The new U-S Attorney for the eastern district of California has only been on the job for about a week, but he’s already setting priorities for his office.   

Benjamin Wagner has worked as an assistant U-S Attorney in the eastern district for 17 years. 

The Obama Administration has tapped him to take the top job and Wagner isn’t wasting any time getting to work. 

He specializes in white collar crime and Wagner says California’s foreclosure crisis will keep him busy cracking down on mortgage lenders who rip people off...

 

Wagner:  “We get it in law enforcement that this is a huge problem. And, we want to take it on. I mean there are really too many cases for us to handle. It’s really a matter of being selective and picking the largest cases...the ones we can document and and effectively prosecute...”

 

Wagner says he’ll also focus on large marijuana growing operations on federal lands. 

But, Wagner says his office will take a hands off approach to medical marijuana dispensaries unless they’re involved in illegal activity. 

Wagner succeeds acting U-S Attorney Larry Brown who will continue working as an assistant in the office.