David picture

David Demurjian

Partner

Orange County

t: (949) 223-1170

e: ddemurjian@awattorneys.com

VCard

Bio

David Demurjian graduated from New York University as a University Scholar with a double major in Economics and Classics. He pursued his legal studies at Fordham University School of Law and upon his graduation passed the New York State Bar in 1987 (Massachusetts State Bar in 1988 and the California State Bar in 2005).  

For the past thirty years, he has been a prosecutor in New York, Massachusetts, and California, where he has handled a wide array of felony cases (Crimes against Police Officers). For most of his career, he has been a use of force expert for various law enforcement and military agencies (state and federal) throughout the country.  His area of expertise is in use of force by law enforcement and military personnel. He has taught on defensive tactics and use of force throughout the world and is published on the topic. David was also a sworn member of a large law enforcement agency in Southern California where he oversaw the defensive tactics training and use of force instruction.  

After 28 years of service, he retired from that position with that agency but remains on staff as a consultant. He continues his military service as a Captain assigned to the Judge Advocate General’s Office. He is also General Counsel for the California Narcotics Officers’ Association (C.N.O.A.). For the past forty years, he has trained in judo, aiki-jujitsu and kyokushin-kai karate. He holds a black belt rank in all of these disciplines. 

  • PEOPLE v. LIEBERMAN, SMYTH, SAMSON, ET AL: Investigated and initiated multi-agency (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. S.E.C., U.S. I.R.S., Office of International Affairs, Metro-Dade State Attorney’s Office) prosecution into an international money laundering operation involving the Hells Angels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.  Ten year history of securities fraud involving multiple jurisdictions: Canada, Turks & Caicos Islands, London, Denmark, Portugal, Florida, New York, Texas, and Washington.  Money laundering proceeds in excess of $100 million.  The investigation was initiated after the suspects had faxed the O.C.D.A. Major Fraud Unit with a stock tip.
  • PEOPLE v. WONERTH, BOLDONI, VOICU, ET AL: Prosecuted and assisted the U.S. Attorney (Los Angeles) in the apprehension of a large scale international credit card fraud operation managed by Romanian Organized Crime based in Romania.  Assisted the U.S. Attorney in the federal indictments and trial of the primary operators of the operation.  Losses associated with this group were into the millions of dollars.  Uncovered unsolved homicide and its connection to this organized crime group.
  • PEOPLE v. WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION: Uncovered an insider trading case based on stock options.  Identified the extraordinary stock option activity prior to a public statement of a corporate acquisition.  Notified the S.E.C. and launched a joint investigation with the Chicago Board of Exchange.  Investigation showed numerous professional money managers acquiring option positions 72 hours prior to the announcement.
  • PEOPLE v. ELLIS: Investigated and initiated prosecution of the first “swatting” case in the history of California.  Filed assault weapons charges against out of state computer hacker that sent the O.C. Sheriff’s S.W.A.T. Unit to an innocent person’s home.  First time in the history of California to charge the defendant “by way of proxy” for the use of an assault weapon. 
  • PEOPLE v. DOVALINA & CAROLINA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: Investigated multi-million dollar investment scam involving a R.E.I.T.  Organized by a former institutional sales person of a large investment bank in which he used members and associates of various White Supremacists Gangs for the boiler room operations.  Multi-agency prosecution by both the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the California Attorney General’s Office.
  • PEOPLE v. HEALTHSONIX, INC.: Initiated joint investigation with the S.E.C. and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police regarding several fraudulent publicly traded companies based in Canada.  The suspect company was part of a larger fraud organization promoting several fictitious publicly traded companies.
  • PEOPLE v. SMITH-WIGGINTON: Identity theft and counterfeiting operation involving White Supremacist Gangs.  The year long investigation uncovered thousands of identities that had been obtained by these groups (many of the identities belong to members of the Armed Forces that were deployed at the time) and thousands of dollars of fraudulent transactions.  This group also had established a counterfeit currency operation.  Twenty-Five individuals were charged in this investigation and related investigations.
  • PEOPLE v. TSUYUKI: Investigated and initiated prosecution of securities broker for affinity fraud.  Collaborative investigation with F.I.N.R.A.  Assisted in the administrative proceedings pertaining to the defendant’s professional license.
  • PEOPLE v. MORRELL: Prosecuted a large scale identity theft and counterfeiting operation.  The case also involved a murder-for-hire plot against one of the witnesses.
  • PEOPLE v. CHRISTLE, POUNDS, SUNTER: Prosecuted White Supremacist Gang criminal operations involving identity theft, real estate fraud, residential burglaries and trafficking in methamphetamine.  Lead to the prosecution and apprehension of several high-ranking members of the organization.  It is believed that this is one of the cases that caused a death threat to be issued against several members of the prosecutorial team.  In response to that death threat, the largest arrest and search warrant sweep in the history of Orange County was launched in December, 2006.
  • PEOPLE v. DAT THE PHAM: Prosecuted and investigated member of a large scale multi-million dollar identity theft operation operated by Vietnamese Gangs.  Pham was a notorious member of the “Dragon Family” and was on parole for four counts of attempted murder at the time of his arrest.
  • PEOPLE v. NGUYEN: Prosecuted high ranking member of a large scale identity theft operation being operated by Vietnamese Organized Crime.
  • PEOPLE v. BLUEMEL: Prosecuted and investigated members of “Public Enemy Number 1” Prison Gang for fraud and drug offenses.
  • STATE COMPENSATION INSURANCE FUND, ZENITH INSURANCE COMPANY & STATE FARM INSURANCE v. ACCESS HEALTH MEDICAL GROUP (People ex rel. Zenith Insurance Co., et al. v. Larson, et al.):  Represented medical practice group against three insurance companies in civil litigation and administrative board hearings for licensed professionals (medical doctors and chiropractors).  Allegations of Insurance Code violations involving unpaid medical bills for over thirty million dollars ($30,000,000.00).
  • UNITED STATES v. MARY PERKINS: Represented class of victims involved in a multimillion-dollar real estate investment scam.  Assisted in the federal prosecution of Perkins and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Administrative proceedings pertaining to her fraud.
  • PEOPLE v. SUNITI SHAH: Represented defendant involved in a fifty million dollar real estate investment fraud involving several major banks.

