Name: Christopher J. Cannon
Item: Christopher J. Cannon
Author: Chris

Bio

Chris Cannon graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1976 and Southwestern University Law School where he was a member of the Law Review, in 1979. Following graduation, Chris clerked for two years for the Hon. William Sweigert, a United States District Judge for the Northern District of California. Chris then worked for the Santa Clara County Public Defender's Office and after one year left to join the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of California, where he remained until he established the firm of Sugarman and Cannon.

Chris has a particular expertise in fraud and tax cases, and has represented many individuals and companies charged with financial wrong doing, at trial and on appeal. In many white collar cases, his early advice and intervention has been able to convince the authorities not to file charges.

His trial victories include:

An acquittal of the president of a failed savings and loan charged with misapplying millions of dollars
The dismissal of all charges against a major stock brokerage firm accused of criminal contempt
An acquittal of a podiatrist charged with over-billing for medical procedures
An acquittal for a former IRS attorney who allegedly cashed several million dollars of settlements checks at a local liquor store and did not report the income to the government
An acquittal for a government contractor accused of making false claims in order to obtain government contracts
A manslaughter verdict for an individual originally charged with murder following allegations of extraordinarily high speed and reckless driving resulting in a collision and death.
Chris has also represented individuals charged with tax and money laundering offenses in Canada, Grand Cayman, Israel, Luxembourg, the British Virgin Islands, Antigua, the Isle of Mann, Germany, England, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Liechtenstein, Bermuda and other countries. He was also involved in the defense of the first foreign head of State to be tried in the United States since Manual Noriega and presently represents other lawyers involved in the operation of tax shelters.

In post judgment proceedings Chris secured the release of an individual serving a 30-year sentence after pleading guilty to possessing the largest quantity of methamphetamine ever seized in the United States; overturned a life sentence for a man convicted of multiple drug and weapons offenses; and restored freedom to a man serving a 25 year sentence for an assortment of fraud charges including lying to a federal judge while acting as lawyer.

Chris is currently representing individuals accused of operating pharmacies and gambling operations over the internet and is involved in several cases where individuals have been accused of irregularities connected with the mortgage process.

He has also represented:
Numerous brokers charged regulatory offenses and criminal acts
Many individuals and entities being investigated for or charged with securities law violations, before the SEC, multiple district courts, and in the Ninth Circuit
Individuals and corporations charged with theft of intellectual property, trade secrets, and antitrust violations
Individuals and corporations in debarment proceedings
Many individuals and corporations accused of a variety of tax law violations
Individuals charged with FDA, DEA, and Customs offenses relating to controlled substances
Individuals involved in the internet gaming industry; attorneys, doctors, educators, students and law enforcement officers accused of criminal conduct and violations of professional standards
Officers and managers of businesses accused of government contract fraud
Numerous individuals in extradition proceedings
Prisoners seeking international transfers
Individuals appearing before State and Federal parole boards
Individuals and corporations charged with criminal and regulatory violations during elections and related activity
Finally, Chris has represented many individuals who have been charged with drug crimes. As a criminal lawyer he has watched the marijuana business change from the importation of marijuana via ships; to the more recent emphasis on indoor grows. He has observed the changes in the cocaine business and he has represented many individuals accused with the design and manufacture of almost every known ethnogen.

Litigation Percentage
100% of Practice Devoted to Litigation
Bar Admissions
California, 1979
Education
Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, CaliforniaLaw Review: Southwestern University Law Review, Member, 1979
University of Notre Dame - 1976
Past Employment Positions
Hon. William Sweigert, United States District Judge, Northern District of California, Law Clerk
Santa Clara County Public Defender's Office
Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of California

Christopher J. Cannon

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