For over 31 years, Harley has devoted his professional career to defending persons all over the country in Federal Court, State Court and Municipal Court, whose charges range from the Capitol Riot Attacks, Murder, Aggravated Sexual Assault, Robbery, Gun Possession, White Collar Crime, Drug Cases, Kingpin Cases, Racketeering, Terrorism, Police Brutality, Human Trafficking all the way down to Speeding. Harley has practiced law in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, DC.
Harley has routinely handled Drug Offenses of a large nature including representing a defendant in the Tampa Bay Federal Court who was indicted for smuggling 2,500 kilos of cocaine from Colombia, a defendant in the Boston Federal Court indicted for distributing 800 kilos of cocaine and a defendant indicted in the Albany Federal Court for distributing 1,000 pounds of marijuana per week for a period of years.
Harley has been privileged to handle over 120 Homicide Cases including New Jersey’s last indicted Death Penalty Case. One of Harley’s Murder Trials became the subject of a Documentary Film entitled “Stray Bullet” capturing the accidental shooting of 12-year old Genesis Rincon while she was riding her scooter and its subsequent jury trial. “Stray Bullet” can be seen on Amazon Prime Video. Harley is also the subject of a documentary, “Harley” available on Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube, Vimeo and more.
Harley is constantly trying cases before a jury. Being that person who stands up for the accused and forces the State to test their evidence, as opposed to simply concluding that someone is guilty without going through all the proper safeguards and procedures, is a source of pride for Harley. Harley tries as many cases, if not more than, any other criminal defense attorney.
Harley is a strong advocate for any and all Anti-Bullying platforms and has spent the last 39 years of his life in pursuit of ending all types of Bullying, including physical and psychological.
When he is not working, Harley continues his 34 year passion for martial arts, training and fighting MMA and competing all over the world in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. Just this past May 19, 2023, Harley fought a Bareknuckle MMA No Holds Barred Cage Fight in Brazil against a Professional MMA Fighter (click “MMA Video” section on website). Harley holds a Black Belt in KickBoxing from Shihan Juan Perez of Paterson, New Jersey and a First-Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Vitor Terra Gracie of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Harley is a Two-Time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion and has also won the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Pan Am Games and is the 2017 and 2018 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Zurich Open Champion.
Harley, with help from many others, has for the past 30 years, built and grown a charity, “Harley’s Kids”, in which 200 mentally and physically challenged persons are guests at his bi-monthly parties and various other fun-filled events. Harley enjoys studying piano, learning foreign languages and painting. Harley is an avid collector of over 85 firearms and 21,000 rounds of ammunition. And of course, there is always time for Otis and Boris, his professionally trained beloved monster Pit-Bull brothers who are the grandsons of “The Hulk”, The World’s Largest Pit-Bull, and the sons of “King Kong.” Last, but not least, is his one-eyed rescued cat, Max.
As far as Harley’s educational background is concerned, after studying both Philosophy and Biochemistry, he graduated from Rutgers College in 1990 and then later graduated from New York Law School in 1993. Desiring to learn the art of becoming a true Trial Attorney, Harley earned an LL.M. (Master of Laws) in Trial Advocacy from Temple University Law School in 1997. Harley also studied at the Rutgers Graduate School of Criminal Justice’s Ph.D. Program full-time for 2 years. Harley is completing his Master’s Degree at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education where he is creating a novel curriculum to reform and revolutionize education for all those who are incarcerated in prisons and jails. In an effort to better promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, Harley is currently earning a Master’s in Religion at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Harley held the position of Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice for 9 years at both William Paterson University and Rowan University. Additionally, Harley broadened his legal perspective by serving as Municipal Prosecutor for the Borough of Prospect Park as well as Acting Prosecutor for several other municipalities.
