Represented firearms business
owner in ATF investigation and federal prosecution for unlawful sale
of nearly 200 firearms without a license in Northern District of Ohio.
Defendant was originally facing 3-4 years of imprisonment but defense
argument at sentencing hearing resulted in sentence of 3 years of probation.
Defended political subdivision
and project manager of water irrigation district in federal investigation
by U.S. Department of Interior - Office of Inspector General (OIG) and
prosecution of multiple defendants by U.S. Attorney's Office in District
of Nevada. Defended main defendant in 10-count federal indictment in
U.S. District Court alleging conspiracy, false claims, false statements,
and falsification of records. Case resolved favorably after filing numerous
pretrial motions for defendants resulting in highly favorable global
resolution of criminal case with no convictions for any defendants on
any charges, and dismissal of indictment with prejudice.
Defended chief executive officer of company in ERISA and 401k embezzlement
case investigated by U.S. Department of Labor and prosecuted by U.S.
Attorney's Office in Eastern District of California. Federal prosecution
resolved with misdemeanor. Successfully presented sentencing case in
U.S. District Court for variance of federal sentencing guidelines despite
pre-sentence recommendation of imprisonment term. Defendant sentenced
to probation with community service, no confinement, and no fine.
Defended president of California company investigated by Nevada State
Contractor's Board and prosecuted by Clark County District Attorney's
Office in Henderson Justice Court for unlicensed contractor work in
Nevada. Case resolved without any conviction or fine for company president
and entity.
Defended military commander in Nevada during disciplinary investigation
for alleged dereliction of duty and conduct unbecoming an officer. Case
resolved without any criminal prosecution or punitive action. Client
received honorable discharge and full military retirement.
Defended client in ATF investigation
and federal prosecution for "straw purchases" of firearms.
Successfully argued for sentence of straight probation in U.S. District
Court despite USAO's argument for federal guidelines sentence of imprisonment.
Defended
former officer in corporate internal investigation regarding SEC investigation
of corporate financial transactions involving revenue recognition
issues.
Defended
client charged in state court Nevada in NHP drug interdiction case
involving 25 pounds of marijuana. Defendant charged felony offenses
of transportation and possession of controlled substance for purpose
of sale were dropped. Case resolved with misdemeanor and fine with
no incarceration.
Defending
client in federal grand jury investigation involving alleged fraud
in Eastern District of California. Matter still pending.
Defended senior state government
official in NV Attorney General's Office criminal public integrity
investigation. No charges filed against client.
Defended
client in Cal/OSHA investigation involving workplace safety accident.
Case resolved favorably for client without admission of liability.
Defended
client in CA Department of Insurance disciplinary action. Case resolved
favorably for client without admission of wrongdoing.
Provided legal advice to
corporate client on federal and state electronic surveillance laws
for telephonic recording system.
Successfully litigated and
obtained preliminary injunction for plaintiff corporate client on
defendant violations of stock purchase agreement provisions on non-competition
and confidentiality of trade secrets in U.S. District Court in Nevada.
Defending
corporate client facing Sacramento District Attorney's Office Consumer
Protection investigation. Matter still pending.
Defended
corporate client facing Nevada Attorney General's Office Consumer
Protection investigation. No criminal charges or civil action pursued.
Defended
client facing Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF) investigation referred
to US Attorney’s Office in EDCA for prosecution. Federal prosecution
declined. No charges filed.
Defended corporate client facing U.S. Department of Interior Inspector
General's investigation. No criminal charges or civil action pursued.
Defended client facing grand larceny charges. Misdemeanor sentence
of probation.
Defended corporate client facing US Customs seizure of goods for trademark
violation and penalty proceedings in Memphis, TN. Client's petition
for relief granted with release of product with reduced penalty.
Defended corporate client facing US Customs forfeiture of goods for
trademark violation and penalty proceedings in Anchorage, AL. Client's
petition for remission of penalty granted without any monetary fine
or penalty.
United
States Attorney's Office, District of Nevada
Assistant
United States Attorney (Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor) Reno, NV
Represented the United States and served as prosecutor and coordinator
of Northern Nevada Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force to investigate
and prosecute terrorism cases, wire and mail fraud, immigration and
customs (ICE) violations, money laundering, access device fraud, identity
theft, cybercrimes and violent crimes. Coordinated anti-terrorism
training for federal and state law enforcement in Northern Nevada.
Assistant
United States Attorney (Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force)
Reno, NV
Represented the United States in federal prosecution of narcotics
trafficking organizations, money laundering, wire and mail fraud,
immigration and customs (ICE) violations, computer crimes and environmental
crimes in the District of Nevada. Managed caseload of more than 75
cases. Tried 35 jury trials. Served as appellate counsel on more than
80 briefs and 16 oral arguments before Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Significant
cases: United States v. Jose Antonio Herrera, et al.
