About Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney

Orange County’s Criminal Defense, State, Federal and Professional Licensing Defense Attorneys

Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney is a boutique litigation practice serving clients throughout Orange County, Southern California, and the United States in complex state and federal criminal matters. The firm focuses on serious criminal litigation, white collar crime, federal criminal defense, professional licensing defense, and other matters requiring strategic planning, extensive motion practice, and thorough trial preparation.

Criminal investigations and prosecutions frequently begin long before formal charges are filed and often involve extensive factual development, witness interviews, electronic evidence, financial records, forensic analysis, and legal issues that require immediate attention. Whether representing an individual during the investigative stage, responding to a grand jury subpoena, defending a criminal prosecution, or protecting a professional license, our approach begins with a comprehensive evaluation of the facts, the applicable law, and the most effective strategy for achieving the best possible outcome.

Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney provides experienced representation through a collaborative team approach. Peter F. Iocona serves as the firm’s Founder and Lead Trial Attorney, providing strategic direction in complex criminal litigation. State criminal defense and professional licensing matters are handled in coordination with Marlo Cordero and other experienced counsel, while federal criminal defense, white collar matters, and complex professional licensing issues are handled in coordination with Ginger R. Saldanha, whose practice focuses on sophisticated federal investigations and prosecutions throughout the United States.

Our attorneys represent clients facing a broad range of misdemeanor and felony allegations, including violent crimes, white collar offenses, fraud, computer crimes, tax offenses, drug-related crimes, domestic violence, sex crimes, weapons offenses, theft-related crimes, professional licensing matters, and numerous other state and federal criminal investigations. Regardless of the nature of the allegations, every case receives careful preparation, strategic analysis, and the level of attention necessary to protect both our clients’ immediate interests and their future.

Meet Our Attorneys

Peter F. Iocona

Founder & Lead Trial Attorney

Peter F. Iocona is the Founder and Lead Trial Attorney of Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney. His practice focuses on complex criminal litigation, white collar crime, professional licensing defense, and other high-stakes matters requiring strategic case development, extensive law and motion practice, and trial preparation from the earliest stages of a case.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Iocona has represented thousands of clients in misdemeanor and felony matters throughout Southern California, including numerous cases involving significant legal and factual complexity. His approach emphasizes early investigation, comprehensive case analysis, constitutional litigation, strategic negotiations, and trial readiness, ensuring that every matter is positioned to achieve the most favorable outcome possible.

As Founder and Lead Trial Attorney, Mr. Iocona coordinates the firm’s overall litigation strategy while working collaboratively with co-counsel in specialized state, federal, and professional licensing matters.

Mr. Iocona has been recognized by Super Lawyers and has received numerous professional distinctions throughout his career, including recognition among the Top 100 Criminal Defense Trial Lawyers, Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and Top 1% of attorneys. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice (CACJ), organizations dedicated to advancing the practice of criminal defense and protecting the constitutional rights of the accused.

His practice includes state criminal defense, federal criminal defense, professional licensing defense, DUI litigation involving complex evidentiary and scientific issues, and other matters requiring sophisticated legal strategy and courtroom advocacy.

Marlo Cordero

Co-Counsel – State Criminal Defense & Professional Licensing Attorney

Marlo Cordero focuses her practice on California criminal defense, professional licensing defense, and administrative proceedings involving licensed professionals. She represents clients facing criminal investigations, misdemeanor and felony prosecutions, and disciplinary actions before professional licensing boards, where strategic legal advocacy is essential to protecting both personal liberty and professional careers.

Ms. Cordero works closely with Peter F. Iocona in developing defense strategies for complex criminal and administrative matters. Her practice includes law and motion, legal research, evidentiary analysis, writs of mandate, appellate matters, and the preparation of comprehensive legal arguments supporting both negotiated resolutions and trial litigation. She also assists in navigating the intersection between criminal proceedings and professional licensing consequences, ensuring that clients receive coordinated representation addressing both aspects of their cases.

Her analytical approach, attention to detail, and commitment to thorough preparation strengthen the firm’s collaborative litigation model. By combining strategic legal research with practical courtroom experience, Ms. Cordero helps ensure that every matter receives the careful evaluation and comprehensive advocacy necessary to protect each client’s rights, professional standing, and future.

Ginger R. Saldanha

Federal Criminal Defense & Professional Licensing Attorney

Ginger R. Saldanha focuses her practice on federal criminal defense, white collar crime, professional licensing defense, and complex financial investigations. She represents individuals, licensed professionals, and businesses throughout the United States in connection with federal investigations, grand jury proceedings, pre-indictment representation, professional licensing matters, and federal criminal prosecutions involving sophisticated legal and factual issues.

Her experience includes defending clients facing allegations involving healthcare fraud, tax crimes, wire fraud, securities fraud, computer crimes, money laundering, identity theft, public corruption, conspiracy, and numerous other federal offenses investigated by agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and other federal law enforcement agencies. She also represents licensed professionals facing disciplinary proceedings before professional licensing boards, where protecting a client’s professional reputation and ability to continue practicing is often as important as defending the underlying allegations.

Ms. Saldanha works closely with Peter F. Iocona in developing comprehensive defense strategies for clients facing federal investigations, white collar prosecutions, and professional licensing matters. Her practice emphasizes early intervention, detailed factual analysis, strategic negotiations with federal prosecutors and licensing authorities, extensive motion practice, and thorough trial preparation when litigation becomes necessary.

A Collaborative Approach to Criminal Defense

Every criminal case presents unique legal and factual issues requiring strategic planning, careful legal analysis, and thorough preparation. Some matters are resolved through early negotiations, while others demand extensive motion practice, complex evidentiary litigation, professional licensing advocacy, or aggressive trial representation. By combining the experience and perspectives of attorneys concentrating in different areas of criminal defense, Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney provides clients with the benefit of a collaborative legal strategy tailored to the specific demands of each case.

Peter F. Iocona provides the firm’s overall strategic direction and trial leadership, working closely with Marlo Cordero on California criminal defense and professional licensing matters, and with Ginger R. Saldanha on federal criminal defense, white collar crime, complex financial investigations, and professional licensing defense. This collaborative approach allows every case to benefit from thoughtful legal analysis, comprehensive preparation, and the collective experience of attorneys dedicated to protecting their clients’ rights, professional standing, and future.

Whether a client is facing a California criminal prosecution, a federal investigation, or disciplinary proceedings before a professional licensing board, our attorneys approach every matter with the same commitment to strategic advocacy, careful preparation, and trial readiness. From the earliest stages of an investigation through negotiation, litigation, and, when necessary, trial, our goal remains the same: to provide experienced, effective, and personalized representation designed to achieve the most favorable outcome possible.

Schedule a Confidential Consultation

If you or a loved one is under investigation, has been arrested, is facing criminal charges in state or federal court, or is confronting professional licensing consequences, contact Orange County Criminal Defense Attorney to schedule a confidential consultation. Our attorneys are committed to protecting your rights, preserving your professional reputation, and providing experienced representation throughout every stage of the legal process.