If you’ve studied for the MPRE, you’ve likely gone over the code of judicial conduct. Some things require a bit of nuance, but committing fraud is generally understood to be one of those things that judges shouldn’t be associated with. Even if the offending actions happened before they donned the robes. AOL has coverage:
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California announced Wednesday that 50-year-old Israel Claustro was charged with one count of mail fraud. Officials said Claustro signed a plea agreement to the felony charge.
“Judge Claustro violated the law for his personal financial benefit,” First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli said. “We will not hesitate to prosecute anyone – judges included – who defraud public benefits intended to help those in need.”
Claustro was accused of defrauding the state’s worker’s compensation program. Turns out operating a medical corporation without holding a medical license has consequences. He raked in about $38,670 from the scheme. Not a mind-blowing amount by any means, but at least he cleared the goofball threshold of $5,000. Fraud is never to be encouraged but whatever you do do, you should do right — even if it’s wrong.
Claustro has since resigned from the bench.
California Judge Pleads Guilty In Fraud Scheme Involving Convicted Doctor [AOL.com]
Chris Williams became a social media manager and assistant editor for Above the Law in June 2021. Prior to joining the staff, he moonlighted as a minor Memelord™ in the Facebook group Law School Memes for Edgy T14s . He endured Missouri long enough to graduate from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is a former boatbuilder who is learning to swim, is interested in critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, and has a love for cycling that occasionally annoys his peers. You can reach him by email at cwilliams@abovethelaw.com and by tweet at @WritesForRent.
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