E. Martin Estrada

Estrada's family emigrated from Guatemala, and he grew up in the Costa Mesa area.{{Cite news|last=Rector |first=Kevin |date=June 6, 2022 |title=Biden nominates new U.S. attorney for Los Angeles region |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-06-06/biden-nominates-new-u-s-attorney-for-los-angeles-region |access-date=June 6, 2022 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} He received a Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from the University of California, Irvine in 1998 and his Juris Doctor from Stanford Law School, with distinction, in 2002.{{Cite press release |title=President Biden Announces Five New Nominees to Serve as U.S. Attorneys, Two to Serve as U.S. Marshals |date=June 6, 2022 |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/06/president-biden-announces-five-new-nominees-to-serve-as-u-s-attorneys-two-to-serve-as-u-s-marshals/ |access-date=June 6, 2022}} {{PD-notice}}

After graduating law school, Estrada served as a law clerk for Judge Robert Timlin of the United States District Court for the Central District of California from 2002 to 2003 and Judge Arthur Alarcón of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2003 to 2004.

He served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California from 2007 to 2014. In 2014, he became a partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson; he served as an associate at the same firm from 2004 to 2007. As a lawyer, he represented Plains All American Pipeline in the Refugio oil spill, in which the company agreed to pay $230 million to settle claims. He also has experience with immigration and education cases, one in which he successfully argued that New Mexico was providing insufficient education to students, including Latino and Native American students.

On June 6, 2022, President Joe Biden nominated Estrada to be the United States attorney for the Central District of California.{{Cite press release |title=Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate |date=June 6, 2022 |publisher=The White House |location=Washington, D.C. |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/06/nominations-and-withdrawals-sent-to-the-senate-6/}} {{PD-notice}}{{Cite press release |title=Munger Tolles Partner to Be Nominated US Attorney in Los Angeles |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/munger-tolles-partner-to-be-nominated-us-attorney-in-los-angeles |access-date=June 6, 2022 |website=news.bloomberglaw.com |language=en}} His nomination was supported by Senator Alex Padilla. On July 28, 2022, his nomination was reported out of the Senate Judiciary Committee by a voice vote.{{cite web|url=https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/EBM%20Results%20-%202022-07-28%20REVISED2.pdf|title=Results of Executive Business Meeting – July 28, 2022|publisher=United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary|accessdate=July 28, 2022}} On September 13, 2022, his nomination was confirmed in the United States Senate by voice vote.{{Cite web |date=September 13, 2022 |title=PN2212 - Nomination of E. Martin Estrada for Department of Justice, 117th Congress (2021-2022) |url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/2212 |access-date=September 17, 2022 |publisher=United States Congress}} He was sworn in by Chief Judge Philip S. Gutierrez on September 19, 2022.{{cite press release |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/martin-estrada-sworn-united-states-attorney-becoming-chief-federal-law-enforcement |title=Martin Estrada Sworn in as United States Attorney, Becoming Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer in Nation's Most Populous District |date=September 19, 2022 |publisher=United States Department of Justice |access-date=September 19, 2022}}

While in office, Estrada was active against threats from China. In 2023, he secured a prison sentence for a U.S. Navy sailor who exchanged sensitive U.S. military information with China.{{Cite web |last=Bertrand |first=Natasha |date=2023-08-03 |title=2 US Navy sailors arrested for allegedly sharing sensitive military information with China {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/03/politics/navy-sailors-arrested-military-information-china |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=CNN |language=en}} In 2024, his office prosecuted a political campaign manager who was alleged to be an agent of the Chinese government,{{Cite web |last=Wenzeke |first=Marissa |date=2024-12-19 |title=California campaign manager acted as political operative for China, federal prosecutors allege |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/california-political-campaign-manager-agent-china-allegations/ |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} and indicated a Chinese company that was exporting the chemical ingredients of fentanyl into the US, packaged as cosmetic makeup.{{Cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Noah |date=October 16, 2024 |title=Chinese chemical manufacturer is targeted by federal prosecutors trying to stop flow of fentanyl |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-10-16/chinese-company-charged-with-exporting-fentanyl-xylazine-to-los-angeles |access-date=June 24, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times}}

Estrada went after drug traffickers including the dismantling of "Operation Dead Hand", a trafficking ring of Mexican Cartels, Los Angeles drug dealers and Canadian truck drivers.{{Cite news |date=January 30, 2024 |title=How LA drug brokers, Mexican cartels, Canadian truck drivers came together to smuggle drugs |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/fbi-announces-arrests-of-alleged-drug-traffickers-transporting-narcotics-through-la/3325711/ |access-date=June 25, 2025 |work=NBC Los Angeles}} He also secured the arrests of two dozen individuals involved in a money laundering scheme between the Sinaloa Cartel and Chinese underground backing groups.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-18 |title=24 people charged in money laundering scheme involving Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, prosecutors say |url=https://apnews.com/article/sinaloa-cartel-fentanyl-mexico-china-los-angeles-034ad51dd03d0606767215b44aed2e91 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=AP News |language=en}}

Estrada also led the investigation and charges against the individuals involved in supplying Matthew Perry with the drugs that led to his death in late 2023.{{Cite news |last=Romine |first=Taylor |date=August 20, 2024 |title=What we know about the 5 people charged in connection with Matthew Perry’s death |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/20/us/matthew-perry-death-5-charged |access-date=June 25, 2025 |work=CNN}}