  • State Bar of California, 2005
  • State Bar of New York, 1987
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1988
  • US District Court, Central District of California, 2005
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (SDNY), Admitted: 1987
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (EDNY), Admitted: 1987
  • U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts, Admitted: 1988

  • Police Chief Magazine: October, 2026, “Analyzing Police Use of Force Litigation.”
  • PoliceOne.Com, Legal Columnist: March, 2016, “The Mullenix Mix-Up” (Use of deadly force during a pursuit).
  • California State Sheriffs’ Association Client Alert: January, 2016.  Indian Tribal Law and State Law Enforcment Authority.
  • PoliceOne.Com, Legal Columnist: March, 2010, Use of Force Topics; October, 2010, Dashcam (In)Justice.
  • Orange County Bar Association, “Orange County Lawyer Magazine”, April 2009, Crimes of Enrichment… No Need to Either Admit or Deny.
  • Orange County Bar Association, “Orange County Lawyer Magazine”, June & July, 2008, The Qualcomm Fiasco, Part I and Part II.
  • Orange County Trial Lawyers Association, “The Gavel”, Spring, 2008, The Mortgage Crisis: A Case of Financial Manslaughter.
  • California District Attorney’s Association, “The Prosecutor”, Fall, 2007, Embracing The Paper, (analysis of fraud investigations and large scale criminal organizations).
  • Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, STAR Magazine, 2005, Investment Scams.
  • New York State Bar Journal (Westchester County Bar), Volume III, Fall, 1993: Close Encounters: New York Style. (The constitutionality of reasonable suspicion detentions by a police officer.);

  • C.N.O.A. National Convention: November, 2022: Use of Force Encounters: Legal Analysis
  • CALIFORNIA FORCE INSTRUCTORS’ ASSOCIATION: September, 2022.  The State of The Industry and Legal Implications.
  • ORANGE COUNTY POLICE FORCE INSTRUCTORS ASSOCIATION: July, 2020.  Legal Update and recent legislative changes.
  • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY (Command Staff Judge Advocate General’s Office): January, 2017.  Legal Review of DOA Use of Force Policy for Domestic Operations.
  • NEVADA HIDTA (Command Staff): December, 2016.  Preparing for a federal investigation into a use of force encounter.
  • CALIFORNIA CITY MANAGERS (SAN DIEGO COUNTY): August, 2016.  Managing the high profile use of force encounter: “What to Do When Your Ferguson Occurs.”
  • CALIFORNIA NARCOTICS OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION STATEWIDE CONVENTION: November, 2015:  Use of Force in Today’s Environment.
  • CALIFORNIA PEACE OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION PRESENTATION (Long Beach, Madera, Alameda, Sacramento), 2015: Use of Force in Today’s World.
  • CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL, 2015, Sacramento Headquarters:  Use of Force Issues in Patrol.
  • CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND REHABILITATION, Winter, 2012: Force litigation in the criminal and civil arenas.
  • DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINSTRATION, NEW YORK, Summer, 2011: Use of Force Litigation matters and pre-trial preparation.
  • NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT, Winter, 2010: Force applications in Undercover Operations.
  • CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, Summer, 2007: “Policy and Procedure in Insurance Fraud Cases”. 
  • U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, LOS ANGELES, Spring, 2007: “Utilizing State Prosecutions in Securities Fraud Cases”.
  • ORANGE COUNTY FRAUD INVESTIGATORS, Spring, 2007: “How to Manage the Securities Investigation”.
  • AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN EDUCATORS IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES, Spring, 2007:  “Identity theft and other frauds”.
  • COASTLINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Spring, 2007: “Securities Fraud and Investment Scams”.
  • INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FINANCIAL INVESTIGATORS, Fall, 2006: “Organized Crime and the Financial Markets”.
  • LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT GANG UNIT, Fall, 2006:  “Utilizing a comprehensive prosecution to large scale gang activities; R.I.C.O. prosecutions”.
  • NATIONAL RETAILERS SYMPOSIUM, Fall, 2006: “Forging a Partnership between the Public Sector and the Private Sector against Organized Criminal Groups”.
  • ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE (Sponsored By AAWCC), Fall, 2006: “Investment Scams and their Varietals”.
  • SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GANG/ORGANIZED CRIME ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION, Spring, 2006: “Identifying the Organized Crime Elements in the Case”.
  • ROTARY CLUB, Spring, 2006: “Securities Fraud in Today’s Investment Environment”.
  • INTERNATIONAL FOOTPRINTERS ASSOCIATION, Fall, 2005: “Emerging Markets and Investment Fraud”.

  • Nighttime Base Jumping
  • HALO Jumps
  • Free Diving (without fins or weights)

  • New York University, B.A., University Scholar, June, 1984
  • Fordham University School Of Law, J.D., June, 1987