Dena J. King

The first person of color to serve in the highest position in the Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina in its 150-year history has been named. Dena J. King was officially sworn in as the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Official for the Western District of North Carolina on November 29, 2021, succeeding former U.S. Attorney William T. Stetzer, who served on an interim basis following the departure of former U.S. Attorney Andrew Murray on February 28, 2021. United States Attorney Dena J. King was nominated for the highest position in the Office by President Joseph R. Biden on September 28, 2021, and the United States Senate subsequently confirmed her nomination on November 19, 2021. U.S. Attorney King’s oath of office was administered by Chief United States District Judge Martin Reidinger during a private ceremony at the federal courthouse.

Educational Background

United States Attorney Dena J. King earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the North Carolina State University, graduating magna cum laude in May 2003. She then attended the North Carolina Central University School of Law and received her Juris Doctorate in May 2006.

Education

Central Piedmont Community College, 2007
No degree received
North Carolina Central University, 2003-2006
J.D. – May 2006
North Carolina State University, 1999-2003
B.S. – May 2003

Early Professional Career

In the midst of her studying law, U.S. Attorney Dena King managed to work on several professional duties. Her employment includes being a Law Clerk at the North Carolina Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General from May to August 2004. The following month, U.S. Attorney King was appointed as a Duke Addictions Study Intake Liaison at the Duke University Medical Center, where she remained for seven months, from September 2004 to April 2005. In her final year in law school, Top Federal Prosecutor Dena J. King served as an Intern at the Durham County Public Defender’s Office.

Legal Career

Attorney King officially began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney at North Carolina’s 26^th Prosecutorial District for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg County – Office of the District Attorney in October 2006. Her work primarily focused on the criminal prosecution of violations of North Carolina laws, representing the state of North Carolina. She remained in this position for approximately two years until December 2008, when U.S. Attorney King was also designated as the Drug Treatment Court and Mental Health Court representative. Top Federal Prosecutor Dena King then became a successful Enforcement Attorney in the Securities Division of the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State, where her duties broadened as she took on handling various matters, from criminal prosecution to civil litigation, as well as administrative enforcement actions involving the Athlete Agents Act, Commodities Act, Investment Advisers Act, Securities Act, and Trademark Registration Act. Despite moving from the Office of the District Attorney to the Department of the Secretary of State, U.S. Attorney King remained steadfast in serving and representing the state of North Carolina. For about five years, from January 2009 to June 2014, Top Federal Prosecutor Dena King remained as an Enforcement Attorney at the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State prior to joining the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina

United States Attorney Dena J. King first joined the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina in June 2014. She was initially appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, where she was responsible for the federal prosecution of narcotic and violent crime offenses. In this line of work, Top Federal Prosecutor King represented the United States in all aspects of federal prosecution, from initial appearances to detention hearings, as well as in pre-trial hearings, arraignments, and sentencing. Moreover, as the Special Assistant United States Attorney, Dena King was assigned to draft and file appellate briefs before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. In June 2015, U.S. Attorney King was appointed as an Assistant United States Attorney. Throughout her six years of service in the Eastern District of North Carolina, Top Federal Prosecutor King as the Reentry Coordinator of the District, overseeing and leading a reentry team and all reentry initiatives, including Drug and Reentry Courts, Focused Deterrence Call-ins, and the Prison In-Reach Program. Apart from supervising attorneys and personnel, U.S. Attorney Dena King has worked on federal racketeering, local impact, public corruption, and violent crime cases. Furthermore, she has served as the Opioid Coordinator of the Office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, leading the Heroin Education Action Team (HEAT) and coordinating the office’s efforts involving victims of drug abuse and misuse.

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina

In September 2020, Top Federal Prosecutor Dena King began her service in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina. She was assigned to various positions, including being in charge of complex narcotics cases as the Deputy Criminal Chief overseeing the Violent Crimes and Narcotics Section and becoming the Lead Task Force Attorney for the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Honors and Awards

Special Achievement Award for the Operation Carolina Blood Drive Gang Case, North Carolina Gang Investigators Association, 2021
Certificate of Appreciation for STAR (Striving To Achieve Recovery) Court Service, United States District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina, 2020
Assistant United States Attorney Appreciation Award for Prosecution of Narcotic and Violent Crime Offenders, Wilson Police Department, 2020
Assistant United States Attorney Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Assistance with Violent Crime Reduction, Rocky Mount Police Department, 2020
Recognition for Dedication to OCDETF Speedbump, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, 2020
Southern States Victim Assistance Conference Award, United States Department of Justice, 2019
Distinguished Service Medal, Raleigh Police Department, 2018
Merrick-Fisher-Spaulding Public Service Award, Durham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., 2016
Exemplary Service as Parliamentarian, Durham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., 2016
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. South Atlantic Region’s Advisor of the Year, 2015 – 2016
Exemplary Service as Nominating Chair, Durham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., 2014
Outstanding Service Award, Durham Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., 2010-2012
Distinguished Soror Award, Mu Omicron Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., 2010
Legacy Hall of Fame Award, South Mecklenburg High School, 2007

U.S. Attorney Dena King has demonstrated proficiency in legal matters. She has received numerous professional awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal from the Raleigh Police Department in 2018. She has also been recognized by the United States Department of Justice, awarding her the southern States Victim Assistance Conference Award in 2019. In the year 2020, U.S. Attorney King received three awards, including the Assistant United States Attorney Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Assistance with Violent Crime Reduction from the Rocky Mount Police Department; the Assistant United States Attorney Appreciation Award for Prosecution of Narcotic and Violent Crime Offenders from the Wilson Police Department; and the Certificate of Appreciation for Striving to Achieve Recovery (STAR) Court Service from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. In 2021, U.S. Attorney King was awarded the Special Achievement Award for the Operation Carolina Blood Drive Gang Case by the North Carolina Gang Investigators Association.