(wiretap investigation involving 8 defendants – successful multi-defendant
trial); United States v. Melvin Bishop, et al. (US Customs/ATF
international firearms smuggling investigation and criminal prosecution
of defendants including multimillion dollar asset forfeiture); United
States v. Lokman Babu (DEA/IRS pseudoephedrine/money laundering
prosecution and multimillion dollar asset forfeiture).
Assistant
United States Attorney (Organized Crime Strike Force) Las Vegas, NV
Represented the United States in federal prosecution of organized
crime organizations, RICO, narcotics, firearms and white-collar crimes
in the Southern District of Nevada. Tried jury and bench trials in
U.S. District Court. Also served as appellate counsel in Ninth Circuit
appeals.
The
Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, United States Army
Regional Defense Counsel
– US Western Region
Supervise and train 4 trial defense teams of 15 attorneys and
2 paralegals in representation of soldiers in California, Nevada,
Arizona and Hawaii. Serve in the 22nd Legal Support Organization which
is responsible for providing criminal defense services for all Army
Reserve soldiers west of Mississippi. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel
October 2007. Awarded
the Army Commendation Medal.
Defended
CANG general officer in Department of Defense - Inspector General's
Office ethics investigation. Case resolved with no charges filed against
officer.
Defended
brigade commander in separate EO and UCMJ misconduct investigations.
Cases resolved with no charges filed against officer.
Defended
brigade commander in UCMJ misconduct investigation. Case resolved
with no charges filed against officer.
Senior
Defense Counsel - Sacramento, CA
Represented U.S. Army Reserve soldiers facing administrative
and criminal action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
Supervised and trained trial team of 6 defense attorneys and 2 paralegals.
Defended senior officers facing adverse action involving narcotics,
sexual harassment and other military offenses. Served in the 22nd
Legal Support Organization. Promoted to Major in Sept. 2001. Awarded
the Army Commendation Medal.
Special
Assistant United States Attorney - Fort Lewis, WA
Represented the U.S. Attorney's Office in U.S. Magistrate and District
Courts, Western District of Washington, in misdemeanor and felony
cases occurring at Fort Lewis, Washington. Prosecuted more than 50
bench and jury trials involving narcotics, assault, theft and DUI
offenses. Argued before Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and handled
all appellate work for Fort Lewis criminal cases in U.S. District
Court and Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Managed monthly caseload
of more than 100 cases. Served as legal instructor and advisor to
military police and criminal investigators. Member of Fort Lewis Ten-Miler
Team. Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
Federal
Tort Claims Attorney - Fort Lewis, WA
Investigated, negotiated and settled hundreds of federal claims against
the U.S. Army for personal injury and property loss or damage. Conducted
discovery and analysis of claims pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims
Act, the Military Claims Act and the Foreign Claims Act. Interviewed
and deposed hundreds of claimants and witnesses, including experts
in the fields of orthopedics, toxicology and general medicine. Prepared
pleadings, litigation reports and briefs for the U.S. Department of
Justice and the U.S. Army Litigation Division for litigation in U.S.
District Court.
Trial
Defense Counsel - Camp Casey, Republic of Korea
Provided criminal defense service to soldiers in the forward-deployed
American military force, stationed 12 miles from the De-Militarized
Zone. Represented more than 30 soldiers facing trial by courts-martial
for wide range of offenses including murder, aggravated assault, larceny,
fraud and sexual assault. Earned favorable dispositions ranging from
full acquittal to withdrawal of all charges in more than a dozen cases.
Represented over 200 soldiers facing disciplinary actions other than
trial by court-martial. Interviewed hundreds of witnesses, including
violent crime victims and numerous experts in the fields of DNA, chemical
dependency, clinical psychology and general medicine. Awarded the
Army Commendation Medal.
Trial
Counsel - Fort Hood, TX
Represented the United States Army in 26 courts-martial cases and
administrative hearings. Prosecuted soldiers for wide range of offenses
including narcotics, assault, larceny and rape. Served as legal advisor
for commanders in the 2nd Armored and 4th Infantry Divisions. Member
of Fort Hood Ten-Miler Team. Awarded the Army Commendation Medal.
Legal
Assistance Attorney - Fort Hood, TX
Provided legal services to over 500 soldiers, family members and retired
military personnel in the areas of family law, landlord/tenant law,
consumer law and estate planning. Drafted and executed over 200 wills.
Provided clients with advice on divorce, child support, contracts
and tenant rights. Negotiated settlement agreements with collection
agencies, businesses and opposing counsel on behalf of clients.
University
of Nevada-Reno, Criminal Justice Department
Adjunct
Faculty
Serve as undergraduate faculty in Criminal Justice Department
and teach courses on federal prosecution and organized crime. Lectures
are focused on electronic surveillance (Title III investigations),
grand jury investigations, use of confidential informants, ethics,
search and seizure, asset forfeiture and federal sentencing law.