Lawyer Pleads Guilty in Money Laundering Scheme

A Los Angeles attorney pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to laundering money for participants in an $18.9-million armed robbery at the Dunbar Armored truck depot.

David Matsumoto, 50, who practices immigration and personal injury law, entered a plea to six counts of money laundering and one count of aiding and abetting in the filing of a false income tax return.

U.S. District Judge Lourdes Baird set sentencing for May 21.

Matsumoto, who negotiated a plea agreement with prosecutors, is expected to testify for the government in the trial next month of his former paralegal, Joaquin Bin, 55, of Santa Ynez, according to Assistant U.S. Atty. Alka Sagar.

Matsumoto and Bin were indicted on charges of laundering $1.6 million for two of the robbers. A federal jury last week convicted the robbery’s mastermind and an accomplice. Four others pleaded guilty previously and are awaiting sentencing.