Most Significant Litigated Cases

Within 15 years of her legal career, U.S. Attorney King has handled an array of legal cases. Among her most significant litigated matters include the 2016 racketeering case against the highest-ranking member of the Black Mob Gangstas and founder of Donald Gee Family Blood gang in North Carolina. Attorney Dena King served as chief counsel in the prosecution, which resulted in the defendant’s sentencing to four consecutive life sentences. In line with this case, she has also served as the chief counsel in the prosecution of another gang member mentioned above, who was involved in the murder of an 18-year-old rival gang member. United States Attorney Dena King has also managed drug trafficking cases resulting in conviction. Several offenders have been proven to have conspired with others in distributing various illegal drugs. Moreover, she has been assigned as a co-counsel in cases of kidnapping, robbery, and securities fraud. Among the most significant fraud cases that U.S. Attorney King handled include the case of widespread failed auctions of auction-rate securities (ARS) offered and sold by securities dealers, where she represented North Carolina on behalf of the Securities Division of the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State.

10 most significant litigated matters handled by Attorney Dena Janae King

United States v. Demetrice Regus Devine (2016-2020)
United States v. Brandon Jowan Mangum (2016-2020)
United States v. Terrence Denon Miller (2018-2020)
United States v. Brandon Duwayne Wright (2018-2020)
United States v. Bondurant Akeem Ruffin (2018-2019)
United States v. Akin Sean El Precise Bey (2015-2016)
United States v. George Lincoln Stanley, IV (2015-2016)
United States v. Donald Jerome Parker (2015-2016)
State of North Carolina v. Shelby Dean Martin (2009-2011)
North Carolina Securities Division v. E*Trade Securities LLC (2008-2011)

Further details regarding the above litigation matters may be found in the public questionnaire accessible here.

Bar and Court Admissions and Associations

Top Federal Prosecutor Dena J. King is an outstanding prosecutor with exceptional qualifications. She has been admitted to practice law in several courts, including the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina since August 2014, as well as in the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina since September 2006. Top Federal Prosecutor King was first admitted to the North Carolina State Bar in August 2006. Moreover, she has been a member of the John S. Leary, Mecklenburg County, and Wake County Bar Associations, as well as the Capital City Lawyers Association. U.S. Attorney King also served as the Co-Chair of the Eastern District of North Carolina Service Committee in the Federal Bar Association from November 2017 to 2019.

Bar Associations

Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of North Carolina
Service Committee Co-Chair (November 2017 – November 2019)
North Carolina State Bar
Wake County Bar Association
Mecklenburg County Bar Association
John S. Leary Bar Association
Capital City Lawyers Association

Bar Admissions

North Carolina, August 2006

Court Admissions

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (August 2014)
United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina
(August 2014)
United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina
(September 2006)
All state courts in North Carolina (September 2006)

Memberships

National Association of Black Prosecutors (2021 – Present)
Democratic Women of Mecklenburg County (2021 – Present)
Black Political Caucus of Charlotte Mecklenburg (2021 – Present)
North Carolina 26th Judicial Bar (2020 – Present)
Durham Alumnae Delta House Board (2015 – 2020)
Financial Secretary (October 2016 – October 2018)
North Carolina State University Alumni Association (2006 – 2019)
North Carolina State University National Diversity Advisory Board (2013 – 2015)
North Carolina Tenth Judicial Bar (2009 – 2020)
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. (2001 – Present)
Leadership DELTA Mentor (August 2020 – May 2021)
South Atlantic Region’s Social Action Coordinator (August 2016 – Present)
Investigative Task Force (August 2016 – May 2020)
Delta Internal Development Trainer (August 2016 – May 2019)
Membership Intake Trainer (August 2016 – May 2019)
Durham Alumnae Chapter Parliamentarian (August 2014 – May 2020)
Primary Advisor for Mu Omicron Chapter (August 2012 – May 2015)
Durham Alumnae Chapter Nominating Committee Chair (August 2012 – May
2014)
Secondary Advisor for the Mu Omicron Chapter (August 2010 – May 2012)
Durham Alumnae Chapter Social Action Chair (August 2010 – May 2012)
Jeanne Lucas Youth Political Awareness Program Chair (August 2009 – May
2012)

Office Jurisdiction

Leading an office of approximately 100 Assistant United States Attorneys and support personnel, United States Attorney Dena J. King is responsible for overseeing all federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation within the Office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. Attorney’s Office has a branch in Charlotte and Asheville. Additionally, she is in charge of serving and protecting over three million residents throughout the 32 westernmost counties of North Carolina.