Estrada's establishment of the Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force in 2023{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2023 |title=US Attorney Estrada Launches Two Strike Forces in Los Angeles |url=https://news.bloomberglaw.com/white-collar-and-criminal-law/us-attorney-estrada-launches-two-strike-forces-in-los-angeles |access-date=June 25, 2025 |website=Bloomberg Law}} led to significant cases against corporate executives and insiders in the following months. These included fraud charges against FAT Brands Inc.{{Cite news |last=Mejia |first=Brittny |date=May 10, 2024 |title=Ex-Fatburger boss indicted in $47 million 'sham loan' scheme |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-05-10/former-executive-fatburger-indicted |access-date=June 25, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times}} executives, short seller Andrew Left,{{Cite web |title=SEC and DOJ accuse high-profile short-seller of $20 million securities fraud |url=https://www.investmentnews.com/regulation-and-legislation/sec-and-doj-accuse-high-profile-short-seller-of-20-million-securities-fraud/255776 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=www.investmentnews.com |language=en}} and the conviction Ippei Mizuhara, the interpreter who defrauded baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani over 16 million dollars in relation to a sports gambling scheme.{{Cite web |date=2024-04-11 |title=Feds accuse Ohtani ex-interpreter of $16M theft |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/39920849/ohtani-interpreter-ippei-mizuhara-stole-16m |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Estrada also led the investigation and conviction of several public officials, including former Los Angeles City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas on bribery charges in 2023.{{Cite news |date=March 30, 2023 |title=Mark Ridley-Thomas convicted on federal bribery, conspiracy, mail and wire fraud charges |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/mark-ridley-thomas-convicted-of-federal-bribery-conspiracy-mail-and-wire-fraud/ |access-date=June 25, 2025 |work=CBS News}} In 2024, Estrada's office secured a 13-year prison sentence for corruption convictions of councilman Jose Huizar{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Dakota |date=January 26, 2024 |title=Former L.A. Councilman Jose Huizar sentenced to 13 years in prison in corruption case |url=https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-01-26/former-l-a-city-councilman-jose-huizar-sentence |access-date=June 25, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times}} and 12 years for former deputy mayor Raymond Chan, who was convicted of bribery.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-27 |title=Former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan convicted in sprawling bribery case |url=https://apnews.com/article/los-angeles-city-corruption-deputy-mayor-raymond-chan-36ecb722ef561d5e2b6594eca623c8a9 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=AP News |language=en}} Later in 2024, Estrada's investigation led former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do to plead guilty of conspiring to commit bribery.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-22 |title=Southern California official resigns and will plead guilty in COVID funds probe |url=https://apnews.com/article/orange-county-pandemic-funds-supervisor-andrew-do-c862651d3843eeb83a8c55531d9b2148 |access-date=2025-06-25 |website=AP News |language=en}}

Estrada also prosecuted City National Bank in 2023, whose refusal to finance mortgages in Black and Latino communities resulted in a settlement of $31 million.{{Cite web |date=2023-01-12 |title=Office of Public Affairs {{!}} Justice Department Secures Over $31 Million from City National Bank to Address Lending Discrimination Allegations {{!}} United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-secures-over-31-million-city-national-bank-address-lending-discrimination |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}} He also addressed hate crimes, including the prosecution of a former Marine who firebombed a Planned Parenthood clinic in 2022,{{Cite web |date=2024-04-16 |title=Former Marine sentenced to 9 years in prison for firebombing Planned Parenthood clinic |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/former-marine-sentenced-9-years-prison-fireboming-planned-parenthood-c-rcna147963 |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=NBC News |language=en}} and the indictment of a white supremacist gang in October 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-02 |title=US charges 68 in case against California white supremacist gang |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0lw7zrp027o |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}

Estrada started the Vulnerable Communities Task Force in 2023 to address scams targeting marginalized groups. The force led to the conviction of the well-known disbarred attorney Tom Girardi on embezzlement charges.{{Cite news |last=Robledo |first=Anthony |date=August 27, 2024 |title='Robin Hood in reverse': Former 'Real Housewives' star convicted of embezzling $15 million |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/08/27/tom-girardi-attorney-case/74973774007/ |access-date=July 2, 2025 |work=USA Today}}

On January 14, 2025, Estrada announced he would be resigning from the post, effective January 17. he was replaced by his First Assistant Joseph T. McNally.{{cite press release |title=U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada to Leave Justice Department After Serving as Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer in the Largest District in the Nation |date=January 14, 2025 |publisher=United States Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/us-attorney-martin-estrada-leave-justice-department-after-serving-chief-federal-law |language=en |access-date=February 22, 2025 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250214074616/https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/us-attorney-martin-estrada-leave-justice-department-after-serving-chief-federal-law |archive-date=February 14, 2025}}

In February 2025, Estrada returned to Munger, Tolles & Olson.{{cite press release|url=https://www.mto.com/news/headlines/2025/southern-californias-top-federal-prosecutor-returns-to-munger-tolles-olson/|title=Southern California's Top Federal Prosecutor Returns to Munger, Tolles & Olson|publisher=Munger, Tolles & Olson|date=February 18, 2025|access-date=April 2, 2025}}

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{{s-ttl|title={{nowrap|United States Attorney for the Central District of California}}|years=2022–present}}

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Bill Essayli (interim)}}

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Category:1970s births

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:21st-century American lawyers

Category:Assistant United States attorneys

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Category:Hispanic and Latino American lawyers

Category:People associated with Munger, Tolles & Olson

Category:Stanford Law School alumni

Category:United States attorneys for the Central District of California

Category:University of California, Irvine alumni