Divisions

The Central District of California is divided into three litigating divisions – Criminal, Civil, and National Security. 

The Criminal Division encompasses eight dedicated sections focusing on a broad array of criminal conduct adversely affecting our communities and chargeable in federal court. The Criminal Division consists of almost 180 federal prosecutors committed to protecting the largest geographic footprint of any of the country’s 94 United States Attorney’s Offices. Our prosecutors identify, investigate, charge, take to trial, and handle appeals for some of the most impactful criminal cases in the nation.

The National Security Division focuses on criminal prosecution as well as disruption and deterrence of activities implicating national security interests.  Its two sections, the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, are made up of AUSAs and staff specially trained and experienced in investigating and prosecuting crimes relating to foreign threat actors, domestic terrorism, complex computer attacks, and misappropriation of significant intellectual property.

The Civil Division works to enforce federal civil rights laws and uses civil litigation, seeking monetary damages and civil penalties, to address a wide range of illegal conduct, including fraud, Food and Drug violations, and environmental torts.  The Civil Division is also responsible for defending federal agencies and employees who are sued in federal courts.