LA Attorney Disbarred for Embezzling $300,000 to Fund Gambling Habit

Sergio Valdovinos Ramirez, a Los Angeles attorney, has been disbarred after embezzling funds from his clients to support his gambling habit. He pleaded guilty to three counts of felony grand theft by embezzlement and one count of felony insufficient funds in a checking account.

Ramirez was sentenced to two years in prison and agreed to pay $310,000 in restitution. He was admitted to the State Bar of California in 2024 and disbarred in the same year following the allegations. He spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at two prominent cardrooms, The Bicycle Casino and Commerce Casino.

Ramirez’s crimes took place over five years between 2019 and 2023, with the man acknowledging his actions and owning up to taking the money from his clients without authorization. He also conceded that he had written bad checks to clients well aware that he didn’t have sufficient funds for the payments to go through when the checks were cashed out.