California Lawyer Gambled Money From Clients, Faked Cancer

A lawyer from Manhattan Beach, California, has been disbarred after stealing $116k from clients, gambling it away, and pretending to have terminal cancer. 

This news came courtesy of the State Bar Association on Monday. 

In September, we saw another lawyer based in Florida steal $1.8 million from a client and gamble it away. 

The Disabarred Lawyer

The lawyer disbarred in this case is Sergio Valdovinos Ramirez. 

At a hearing in June, he was described as “unrelenting,” often depleting his bank account before using client money. 

From there, he came up with an excuse of having terminal cancer to cover up his transgressions. 

“Mr. Valdovinos Ramirez cheated his clients out of their funds, in part, to feed his gambling habit; he then showed no remorse and lied about a life-threatening illness to avoid taking responsibility for his misconduct,” said Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona. “Disbarment is entirely appropriate in this case.”

Several Ethics Violations

Valdovinos Ramirez was hit with 19 ethics violations. 

In one instance, he took nearly $74,000 in advanced fees and put them into his checking account. These funds were meant to represent a client in a conservatorship case. 

In another incident, he represented someone in an employment discrimination case and told them it was settled for $58k, but papers were never filed. 

In addition, he wrote the check himself, but it bounced. 

From Feb. 2021 to 2023, he spent $886,535 at various gambling outfits in California. 

He used client funds for Lyft rides, utility payments, restaurants, and gas. 

The Fake Cancer

During his disciplinary trial, he told investigators he was dying of cancer and was being treated at City of Hope Hospital by Dr. Stephen Chang. 

However, Dr. Change doesn’t exist. 

“This case is about an attorney’s egregious acts of dishonesty that occurred in his practice and continued through his disciplinary trial,” the State Bar Court Review Department wrote in its June opinion.

“This misconduct was exacerbated by the additional dishonesty in which he engaged,” read the ruling. “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.”

Valdovinos Ramirez now has to pay restitution and 10% interest per year.