Man Pleads Guilty to Impersonating Lawyer

A Los Angeles man who used his charm, a stolen state bar number and his skill as a paralegal to practice law pleaded guilty Tuesday to felony charges of impersonating a lawyer and grand theft.

Over the last three years, Rigoberto Vasquez, 32, collected more than $80,000 in legal fees and fooled several judges, prosecutors and about 80 clients before he was finally caught earlier this year, Deputy Dist. Atty. Alexis de la Garza said.

Most of his clients were immigrants seeking green cards, citizenship or other immigration papers, Garza said. She said she doubts that any of the immigration matters that he handled will be affected.

Garza said Vasquez got caught after another lawyer in a divorce case became suspicious and checked his credentials, Garza said. The lawyer reported Vasquez to Hawthorne police.

Vasquez pleaded guilty in Inglewood Municipal Court to two counts of grand theft and to one count each of identity theft and impersonating a lawyer.

Municipal Court Judge Eudon Ferrell set a Dec. 8 sentencing hearing for Vasquez, who remains free on $45,000 bail.

As part of the plea agreement, Ferrell is expected to send Vasquez to prison for 16 months and require him to complete 120 hours of community service and repay the legal fees, with $50,000 due before the sentencing hearing.

Garza said Vasquez fooled people because “he is a very charming man. So a lot of people believed in him, and they ended up referring others to him.”