Federal criminal defense in El Cajon and San Diego County — how federal cases proceed in the Southern District of California, from investigation through trial.
Federal CourtFederal Criminal DefenseSan Diego County
East County Regional Center — San Diego Superior Court
250 E. Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
East County felony & misdemeanor cases
Judges: Superior Court Judges: Hon. Lantz Lewis (Presiding), Hon. Patricia K. Cookson, Hon. John M. Thompson, Hon. Herbert J. Exarhos
The East County Regional Center handles state-level criminal cases from El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, Lakeside, and surrounding communities. Federal cases originating in East County are transferred to the downtown federal courthouse.
Federal Criminal Law Topics — El Cajon
White Collar Crime
Fraud, embezzlement, insider trading, securities violations, public corruption
Drug Crimes
Federal trafficking, conspiracy, manufacturing, possession with intent to distribute
2255 motions, direct appeals to the Ninth Circuit, post-conviction relief
Healthcare Fraud
Medicare/Medicaid fraud, false claims, anti-kickback statute, Stark law violations
PPP & COVID Fraud
PPP loan fraud, EIDL fraud, pandemic relief program investigations
Common Questions — El Cajon
How do federal cases proceed in the Southern District of California?
Federal cases originating in El Cajon are transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, located downtown. This court handles all stages of federal criminal proceedings from investigation through trial.
Which courthouses exist in El Cajon and what types of cases do they handle?
The East County Regional Center at 250 E. Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92020 handles state-level felony and misdemeanor cases from El Cajon and surrounding communities. Federal cases are not heard here; instead, they are transferred to the federal courthouse downtown.
Judicial districts in California, such as the Southern District of California, handle all federal cases within their jurisdiction. The district court oversees proceedings from initial charges through appeals and post-conviction relief for federal crimes.