Melanie Carrillo Jiménez is a federal criminal defense attorney with over 18 years of experience representing individuals and businesses in complex federal matters, including white-collar crime, fraud, money laundering, asset forfeiture, obstruction, and economic offenses. She has extensive experience in strategic case resolution, sentencing mitigation, and federal trial advocacy, representing clients throughout all stages of the criminal process—from investigation and indictment through trial, sentencing, and post-conviction.
Ms. Carrillo began her career as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the District of Puerto Rico, where she represented clients in high-exposure felony and capital-eligible cases. In 2013, she established the Law Office of Melanie Carrillo-Jiménez, focusing on federal litigation, criminal defense, negotiation, and mitigation strategy. She frequently serves as local counsel and mitigation specialist in death-penalty-eligible cases, working with multidisciplinary defense teams across jurisdictions.
She is well-regarded for her persuasive legal writing, client-centered advocacy, and proficiency in developing comprehensive mitigation submissions that humanize defendants and highlight individual circumstances to achieve fair sentencing outcomes. Her practice is characterized by confidential case management, strategic negotiation, and a deep understanding of the federal judicial process.
Ms. Carrillo is admitted to practice before the Puerto Rico Bar, the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, the United States District Court for the Virgin Islands, and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. She is fluent in English and Spanish and frequently collaborates with federal agencies, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, IRS-CI, DEA, and Homeland Security Investigations.