Under IRS criminal investigation in San Diego? Former federal prosecutor John D. Kirby defends clients facing tax evasion, failure to file, and FBAR violations in federal court.
Federal CourtIRS Tax DefenseSan Diego CountyFormer Federal Prosecutor25+ Years
Judges: Superior Court Judges: Hon. Michael T. Smyth (Presiding Judge), Hon. Peter C. Deddeh, Hon. Kenneth K. So, Hon. Joan P. Weber, Hon. Charles G. Rogers
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.
IRS Tax Defense Practice Areas — San Diego
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
IRS Tax Defense in San Diego — What You Need to Know
Why is it critical to hire a San Diego IRS Tax Defense attorney if I live in San Diego County and am being investigated for tax fraud?
Federal tax cases are prosecuted at the U.S. District Court on West Broadway in downtown San Diego, but the IRS’s criminal investigation division often works closely with local agencies that use San Diego Superior Court — Central Division for related state charges, such as filing false documents. The Central Division at 1100 Union Street handles the highest volume of felony arraignments in the county, so an attorney who knows that courthouse’s specific procedures can expedite your bail or pretrial release. A local lawyer also understands how San Diego’s cross-border economy with Mexico can trigger complex financial audits.
How does the San Diego Superior Court — Central Division’s high caseload affect my IRS tax defense case timeline?
At 1100 Union Street, the Central Division processes over 60,000 felony cases annually, meaning your arraignment or preliminary hearing could be delayed by weeks if your attorney lacks relationships with the court’s calendar coordinators. An experienced San Diego tax defense lawyer can use local familiarity to request a specific judge or fast-track your case to avoid the backlog. This is especially important when the IRS is seeking asset forfeiture, as delays can freeze your accounts longer.
If I’m charged federally but also face state tax evasion in San Diego County, can one attorney handle both cases at the same courthouse?
No—federal tax cases are heard at the U.S. District Court on West Broadway, while state tax charges are filed at San Diego Superior Court — Central Division on Union Street, requiring separate legal strategies. A San Diego IRS Tax Defense attorney who practices in both venues can coordinate your defense so that evidence from one case doesn’t incriminate you in the other. They also know that San Diego’s high cost of living often leads state prosecutors to aggressively pursue tax penalties on home-sale profits.
Why Local Counsel Matters for Federal Cases in San Diego
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: