113 reviews | ★ 5 avg
113 reviews | ★ 5 avg
113 reviews | ★ 5 avg
113 reviews | ★ 5 avg
Awards & Honors
Our Attorneys Have Been Recognized With Many Of The Most Prestigious Legal Awards
OUR PRACTICE AREAS
DRUG CRIMES
DUI
GUN CRIMES
ASSAULT + BATTERY
THEFT OFFENSES
SEX CRIMES
PROSTITUTION
COMPUTER CRIMES
WHITE COLLAR CRIMES
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT
Experienced Trial Attorneys Handling Your Case
Because when your life and freedom are at stake, you don't want to ask yourself if your criminal attorney knows what needs to be done. You want to know it, with absolute certainty.
Personalized Attention
Because experience doesn't do you any good if your case is being handled primarily by paralegals, or if you can't get your lawyer on the phone. At California Elite, you're never just another case number.
Someone Who Will Fight For You
Guilty, not-guilty, or somewhere in between, you have rights guaranteed to you by the U.S. Constitution. We treat you with respect and make fighting for you our top priority, no matter who you are.
Free Initial Consultation and Case Review
We don't make you pay just to hear what you have to say. Tell us your story, and we'll tell you what we think. Get a chance to get to know us before making this important decision.
MEET OUR TEAM
Zaira Villagomez
Zaira Villagomez was destined to be an attorney from the moment she took her first steps in the world. From a young age, Zaira’s keen sense of justice and innate ability to empathize with others led her down the path of law.
Through her academic journey, Zaira honed her legal skills, mastering the intricacies of the law and developing a strong sense of ethics. She realized that her true purpose was not only to defend her clients but to offer them unwavering support, guidance, and reassurance during their darkest hours.
As Zaira delved deeper into her legal career, she became known for her creative problem-solving abilities. With a sharp mind and a knack for finding innovative solutions, she often uncovered new avenues and strategies to secure the best outcomes for her clients. Her passion for justice combined with her resourcefulness made her a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom.
JEFF GRECO
Jeff Greco is a seasoned defense lawyer with nearly 20 years of experience. As a former prosecutor in one of the largest DA’s office in the country, Jeff has experience from both sides of the aisle. He is licensed in New York, Texas, and California. Jeff has tried over 100 cases over the last two decades and has experience both at the state, and federal level.
Jeff has been nominated by Super Lawyers for the last 5 years in a row, and he has also been honored as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in America.
TESTIMONIALS
California Elite Attorneys
Anyone who is under arrest or under investigation for any crime needs a criminal defense attorney. And you don’t have to be a bad person to end up in this position. Hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors run afoul of law enforcement every year. Many are just at the wrong place at the wrong time.
But being innocent, ignorant of the law, in desperate circumstances, or someone who has made an honest mistake isn’t always enough to keep prosecutors from convicting you.
Even if you’ve only been arrested for a minor misdemeanor, a criminal charge can be life-changing. It can keep you from getting certain professional licenses, disqualify you for jobs requiring security clearances, make you an unattractive candidate for employers, and make it difficult for you to secure housing. And, of course, there’s always the possibility of jail time.
While many people are reluctant to pay a private lawyer when they can get a public defender, it’s important to understand it’s worth it. You’re only likely to meet a PD about 5 minutes before your arraignment.
They just don’t have the time to look at any case in-depth, and the overwhelming majority of their cases are handled via plea bargain. Taking a plea bargain is always your choice, but in the face of a public defender who urges you not to go to trial and a prosecutor promising dire consequences if you don’t sign, pushing your case to trial could seem like your only good option, even if you could have won your case.
A private lawyer makes a real difference.
Plea bargaining is a legitimate tactic, but it shouldn’t be the automatic go-to. When you plea bargain you may serve a lighter sentence, but you are still admitting to a crime and are still allowing the court to put a black mark on your permanent record which will follow you around for the rest of your life.
By contrast, we have the time and energy to sit down with every client who retains us. We can have a long conversation well in advance of any court dates, can ask questions, and can follow up on any leads you give to us. It means we’ve got time to track down records, speak to witnesses, and develop a winning case. If the case we develop is strong enough, we may even be able to convince prosecutors to drop charges before you ever have to go to trial.
If you have any hope of putting your life back together just the way it was before the police knocked on your door, you’ll need to invest in your own life and freedom by investing in a private Los Angeles criminal lawyer. It is, quite possibly, the very best money you’ll ever spend. And in many ways, you can’t afford to do anything else.
The team at California Elite Attorneys, PC are committed to defending you against misdemeanor and felony charges at both the state and federal level.
Our law office focuses exclusively on providing top-notch criminal defense services and advice to defendants. With one call, you can vastly increase your chances of improving your case outcome.
The common criminal charges our office handles include:
- Theft
- DWI
- Assault & Battery
- Gun Crimes
- Drug Crimes
- Sex Crimes
- White Collar Crimes
Our team has experience in both in Los Angeles criminal courts and in federal court. There are differences between both types of cases. For one thing, the federal government has more resources to try their cases, and punishments are harsher, with mandatory minimum sentencing creating even less room for error than you’ll find in state court.
It’s important to make sure your attorney has experience in both arenas. Ours do, which is why you can be confident making us your advocates.
Usually you’d just contact the law firm you’re interested in directly. You can also take a look at the lawyer’s reputation on sites like Avvo, Find Law, and Google. California Elite Attorneys, PC has a 10.0 out of 10.0 on AVVO and a 5.0 out of 5.0 on Google.
Don’t just look at the star ratings. Read the reviews. Some of the traits you might want to look at include:
- Calm, careful, informative and insightful counsel.
- Indications of hard work on the attorney’s part.
- Reports on great case outcomes.
- Comments the attorney is sincere and honest.
It’s important for you to stay calm, to evaluate your options thoroughly, and to ask plenty of questions. You must trust the defense attorney you work with, and you must be comfortable with him or her.
Finally, ask about fees and payments. Are they within your means? Does the lawyer offer a payment plan? (We do). When your freedom is at stake you shouldn’t have to pass on having a dedicated attorney by your side. We try to make it easy for you to work with us so we can focus on what’s important: defending your case.
The sooner, the better.
You need to hire an LA criminal lawyer if you even suspect you’re under investigation for any crime, or any time you have an encounter with the police. Even if police make it seem like you are just a witness when they first approach you, there is a chance they will take something innocuous and turn it into a case against you. If you want to help, having a lawyer present can protect you.
If you’ve already been arrested you have no time to lose. Do not talk to the police. Instead, invoke your right to silence and call us right away. By calling our offices you will secure the benefits of our experienced representation.
When you become a client of California Elite, you will receive outstanding support throughout the life of your case. We are dedicated to providing a high degree of service unparalleled by any other law firm. At California Elite, a strong track record of success, combines with years of immersion and the criminal justice system to get your real results. With our team approach, you have an excellent chance of winning your case.
Jeff Greco, one of the managing partners, has launched criminal defense law firms in three states, has fought and won in criminal courts, and has been honored as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in America.
Co-Managing partner, Zaira Villagomez, is also a top 100 criminal Lawyer in America. Zaira previously spent seven years as a criminal defense paralegal before returning to law school and passing the bar exam. This has given her hands-on experience with Criminal Defense cases that are hard to match. Her clients routinely have favorable things to say about working with her personally, and about the results she’s able to achieve on their behalf. I am.