina bar-certified Federal and State criminal defense specialist and also practices immigration law. He has represented clients in various courts throughout North Carolina and across the country, including Federal Courts in the Eastern, Middle, and Western Districts of North Carolina, as well as the Southern District of Florida. Additionally, he has appeared in the N.C.
Court of Appeals and the 4th and 11th Circuit Court of Appeals of the United States. Jim is also licensed to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court. Jim earned his Bachelor of Arts from Princeton University and his Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill School of Law. His criminal defense experience includes handling multi-million dollar federal cases involving charges such as Medicaid fraud and immigration visa fraud, state and federal drug trafficking charges, murder, child pornography, statutory rape, rape, carjacking, armed robbery, illegal re-entry.
Voter fraud. He has also successfully defended clients against less serious charges like speeding tickets and DWI's. In the realm of immigration law, Jim has successfully defended numerous clients in removal proceedings, winning asylum cases, cancellation of removal cases, 212(h) cases, and various other forms of relief. He has also helped hundreds of clients obtain bonds from the immigration courts so they could return to their families. His dedication to immigration law has been recognized by the American Immigration Lawyers Association, of which he has been a member since 2008.
Before joining Tin Fulton Walker & Owen, Jim spent several years managing his own firm, where he gained experience in both criminal and immigration law. His firm handled many cases, from complex federal criminal defense to intricate immigration matters. This experience gave him a knowledge of the legal challenges his clients face. Jim's commitment to his clients and his expertise in his practice areas have earned him a reputation as a dedicated and effective attorney. His ability to navigate complex legal issues and his dedication to achieving favorable outcomes for his clients make him a valuable asset to the legal community in North Carolina.
