Facing federal asset forfeiture in Santee? Former federal prosecutor John D. Kirby defends property owners in civil and criminal forfeiture proceedings. Protect your assets — experienced forfeiture defense representation.
250 E. Main Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
East County felony & misdemeanor cases
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
The initial step is to file a verified claim with the seizing agency within 30 days of the forfeiture notice. If the case proceeds to court, the hearing will take place at the East County Regional Center — San Diego Superior Court in El Cajon, where a judge will review the legality of the seizure.
Yes, under the federal Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA), if you substantially prevail in the forfeiture action, the court at the East County Regional Center — San Diego Superior Court may award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. Your lawyer must specifically request these fees during the proceedings to ensure eligibility.
Not necessarily; asset forfeiture is a separate civil proceeding from the criminal case, so even if you are convicted, you can still contest the forfeiture. Your defense lawyer can argue at the East County Regional Center — San Diego Superior Court that the property is not connected to the alleged crime or that you are an innocent owner, potentially preserving your assets.
The East County Regional Center — San Diego Superior Court 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 Santee 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.