The Central District of California (CDCA) is one of the largest and busiest federal judicial districts in the United States.
Covering Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo Counties, the district serves a population of nearly 20 million people and handles thousands of federal criminal cases each year.
Because of its size, complexity, and geographic reach, the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California is structured into specialized units within its Criminal Division, each tasked with prosecuting specific categories of federal crimes.
These prosecutions are aggressive, well-resourced, and often involve lengthy investigations before charges are filed.
Understanding which section of the Criminal Division handles your case can provide critical insight into how your prosecution will unfold and what type of defense strategy may be required.
Your best hope for a favorable outcome is with a highly experienced federal criminal defense attorney at Eisner Gorin LLP. To schedule a consultation, call (818) 781-1570 or contact us here.
Overview of the Criminal Division
The Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office is responsible for prosecuting violations of federal criminal law committed within the Central District of California.
Because the CDCA handles such a high volume of cases, the Criminal Division is divided into specialized sections, each staffed with Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) who focus exclusively on certain types of offenses.
These sections allow prosecutors to develop deep subject-matter expertise and pursue complex investigations with federal agencies such as the FBI, DEA, IRS, ATF, SEC, and EPA.
General Crimes Section
The General Crimes Section handles a wide range of federal offenses that do not fall within a more specialized unit. This section often serves as the entry point for many federal prosecutions and addresses cases such as:
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Firearm and weapons violations
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Smaller-scale fraud and conspiracy cases
Federal drug trafficking offenses are prosecuted under Title 21 of the United States Code and can carry penalties of up to 40 years in federal prison, depending on factors such as:
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Type and quantity of drugs
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Presence of weapons or large sums of cash
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Prior criminal history
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Distribution near schools or involving minors
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Crossing state or international borders
This section also serves as a training ground for newer AUSAs before they move into more specialized prosecutorial units.
Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section
The Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section prosecutes crimes that undermine public trust or violate constitutional rights. These cases are often high-profile, politically sensitive, and heavily investigated before charges are filed.
This section handles prosecutions involving:
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Bribery and kickback schemes
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Election fraud
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Misuse or embezzlement of public funds
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Conflicts of interest involving public officials
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Civil rights violations
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Hate crimes
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Police misconduct
Public corruption cases often involve long-term surveillance, financial analysis, and the use of cooperating witnesses.
Prosecutors frequently coordinate with the DOJ's Public Integrity Section when investigating high-ranking officials or complex corruption schemes.
Major Frauds Section
The Major Frauds Section focuses on large-scale, sophisticated financial crimes that result in substantial monetary losses.
These cases are complex, document-heavy, and frequently involve parallel civil or regulatory proceedings.
Common prosecutions include:
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Mortgage and real estate fraud
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Ponzi and pyramid schemes
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Wire fraud and bank fraud conspiracies
Major fraud cases often involve millions or billions of dollars in alleged losses and require extensive forensic accounting and cooperation with agencies such as the FBI, SEC, and IRS-CI.
International Narcotics, Money Laundering, and Racketeering Section (INMLRS)
The INMLRS prosecutes cases with international or organized-crime components. This section targets the financial and operational infrastructure of criminal organizations.
Crimes prosecuted by this section include:
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International drug trafficking
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Transnational organized crime
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Conspiracy involving foreign actors
Under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, defendants may be charged if they commit two or more qualifying crimes within a 10-year period as part of a criminal enterprise.
RICO predicates can include:
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Fraud
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Bribery
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Money laundering
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Robbery
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Homicide
These cases are among the most aggressively prosecuted in federal court.
Environmental and Community Safety Crimes Section
The Environmental and Community Safety Crimes Section prosecutes violations that threaten public health, worker safety, and the environment.
Common cases include:
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Illegal dumping of hazardous waste
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Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act violations
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Environmental contamination
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Workplace safety violations resulting in injury or death
These prosecutions are often brought after investigations by agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and OSHA. Both individuals and corporations can face criminal liability, substantial fines, and imprisonment.
Violent and Organized Crime Section
The Violent and Organized Crime Section prosecutes the most serious and dangerous federal offenses, often involving organized criminal groups or violent conduct.
Cases handled by this section include:
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Armed robbery
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Kidnapping
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Human smuggling
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Murder-for-hire
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Extortion and illegal gambling operations
Federal murder prosecutions typically arise when crimes occur within special maritime or territorial jurisdiction, such as:
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Federal buildings
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National parks
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Military bases
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Aircraft or vessels under federal jurisdiction
These cases often involve joint investigations with local and state law enforcement.
Appeals and the Ninth Circuit
Criminal cases prosecuted in the Central District of California are appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, headquartered in Pasadena.
Appeals involve strict deadlines, complex legal briefing, and review by a panel of appellate judges. Federal appellate advocacy requires specialized experience beyond trial-level defense.
What This Means for You
If you are under investigation or charged with a federal crime in the Central District of California, you are facing highly trained prosecutors, extensive investigative resources, and severe potential penalties.
Understanding which Criminal Division section is handling your case can help shape an effective defense strategy—but only experienced federal defense counsel can properly navigate this system.
Speak With a Federal Criminal Defense Attorney
Federal prosecutions move quickly and leave little margin for error. Early legal representation can significantly impact the outcome of your case.
Eisner Gorin LLP, a federal criminal defense law firm based in Los Angeles, California, represents individuals and businesses facing federal charges throughout the Central District of California.
Contact our office today at 818-781-1570 for a confidential consultation and strategic defense planning.
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