U.S. Attorney E. Martin Estrada | U.S. Department of Justice
United States Attorney Martin Estrada has announced his resignation as the chief prosecutor for the Central District of California, effective January 17. Estrada, who began his role in September 2022, led a team of over 500 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and staff across seven counties serving nearly 20 million people.
Estrada expressed gratitude for his tenure: "As the child of immigrants from Guatemala, neither my family nor I could ever have believed that I would one day have the opportunity to serve as United States Attorney in service to the greatest country in the world." He added that working alongside talented attorneys and staff was "the greatest privilege" of his life.
During his time in office, Estrada focused on significant cases involving hate crimes, civil rights violations, violent crime, national security threats, synthetic drugs like fentanyl, public corruption, corporate fraud, and financial crimes. His leadership saw major prosecutions against individuals involved in hate crimes and civil rights abuses.
Estrada collaborated with civic leaders to address community issues and emphasized outreach efforts. He created initiatives like Operation Safe Cities to tackle violent crime through enhanced collaboration with local law enforcement agencies.
In national security matters, notable cases included convictions related to illegal weapons trafficking and cybercrime activities. Estrada also prioritized combating synthetic drug distribution by targeting large-scale traffickers.
Under Estrada's guidance, prosecutors achieved success in addressing public corruption cases involving high-profile figures such as former Los Angeles city councilman Jose Huizar. The establishment of a Corporate and Securities Fraud Strike Force marked a commitment to tackling complex corporate crimes.
Efforts were made under Estrada’s direction to protect vulnerable communities through task forces addressing scams targeting marginalized groups. Environmental justice initiatives included significant settlements related to water contamination incidents.
Estrada's tenure was characterized by efforts to enhance community engagement through various outreach programs and recruitment drives aimed at reflecting regional diversity within the office.
President Biden nominated Estrada for U.S. Attorney on June 6, 2022; he was confirmed by the Senate on September 13 that year. A graduate of Stanford Law School with distinction and an experienced legal professional with prior roles including Assistant United States Attorney from 2007-2014—Estrada is also a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.
