Mari Frank interviews Mark Sevigny - Prosecutor, White Collar Crimes

Mark Alan Sevigny graduated from the University of San Diego with a Juris Doctor in May 1977, after receiving a BA from San Diego State in Political Science with honors in 1973. He passed California State Bar Exam in August 1977 and went to work for the Orange County District Attorney's Office in February of 1978. In his thirty years as prosecutor, Mr. Sevigny tried over ninety jury trials, including twenty-five homicides, eleven felony sexual assault cases, and numerous major fraud cases. He worked in almost every unit of the office, including five years in the Major Fraud Unit in the 1980's and again between January 1999 and February 2008. His activity in gang homicide investigations and prosecutions between 1990 and 1994 helped to formulate the legal and evidentiary strategies by which gang-related homicide cases were vigorously pursued and tried in Orange County. From 1995 through 1997 he worked as one of the lead attorneys in the criminal investigation of the Orange County Bankruptcy case, including a nine-month presentation of evidence to the Orange County Grand Jury concerning the role of investment firms in the county's financial calamity. This investigation eventually led to a $30 million unfair business practices settlement with Merrill Lynch. After that he served as supervising deputy district attorney in charge of Law and Motion of the District Attorney's Office for over a year and a half before returning to the Economic Crimes Unit in 1999 to be part of the Major Fraud and High Tech Crimes division. During his tenure with the office Mr. Sevigny trained fellow prosecutors in the District Attorney's Office and through the California District Attorneys Association on documentary evidence, identity theft, complex case preparation, and major fraud issues. Mr. Sevigny officially retired from the district attorney's office in February 2008, but still works there as a prosecutor on a part-time basis. He is also available as a consultant to private industry and insurance companies on issues relating to fraud and computer-related crimes.