Fresno federal prosecutor becomes acting US Attorney for Sacramento
.jpg "The Robert T. Matsui Federal Courthouse in Sacramento serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California. President Donald Trump has appointed Fresno federal prosecutor Kimberly A. Sanchez as the next acting U.S. Attorney for the district.")
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- Kimberly Sanchez named acting U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of California.
- Sanchez replaces Michele Beckwith, who was dismissed by the Justice Department.
- A DOJ veteran since 2005, Sanchez led Fresno's U.S. Attorney Office since 2024.
Kimberly Sanchez, a longtime federal prosecutor based in Fresno, became the acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California on Wednesday, replacing Michele Beckwith, who was let go by the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday night, a spokesperson for the department said.
Beckwith, a Democrat with a long history as a federal prosecutor in Sacramento, stepped in earlier this year after U.S. Attorney Phil Talbert resigned to make way for an appointee by Republican President Donald Trump. The Eastern District is headquartered in Sacramento and handles federal prosecutions in the Central Valley and Sierra portions of the state.
Sanchez, a Republican, has been chief of the U.S. Attorney’s Fresno office since February 2024, said Lauren Horwood, a spokesperson for the department. The role involved helping to oversee criminal cases based in those offices and acting as a liaison with local law enforcement, the department’s website said.
She has been licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania since 1996, that state’s records show.
Sanchez started in Fresno as a prosecutor in the narcotics and violent crime unit in 2005, Horwood said. Under federal law, she became acting U.S. Attorney as the next-ranking person under Beckwith, after she was terminated, Horwood said.
Beckwith, a top lieutenant for Talbert, stepped in after his resignation.
She had risen through the ranks to help lead the department with more than 15 years of service. In an interview in January when she took over the role, she called Talbert a brilliant attorney and said he had been a mentor. As acting U.S. attorney, Beckwith brought numerous cases on topics including human trafficking, firearms dealing and domestic terrorism.
Sanchez’s interim appointment takes immediate effect. She has not yet been formally nominated to replace Talbert, and it was not immediately clear whether she would ultimately be Trump’s choice for the role, Horwood said.
Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp was thrilled to hear of Sanchez’s new role.
“Kim Sanchez is the hardest-working and the most-amazing prosecutor we have in this county,” Smittcamp said Wednesday. “She has been a mentor and a great partner for law enforcement and she has the highest regard for public safety.”
Smittcamp described Sanchez as one of the hardest-working people she knows.
“To see her elevated to this position is incredible,” Smittcamp said. “It’s also great to see good, hardworking people get acknowledged. She isn’t political, or out to be in the limelight or spotlight.”
This story was originally published July 16, 2025 at 11:44 AM.
