July 26--A Newport Beach attorney has been sentenced to federal prison after being convicted of a scam that prosecutors said targeted immigrants in the country illegally who were being held in detention and awaiting possible deportation.
Gino Paul Pietro, 54, defrauded six defendants and their families by asserting that his investigator could settle their criminal and immigration cases, according to federal prosecutors. In each of the six instances, the defendant or their family sent $3,000 to Pietro's client trust account.
None of the cases was resolved, prosecutors said. Pietro had falsely claimed to the immigrants that his investigator was a licensed attorney, prosecutors said.
Although the six immigrants had entered the U.S. illegally, said U.S. District Court Judge Dana Sabraw, "they didn't deserve this." Pietro brought "dishonor and disgrace to the entire legal profession," Sabraw said Friday.
Also last week, Pietro was sentenced in Orange County in a bank fraud case in which fabricated documents were submitted to the U.S. Small Business Administration, prosecutors said.
For the immigration and bank fraud cases, Pietro was sentenced to serve a total of 30 months in prison. He was also required to repay $18,000 to the six immigrants and their families.
"Attorneys who engage in fraudulent conduct should not be surprised to find themselves in federal court -- but this time, as defendants," U.S. Atty. Laura Duffy said Friday after sentencing.
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