Skip to main content

Criminal Division

Division Overview

The Criminal Division, based in Los Angeles with branch offices in Riverside and Santa Ana, is responsible for prosecuting federal criminal cases in the Central District of California. AUSAs in the Criminal Division advise federal law enforcement agents on criminal investigations, present criminal cases to the grand jury, try criminal cases before the United States District Court, and represent the United States in criminal appeals before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The criminal priorities of the USAO are reflected in the sections within the Division. Detailed descriptions of the work performed by each section within the Division can be found by proceeding to the Section page in this website.

AUSAs new to the Criminal Division, including those hired for the Riverside and Santa Ana branch offices, are initially assigned to the General Crimes section, where they receive training in the handling of federal criminal investigations and prosecutions. Upon completion of their tenure in the General Crimes Section, AUSAs hired for the branch offices are assigned there, and AUSAs remaining in Los Angeles are assigned to one of the Criminal Division’s senior sections. Assignments to the senior sections are based primarily on the USAO’s staffing needs at the time. The senior sections are: Asset Forfeiture; Criminal Appeals; Public Corruption and Civil Rights; Major Frauds; International Narcotics, Money Laundering, & Racketeering; Environmental Crimes and Consumer Protection; and Violent and Organized Crimes.

All AUSAs, regardless of the section, have the opportunity to handle a variety of cases. A number of AUSAs have developed expertise that has led them to assume primary responsibility in the USAO for specific areas such as labor violations, Medicare and Medicaid fraud, prison crimes, violent crimes, public corruption, child pornography, copyright violations, environmental crimes, and civil rights violations. Many AUSAs have developed nationally recognized expertise in particular areas.

Division Contact Information

Mack E. Jenkins
Chief, Criminal Division
The United States Attorney's Office
Central District of California Criminal Division
312 North Spring Street, 12th floor
Los Angeles, California 90012
(213) 894-2400