Andre Birotte, Jr.

Few other parts of the country are as dynamic as Southern California. But for all the richness flowing from the region's melange of cultures and industries, its peculiarity can also make it a hotbed for crime.

Since taking office as U.S. attorney for the Central District in March 2010, Birotte has overseen broad efforts to combat to some of the area's more pervasive problems, such as widespread fraud and public corruption.

"One of the things that we try to do here is to be responsive to the needs of the entire district," he said. "And in a district this size, this diverse, this broad, that means a lot of things."

In the wake of the housing crisis, for example, his office hosted a summit that convened prosecutors, local law enforcement, outside researchers and nonprofit organizations to discuss the rash of fraud schemes targeting troubled homeowners. Another such summit focused on health care fraud.

"The goal is really education and awareness," Birotte said. "Educating the community of the issues that are going on in the district, making them aware of what resources are available to them and who they can contact."

He is also trying to clean up the justice system itself. Last month his office filed charges against a federal court clerk for allegedly leaking information from sealed documents. And an ongoing investigation is looking into conditions at the downtown Los Angeles Men's Central Jail.

Birotte's background is somewhat unconventional. He cut his teeth as a county public defender after graduating from law school, then jumped to the U.S. attorney's office to become a prosecutor. Before taking office, he served for six years as the Los Angeles Police Department's inspector general.

The result of his multi-agency experience appears to be a holistic approach to law enforcement.

"The answer is not always going to be to arrest your way out," he said. "We're about doing the right thing the right way all the time.

"Justice, at least in my mind, means all of those things."

- BEN ADLIN