Criminal Division

The Criminal Division, based in San Diego with a branch office in El Centro, is responsible for prosecuting federal criminal cases in the Southern 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.

There are three sections in our Criminal Division: the Organized Crime Section, the Special Prosecutions Section, and the General Crimes Section.

Organized Crime Section

The Organized Crime Section investigates and prosecutes transnational and domestic drug cartels, sophisticated money laundering operations, as well as alien smuggling organizations, violent street gangs and human trafficking crimes. Organized Crime prosecutors join investigations at the earliest stages, are skilled in leading federal grand jury investigations, and typically use specialized investigative tools such as wiretaps, undercover operations, and search warrants. Organized Crime prosecutors regularly participate in multi-district prosecutions, attacking organizations operating throughout the United States and in other countries. The Organized Crime Section is comprised of four units: Narcoterrorism and International Money Laundering Unit, Narcotics Unit, Violent and Gang Crime Unit, and the Human Trafficking Unit. 

Narcoterrorism and International Money Laundering Unit 

The Narcoterrorism and International Money Laundering Unit is a nationwide leader in the prosecution of transnational narcotics organizations and sophisticated money laundering operations. The Unit prosecutes the leaders of the world’s largest Mexican and Colombian drug cartels and dismantles entire drug organizations, while disrupting the ability of these organizations to utilize the financial system to launder the proceeds of their crimes. The Unit also prosecutes complicated international money laundering schemes as well as financial institutions that serve as conduits for money laundering.

Narcotics Unit

The Narcotics Unit is devoted to prosecuting narcotics-related offenses harming our communities locally, nationally, and internationally. The Unit works closely with a variety of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute narcotics traffickers fueling the opioid crisis through the distribution of fentanyl and its analogues; dealers who traffic in cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances; and those involved in the illegal diversion and distribution of prescription painkillers.

Human Trafficking Unit

The Human Trafficking Unit investigates and prosecutes the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras, as well as Colombia and Panama. Together with the partnership of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department’s Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Unit works to dismantle transnational human smuggling and trafficking networks, particularly those linked to transnational criminal organizations.

Violent and Gang Crime Unit

 The Violent and Gang Crime Unit investigates and prosecutes violent and sophisticated criminal organizations based in San Diego and around the world.  By aggressively using the Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) statute and other investigative techniques, the Unit prosecutes leaders and members of notorious criminal enterprises, including nationwide violent gangs and neighborhood-based crews responsible for, among other things, shootings, robberies, drug trafficking, and fraud. The Unit is dedicated to bringing cases that will have a tangible impact on public safety in the Southern District of California and elsewhere, helping dismantle violent gangs and reduce gun violence in residential neighborhoods.

Special Prosecutions Section

The Special Prosecutions Section is comprised of four units: Asset Recovery, Major Frauds & Public Corruption, National Security & Cybercrime, and Special Victims. The Section is made up of experienced prosecutors who handle complex matters. 

Major Frauds & Public Corruption Unit

The Major Frauds and Public Corruption Unit oversees the prosecution of complex fraud and public corruption cases in the Office.  The Unit is responsible for the prosecution of securities fraud, financial institution fraud, healthcare fraud, tax fraud, bankruptcy fraud, elder fraud, COVID-relief fraud, and mortgage fraud matters.  Prosecutors in the section also commonly prosecute cases involving corporate embezzlement, insider trading, identity theft, environmental crimes, money laundering, and select organized crime cases.  Due to the concentration of military installations in the District, many of the Section’s cases also involve fraud perpetrated on the military in its procurement of goods and services. The Unit also oversees the investigation and prosecution of corrupt elected and appointed officials, government employees, and individuals and companies doing business with public entities.  Prosecutors in the Section work closely with the FBI and other federal, state, and local agencies to protect all levels of government from corruption.

The Section encourages companies to voluntarily disclose misconduct by employees or agents and adheres to the voluntary self-disclosure policy and monitor selection policy applicable to all United States Attorney’s Offices.

National Security & Cybercrime Unit

The National Security and Cybercrimes Unit (NSCS) handles matters involving international and domestic terrorism (including threats and hoaxes), counterespionage, counter-proliferation (i.e., violations of law involving exports of military or dual use items, as well as exports to embargoed nations), and cyber intrusions. NSCS works closely with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, Defense Criminal Investigative Services, Secret Service, and the multi-agency Joint Terrorism Task Force, among other law enforcement agencies. NSCS matters are often handled in coordination with the Counterterrorism, Counterespionage, and Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property sections at the Department of Justice.  NSCS prosecutors typically become involved at the outset of an investigation and are experienced in managing complex matters, using a wide array of investigative tools, coordinating multi-district and/or international investigations, and navigating novel legal issues.

Asset Recovery Unit

The Asset Recovery Section (ARS) recovers assets and property from defendants through forfeiture and restitution statutes. Cases involve a wide range of offenses including fraud, drug trafficking, money laundering, child exploitation, human trafficking, Bank Secrecy Act violations, bank robbery, and other violent crimes.  The Section also handles civil forfeitures and collection of debts owed by defendants through restitution orders, fines, and special assessments. ARS recovers millions of dollars in property and assets annually, a large portion of which is returned to victims.

Special Victims Unit

The Special Victims Unit investigates and prosecutes child exploitation, human trafficking, and other sexually based or vulnerable victim-related cases. Child exploitation cases are investigated as a part of the nationwide initiative Project Safe Childhood. These cases involve apprehending and prosecuting individuals who exploit children online, as well as identifying and rescuing victims. Human trafficking cases include both sex trafficking and labor trafficking cases. The Special Victims Unit works in conjunction with the San Diego Human Trafficking Task Force (SDHTTF), a partnership of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to collectively enforce laws against all forms of human trafficking which target vulnerable persons for mandatory labor, domestic servitude, or commercial sex operations, as well as the commercial sexual exploitation of children. 

General Crimes Section

The General Crimes Section is comprised of four units: Intake, Fast Track, three Trial Teams, and the Sentencing Unit. Most Criminal AUSAs begin their careers in General Crimes. General Crimes handles a large volume of reactive cases that arise from policing the 141-mile-long border between California and Mexico, six Ports of Entry, and the roughly 70 miles of coastline stretching from the U.S./Mexico border to the northernmost tip of San Diego County. Such cases commonly include illegal entry and reentry, drug importation and smuggling, and alien smuggling. Aside from their reactive cases, prosecutors in the section also handle firearms-related matters, drug distribution, child exploitation, fraud, and other prosecutions.  General Crimes prosecutors try a large number of cases and conduct proactive investigations using a wide range of investigative tools and pursue matters involving undercover operations and confidential sources.