John is a former prosecutor with extensive experience in high profile litigation. He has been at the forefront of major foreign corruption and asset forfeiture matters, and has worked with regulators and law enforcement officials around the world.

From 2008 until 2020, John was a federal prosecutor in the Central District of California. As the Coordinator of the High Intensity Financial Crime Area Task Force, John led several high-profile investigations, including the Los Angeles Garment District raids, which resulted in the largest ever cash seizure in the United States, the Normandie Casino conviction on money laundering violations, and the multibillion-dollar forfeiture proceedings related to 1MDB, the Malaysian Sovereign Wealth Fund. In 2018, John was appointed a Special Assistant United States Attorney to the District of Arizona where he joined in the prosecution and conviction of Backpage.com, a web-based platform used to promote human trafficking. John has conducted multiple international investigations in conjunction with foreign law enforcement and regulators, as well as parallel investigations in the U.S. with regulators and agencies such as the SEC, FinCEN, California Department of Justice and the Bureau of Gambling Control.

John has presented trainings throughout the Department of Justice on money laundering and forfeiture, and he is frequently invited to speak on anti-money laundering compliance, bank secrecy, and international forfeiture.

John began his career as a state prosecutor in Cook County, Illinois.

Co-author, Corporate Cooperation:Benefits and ChallengesInternational Comparative Legal Guide - Corporate Investigations Laws and Regulations 2021 

  • The University of Illinois, Chicago School of Law, J.D.; John Marshall Distinguished Scholar
  • University of Illinois, B.A., Philosophy

Bars

  • California
  • Illinois
  • U.S. Court of Appeals: Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. District Court: Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court: Northern District of California

Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America

Department of Justice's John Marshall Award, 2020

Assistant U.S. Attorney, Central District of California

State Prosecutor, Cook County, Illinois

Coordinator of the High Intensity Financial Crime Area Task Force, Los Angeles area 

  • Hon. Bruce Black, U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Illinois