Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek: San Diego Law Firm

Gregory A. Vega

Shareholder & Litigation Department Chair

Practice Groups

Representative Matters

Represented United States Congressman charged with Illegal Personal Use of Campaign Funds
Obtained dismissal of indictment for client charged with failure to maintain a reasonably designed anti-money laundering program
Represented corporate executive in FCPA investigation of major retailer in Mexico
Represented former CEO in shareholder derivative action resulting from government FCPA investigation
Served as Department of Health and Human Services-approved Independent Review Organization (IRO) for publicly traded pharmaceutical company
Obtained dismissal of indictment for individual charged with filing false tax returns
Obtained dismissal of complaint for client in Federal Election Commission investigation
Obtained dismissal of indictment for publicly traded utility company in Federal environmental crimes prosecution
Successful defense verdict at trial of magazine publisher for breach of fiduciary duty
Conducted internal investigation for multi-national corporation headquartered in Oslo, Norway
Conducted internal investigation for major international retailer
Successful representation of Tribal Chairperson of federally recognized Indian tribe in investigation by Federal government (prosecution declined)
Successful defense of Los Angeles-based law firm in qui tam action filed in California state court (complaint dismissed)
Represented company in contract dispute with national media firm related to issue of Federal Communications Commission closed-captioning requirements
Represented aircraft chartering company in $3 million breach-of-contract cause of action
Investigated and prosecuted member of the San Diego City Council for failing to report gifts on state-required financial disclosure forms
Investigated and prosecuted a Lake County, Indiana, Judge Pro Tem for judicial corruption
Tax litigation before the U.S. Tax Court
Investigated and prosecuted numerous bank fraud and tax fraud cases in U.S. District Court
Represented Sweetwater Union High School District in San Diego County grand jury investigation
Represented deputy district attorneys before San Diego County Civil Service Commission

Education

Mr. Vega received his B.S. from Indiana University in 1975. He earned his law degree from Valparaiso University School of Law in 1980 where he was a staff member of the Valparaiso University Law Review.

Employment Background

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Vega was the U.S. Attorney, Southern District of California. He was also Assistant U.S. Attorney with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Indiana and Southern District of California 1983-1999 and was a tax attorney for the Chief Counsel’s Office, Internal Revenue Service 1980-1983.

Professional Affiliations & Admissions

State Bar of California
State Bars of Indiana and Illinois
U.S. Seventh and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals
U.S. Tax Court
Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (1999-2001)
White Collar Crime Subcommittee, Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (Co-Chair, 1999-2001)
Hispanic National Bar Association (President, 1997-1998)
Board of Legal Specialization, State Bar of California (1993-1996)
Criminal Law Advisory Commission, State Bar of California (Chairman, 1992-1993; Member, 1989-1992)
Merit Selection Panel, U.S. District Court, Southern District of California (2009 and 2017)
Federal Judicial Selection Committee, Southern District of California (2004-2017)
National Association of Former United States Attorneys (NAFUSA) (Member, 2001-present; President, 2015-2016)

Community Affiliations

Selected and unanimously confirmed as a Commissioner on the inaugural City of San Diego Ethics Commission (2001-2005)
San Diego County Regional Security Commission (2002-2005)
National Conflict Resolution Center, Board of Directors (2004-2014)
Casa Cornelia Law Center, Board of Directors (2018-present)

Publications & Speaking Engagements

Published Opinions

Lee v. C.I.R., 43 T.C.M. (CCH) 374 (1982)
Fishman v. C.I.R., 45 T.C.M. (CCH) 765 (1983)
Pfeifer v. C.I.R., 46 T.C.M. (CCH) 857 (1983)
Estate of Shantz v. C.I.R., 47 T.C.M. (CCH) 614 (1983)
United States v. Bailey, 728 F.2d 967 (7th Cir. 1984)
United States v. Dack, 747 F.2d 1172 (7th Cir. 1984)
United States v. Barreda, 607 F.Supp. 419 (N.D.In. 1985)
United States v. Dominguez, 783 F.2d 702 (7th Cir. 1986)
United States v. Rodriguez, 636 F.Supp. 1522 (N.D.In. 1986)
United States v. Hayes, 646 F.Supp. 146 (N.D.In. 1986)
United States v. Anderson, 809 F.2d 1281 (7th Cir. 1987)
United States v. Washington, 669 F.Supp. 1447 (N.D.In. 1987)
United States v. Rodriguez, 831 F.2d 162 (7th Cir. 1987)
United States v. Ramos, 832 F.2d 85 (7th Cir. 1987)
United States v. Zambrana, 841 F.2d 1320 (7th Cir. 1988)
United States v. Zambrana, 846 F.2d 1494 (7th Cir. 1988)
United States v. Doering, 909 F.2d 392 (9th Cir. 1990)
United States v. Mal, 942 F.2d 682 (9th Cir. 1991)
Herring v. Teradyne, 256 F.Supp.2nd 1118 (S.D.Ca. 2002)

Professional Awards & Honors

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America (2012-present)
Recognized in San Diego Super Lawyers magazine for Criminal Defense: White Collar (2012-present)