LEGAL CAREER

• Law Office of Christopher J. Gonzales • The State Bar of California, Member
  
• U.S. District Court for the Central and Southern Districts, Member
• Supreme Court of California, Member
  
• Lawyers of Distinction, 2019 Recognition
• O.C. District Attorney’s Office, Domestic Violence Volunteer
• Hispanic Bar Association, Member
  
• St. Thomas More Law Society, Member
  
• Orange County Bar Association, Former Member • Represents Police and Firefighters 

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

• City of Irvine Investment Committee, Chair
• Irvine Chamber of Commerce, Member
• Republican Alliance, Central County, Board Member
• Northwood Gratitude and Honor Memorial, Advocate
• Fought against the El Toro Airport, Musick Jail Expansion, Center Line Rail, and the Spectrum 40 Development
• Fought for Irvine Veterans and public cemeteries and the Blue Gum Park development

The following is a brief narrative of my employment with the U.S. Department of Justice from 1967 to 1996:

1967 to 1971, U.S. Department of Justice (DOD), Immigration & Naturalization Service (INS) with the U.S. Border Patrol as a Border Patrol Inspector and later as Border Patrol Agent.  During this period of time I was stationed at Yuma, AZ; Calexico, CA; and, San Clemente, CA;

1971 to 1978, I was a DOD/INS Criminal Investigator at Los Angeles, CA.  I was assigned to all the various Investigative Sections including the Search/General Section, the Fraud Unit, the Criminal, Subversive and Immoral Unit;

1978 to 1978, I was promoted to the DOD/INS Los Angeles International Airport and the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport as a Supervisory Inspector.  I supervised approximately 100 Inspectors; 

1978 to 1983, I was transferred to the DOD/INS Anti-Smuggling Unit as a Supervisory Special Agent Los Angeles County & Orange County.  During this period of time, I investigated and prosecuted various Alien Smugglers;

1983 to 1984, I was promoted to the position of Special Assistant to the Regional Commissioner and I was assigned to the Law Enforcement Security Inter-Agency Unit that oversaw the security of 1984 Olympics at Los Angeles, CA nationwide;

1984 to 1985, I was promoted to the DOD/INS Western Regional Investigations Branch as a Deputy Assistant Regional Commissioner;

1985 to 1986, I was promoted to the DOD/INS Western Regional Investigations Branch as the Assistant Regional Commissioner and I oversaw approximately 400 Special Agents and staff members;

1986 to 1996, I was assigned to the DOD Main Justice Organized Crime/Racketeering Unit as an INS Senior Special Agent.  There I was  assigned to both the Las Vegas, NV and the Los Angeles, CA “Strike Force” Office that investigated various Organized Crime Groups such as the Cosa Nostra, the Italian Mafia, Japanese Yakuza, the  Israeli & Hungarian groups and the British Crime group where I worked uncover;

On January 1996, I retired from DOJ/INS and started my private investigation agency;  

1996 to 1998, I conducted background investigations for several different Federal Law Enforcement Agencies which included but not limited to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and INS;

1998 to 2002, I was asked and returned to INS as a Senior Special Agent/District Adjudicator in Orange County where I interviewed, approved and/or denied Applications or Petitions for Lawful Permanent Residency and United States citizenships;

On 2002 I fully retired; however, I still answered the call of duty to assist various Federal Agencies (such as DOD, DHS, ICE, Federal Reserve Board); and, Law Enforcement agencies (such as the New Orleans Police Department) in conducting background investigations for the respective agencies on a part-time bases;

The following is additional experience and responsibilities I had had since 1992 to present:

1992 to 2008, I was elected to Orange County Board of Education where I represented Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Garden Grove & Tustin.  In my elected position I oversaw the Superintendent of School  $200 million dollar budget; I received & concurred audits for the Orange County Department of Education; I maintained an awareness of 4 billion dollars operations & financial expenditures for all Orange County school districts; I approved the purchase of property for department; I served on expulsion appeals and inter-district hearings; I advocated better education for all of Orange County; I informed local communities education issues and how they effected their community; I served 16 years on the Board of Education and I was elected 4 times to the position of Board President;

1996 to Present, I was appointed to the position of Chief of the Red Tail Hawk Clan for Orange County and San Diego County;

1978 to 2010, I was elected Board Member and Chairman of Supervisory Committee to JINS Federal Credit Union;

1981 to 1998, I volunteered as an Adult Leader with Boys Scout Troop #316 at Calvary Chapel in Santa Ana, CA;

1972 to present, I have been an active member of the American Legion Post #812 in Los Angeles, CA.  I have served as the Post Commander and the Boys State Coordinator; 

1966 to 1972, I served with U.S. Air Force Reserves (as a Crash Crew Fight Fighter and as a Security Police Officer) and the California National Guard (Tank Driver);

On September 16, 1968, I married Kathy.   We have three sons; and eight grandchildren.

I am a Conserative Christian who was saved in 1974; and, was lead to Jesus Christ by Pastor Chuck Smith at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, CA.