A Southern California attorney who prosecutors say stole roughly $300,000 from clients to fuel a gambling addiction — while also falsely claiming he had terminal cancer — has now been sentenced.
Sergio Valdovinos Ramirez, a former Manhattan Beach lawyer, entered a guilty plea Monday to several charges, including grand theft by embezzlement, writing checks with insufficient funds, and a special allegation that his crimes caused losses of $100,000 or more, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Under the terms of the plea deal, Ramirez received a two-year sentence and agreed to make a $50,000 payment before sentencing, along with an additional $310,000 in restitution to victims.
Prosecutors said Ramirez took money his clients were supposed to receive from legal settlements and other court-related matters, then funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars into his gambling habit. The alleged scheme stretched from 2019 through 2023, according to the DA’s office.
The district attorney’s office also said Ramirez issued checks to clients that later bounced because his bank accounts had little to no money available.
“This truly was a house of cards that collapsed when law enforcement and State Bar officials learned about his duplicitous actions,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said.
Hochman added that Ramirez “not only lost his ability to practice law but also must pay back the stolen money and serve time in prison as well.”
Ramirez was disbarred in 2024 after the State Bar found he had committed 19 ethical violations, according to KTLA.
Authorities said Ramirez also lied about being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease, giving a fake name of the doctor that was reportedly treating him, as he tried to hide his illegal actions with client’s funds.
“Disbarment is entirely appropriate in this case,” Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona, said at the time.
“This misconduct was exacerbated by the additional dishonesty in which he engaged,” the ruling read in part.
“Valdovinos Ramirez lied to his clients to stall the discovery of his misappropriation and failure to follow through on work he had assured clients he performed.”
“A key part of this cover-up was to issue numerous checks with insufficient funds to several clients, again breaching the fundamental rule of ethics, which is honesty,” the ruling added.
Ramirez then filed an appeal about the disbarment with the California Supreme Court who has since upheld the decision that he’ll no longer be able to practice law in the state, per the DA.
He is due back in court for sentencing September 21 when he will be sent away to serve two years in state prison for his crimes.
