Sergio Acosta is an experienced criminal and appellate litigator and investigator. His cases have included claims involving criminal civil rights, complex financial fraud, criminal tax violations, labor racketeering, export regulations and domestic terrorism. Mr. Acosta’s practice also encompasses corporate governance, corporate internal investigations, regulatory enforcement, commercial litigation and gaming law.
His experience in overseeing and conducting complex investigations for the government puts him in a unique position to advise corporate clients facing administrative, civil or criminal exposure in regulated industries. This, coupled with his experience in leading a state agency and working closely with federal and state agents, enables him to provide practical advice and counseling at every stage of criminal or parallel civil proceedings.
During his tenure with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois, Mr. Acosta tried more than 25 jury trials in federal court and many appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Mr. Acosta joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in April 2010. Previously he was Chief of the General Crimes Section of the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.
In December 2011, Mr. Acosta was named by Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel to the Mayor’s Ethics Reform Task Force, which will recommend changes to strengthen the ordinance that governs City officials and employees.
In October 2010, Mr. Acosta was included in “2010 Profiles: 100 Influentials,” in the “Top 100 Influentials 2010 – The Chicago Contingent” list, published by Hispanicbusiness.com.
The majority of Mr. Acosta’s career has been devoted to public service. He began his legal career in 1985 as an assistant state attorney in the Dade County State Attorney’s Office, in Miami. From 1988 to 1989, he was the Chief of the County Court Division, where he supervised division attorneys, developed policy and was a community and law enforcement liaison. He became a chief in the Felony Division in 1989.
In 1990 Mr. Acosta joined the U. S. Attorney’s Office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Chicago. He became a deputy chief of the General Crimes Section in 1994 and remained in that position until leaving the United States Attorney’s Office in 1999 to become the Administrator of the Illinois Gaming Board.
During his tenure with the Illinois Gaming Board, Mr. Acosta was responsible for the regulation of all aspects of casino gambling in Illinois.
In 2001, Mr. Acosta returned to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago to the Organized Crime Section. In 2002, he became Deputy Chief of the Major Case Section, and then in 2003, he was promoted by U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Fitzgerald to serve as Chief of the General Crimes Section, where he remained until joining Hinshaw.
He is the recipient of a number of awards and recognition from various agencies and organizations, including the following commendations:
- U.S. Department of Justice Director’s Award for his work in the prosecution of former Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge (2011)
- Chicago Bar Foundation Richard J. Phelan Public Service Award (2008)
- Chicago Crime Commission Star of Distinction Award (2001)
- Various commendations from the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; and the Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division.
Mr. Acosta is a founding member and past president of the National Hispanic Prosecutors Association.
His professional memberships also include the Hispanic National Bar Association, and the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, where he was elected in July 2011 to a 2-year term on its Board of Directors.
He has been an adjunct professor of law at Northwestern University School of Law since 1998.
Mr. Acosta is a member of the Leading Lawyers Network and has been selected by his peers as a Leading Lawyer in the areas of Criminal Defense Law: White Collar, and Gaming & Casino Law.
Mr. Acosta speaks Spanish fluently.
Mr. Acosta has spoken to many organizations, including the City of Chicago Department of Law; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; U.S. Department of Justice Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development Assistance and Training Programs in Bogota, Colombia in 2004, and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 2006.
In July 2010, he presented a training program, “The “Investigation and Prosecution of Organized Crime and Human Trafficking Cases,” to Mexican Federal Prosecutors. He has also lectured regularly at the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Legal Education, Basic Trial Advocacy Course.
His other presentations include:
- “Corporate Internal Investigations ,” Minority Corporate Counsel Association, 9th Annual General Counsel Invitational & Diversity Leadership Summit, Miami, Florida, April 2012.
- “White Collar Crime and Corporate Internal Investigations,” Hispanic National Bar Association Corporate Counsel Conference, Jersey City, New Jersey, March 2012.
- “How to Successfully Work Within Your Organization,” ABA Annual Meeting, Section of Business, 2005.
His publications include:
- “Criminal Law Aspects of Gaming Regulation,” co-author, Law360, January 21, 2011.
- “The Changing Face of White Collar Crime Enforcement," chapter co-author, “Managing White Collar Legal Issues, 2011 ed.,” Aspatore Books (a Thomson Reuters business), December 2010.
From 2003 to 2011, Mr. Acosta served as a member of the Board of Directors of Leadership Greater Chicago. He is a Fellow of their class of 1998–1999.
Mr. Acosta has been a volunteer at Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) DuPage, Inc. since 1998.
Spanish