Board Certified Criminal Trial Advocate By the National Board of Trial Advocacy

Defending client in federal grand jury investigation involving alleged fraud in Eastern District of California. Matter still pending.

Defending corporate-municipal entity in grand jury investigation involving alleged fraud in District of Nevada. Matter still pending.

Defended senior state government official in NV Attorney General's Office criminal public integrity investigation. No charges filed against client.

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.

MEMBERSHIPS

Reserve Officers Association, Member

Rotary Club of Reno Sunrise, Member

American Inns of Court, Reno, Barrister

American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, Member

Federal Bar Association, Member

Sacramento County Bar Association, Member

Washoe County Bar Association, Member

San Joaquin County Bar Association, Member

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Member

Nevada Trial Lawyers Association (NTLA), Member

Northern Nevada Disciplinary Board, Volunteer

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Admitted to Practice

United States District Court for the Central, Eastern and Southern Districts of California, Admitted to Practice

United States District Court for the District of Nevada (Reno and Las Vegas), Admitted to Practice

EDUCATION

Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Cleveland, OH (J.D., 1993)
Saint Martin's College, Lacey, WA (M.B.A., 1999)
Ohio Dominican University, Columbus, OH (B.A., summa cum laude, 1990)

Publications

Northern Nevada Business Weekly, Business Law Magazine 2008, “Dumb Decisions Businesses Should Avoid During an Economic Downturn, ”October 2008, Author

Nevada Justice Association's Advocate, “When “Doing Business” in Nevada is Not Really “Doing Business” in Nevada,” September/October 2008, Author

In Hot Pursuit of Federal Criminal Justice, “Internal Investigations: What should a company do when one of its employees lies to the government?”, Spring 2008, Author

Los Angeles Daily Journal, "Prospecting in the Silver State:  Nevada Offers Plenty of Opportunity," February 6, 2008, Co-Author with Jeffrey S. Galvin

The Advocate, a publication of the Nevada Trial Lawyers Association, “What Do You Do When a Grand Jury Subpoena Shows Up at the Door?” Nov/Dec 2007, Author

In Hot Pursuit of Federal Criminal Justice, “Federal Grand Jury Investigations – What Does a Company Do When a Grand Jury Subpoena Is Served at the Front Door?” October 2007, Author

PRESENTations

McQueen High School , “Opening Statements and Trial Tactics for Drama Production,” Reno, NV, April 2008, Speaker

Kennedy High School, “Operation Protect & Defend – A Commitment to Civic Education,” February 2008, Speaker

UCLA Law School, “Criminal Law - Prosecution and Defense,” February 2008, Presenter

Association of California Water Agencies - Fall Conference, “What do you do when a grand jury subpoena or civil subpoena duces tecum arrives at the door?” Indian Wells, CA, November 2007, Presenter

Lecture for 100 State and Federal Drug Investigators and Special Agents, Ninth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court Case Law, "Search and Seizure," Las Vegas, NV, 2003, Presenter

ATF Legal Training for Nevada Law Enforcement Officers, “Federal Firearms Statutes,” Northern Nevada Training Center Reno, NV, 2002, Presenter

United States Army Judge Advocate General's Corps Continuing Legal Education, “Federal Tort Claims Act,” University of Washington School of Law, 1997, Presenter