Facing Mann Act or white slavery charges in San Diego? Former federal prosecutor John D. Kirby provides experienced federal defense for Mann Act violations, trafficking, and related federal charges.
1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA 92101
All San Diego County criminal matters
The Central Division is the main state courthouse for San Diego County. It handles the highest volume of felony arraignments, preliminary hearings, and trials in the county. Federal cases are heard separately at the U.S. District Court on West Broadway.
Fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, securities violations, public corruption
Federal trafficking, conspiracy, manufacturing, possession with intent to distribute
Organized crime, conspiracy charges, enterprise corruption, multi-defendant cases
Financial crimes, structuring, asset forfeiture, FinCEN and IRS investigations
IRS criminal investigations, failure to file, tax fraud, offshore account disclosures
2255 motions, direct appeals to the Ninth Circuit, post-conviction relief
Medicare/Medicaid fraud, false claims, anti-kickback statute, Stark law violations
PPP loan fraud, EIDL fraud, pandemic relief program investigations
San Diego’s proximity to the border means Mann Act cases often involve international travel or transportation across state lines, requiring a lawyer familiar with both federal and state nuances. Your case would be arraigned at the U.S. District Court on West Broadway, not the San Diego Superior Court — Central Division, so you need an attorney who regularly practices in federal court.
At 1100 Union Street, the Central Division processes high-volume felony arraignments, but for a Mann Act charge, your initial appearance will be at the federal courthouse. A San Diego attorney can argue for release under the Bail Reform Act, often citing strong community ties here, like local employment or family, to counter any flight risk concerns.
San Diego County spans from the coast to the desert, and a local attorney understands how venue impacts your case — for example, preliminary hearings for federal charges may be held at the central courthouse downtown. They also know the specific tendencies of federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California, which handles more cross-border cases than most districts.
The San Diego Superior Court — Central Division operates under its own local rules, its own judges, and its own assigned federal prosecutors. An attorney who regularly practices in this courthouse understands how specific judges handle suppression motions, what the assigned AUSA typically offers in plea negotiations, and what sentencing outcomes are realistic for cases from the San Diego area. Do not hire a general practitioner who will be learning the federal system at your expense — your freedom deserves experienced representation that knows this courthouse.
For full practice area coverage — white collar crime, drug crimes, RICO, money laundering, tax evasion, healthcare fraud, PPP fraud, and federal appeals:
Kirby Law — Full Federal Criminal Defense PracticeFormer federal prosecutor John D. Kirby — 25+ years federal trial experience. Confidential consultation available.
All communications are confidential and protected by attorney-client privilege.