San Diego

A former attorney who admitted embezzling funds from clients was sentenced Friday to four years in state prison.

Some members of the packed courtroom clapped as Raphael Levens, 48, of Tierrasanta was taken into custody immediately after his sentencing.

Levens pocketed settlements from civil cases without notifying his clients.

San Diego Superior Court Judge Jesus Rodriguez said the fraud amounted to $300,000.

Levens was also ordered to pay $10,000 in restitution to the victims once he leaves prison, the maximum amount of restitution possible if a defendant is sentenced to prison.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Sally Williams urged the maximum sentence of five years.

Defense attorney Robert Grimes told the court that Levens had voluntarily repaid $200,000 to some of the victims, and some former clients urged probation for him.

Levens, who resigned from the state bar after 54 counts of forgery and grand theft were filed against him July 18, pleaded guilty Nov. 2 to one count of grand theft. The other charges were dismissed.

The sentencing was “the most difficult day of my life,” Levens said, adding that he took the money because he was “over my head financially.”

Levens had promoted himself as a consumer rights advocate and five years ago ran a business called The Lemon Clinic, which handled complaints of auto owners who had problems with their new cars.