July 21, 2026: Former Attorney Pleads Guilty to Stealing More Than $300,000 From Clients to Support Gambling Habit

Sergio Valdovinos Ramirez set to be sentenced to two years in state prison

LOS ANGELES - A 36-year-old attorney who has since been disbarred has pleaded guilty to misappropriating more than $300,000 from his former clients and passing non-sufficient fund checks to pay for his gambling addiction.

"The defendant duped and deceived his clients of funds that were earmarked for them only to blow hundreds of thousands of dollars of these funds gambling," Los Angeles County District Nathan J. Hochman said. "This truly was a house of cards that collapsed when law enforcement and State Bar officials learned about his duplicitous actions. He not only lost his ability to practice law but also must pay back the stolen money and serve time in prison as well."

Sergio Valdovinos Ramirez (dob 7/28/89) of Manhattan Beach pleaded guilty July 20 to three felony counts of grand theft by embezzlement and one felony count of insufficient checking funds. He also admitted a special allegation of committing a crime that resulted in $100,000 0r more in losses.

As part of his plea agreement, Valdovinos Ramirez agreed to pay $50,000 before his sentencing scheduled for Sept. 21 in Department 123 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center as well as pay at least $310,000 in restitution. He is set to be sentenced to two years in state prison.

In addition, the California Supreme Court has finalized Valdovinos Ramirez's disbarment.

Between 2019 and 2023, the defendant cheated his clients out of money they were expecting from settlements or other court matters. Valdovinos Ramirez also wrote checks to his clients that bounced because there was very little to no money in his bank account.

Prosecutors said that Valdovinos Ramirez spent the money to fuel a gambling habit. The defendant was disbarred in September 2024.

Case 24CJCF03608 was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorneys Daniel Akemon and Holly Harpham of the Justice System Integrity Division and investigated by the California State Bar, Manhattan Beach Police Department and the District Attorney's Bureau of Investigation.