About the U.S. Attorney's Office

Following the Mexican War, in 1848, the Alta California region became a part of the United States. This area included Los Angeles and fell under the federal jurisdiction of the Southern District of California.  In 1870, the Department of Justice was established, which placed the Office under the Attorney General’s supervision and authority. George J. Denis was then appointed as the Office’s first United States Attorney and served from May 8, 1888, to August 12, 1889. In 1966, the number of judicial districts in California was expanded leading to the creation of the Central District of California.   

The historical courthouse at 312 North Spring Street opened in 1940 and continues to serve as the headquarters of the United States Attorney’s Office. Ushering in a new era in its history, the office prosecuted prominent cases, including obtaining guilty verdicts for the three men responsible for Frank Sinatra’s kidnapping in 1964 and securing the conviction of two Los Angeles Police Department officers who violated the civil rights of Rodney King in 1993. Following its establishment in the 1980s, the Civil Division began enforcing federal civil rights statutes and defending the federal fisc.

The District’s rich history is a testament and guide to the Office’s continued efforts and dedication to protecting the people, communities, and rights of the Central District of California.

Today the United States Attorney’s Office enforces the laws and defends the interests of the United States through three primary litigating Divisions:

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.

The United States Attorney’s Office is involved closely in the communities it serves, through outreach, training, local events, and partnerships with law enforcement, faith-based organizations, and local schools.