US EditionSouthern California Judge Faces up to 2 Decades in Prison for Fraud
Claustro admitted defrauding California's Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund by using fraudulent medical reports, with prosecutors estimating losses of about $38,670.
- On January 7, 2026, Orange County Superior Court Judge Israel Claustro was charged in federal court with mail fraud and agreed to plead guilty and resign his judgeship.
- Claustro operated Liberty Medical Group Inc. despite not being a physician, and prosecutors say he engaged in the scheme with Dr. Kevin Tien Do while serving as a prosecutor.
- Investigators found Dr. Kevin Tien Do drafted reports billed to the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund, with Liberty Medical Group Inc. receiving over $1.5 million, and about $1.5 million transferred to Claustro and his wife.
- Claustro signed his plea agreement Wednesday and is expected to plead guilty Monday, with prosecutors citing a $38,670 loss to state workers' compensation funds and recommending home confinement.
- Todd Spitzer, Orange County District Attorney, said Claustro violated office policy requiring approval of outside employment; public records show Claustro earned $254,441 as a judge in 2024.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Los Angeles Times
Orange County judge, who campaigned on boosting trust in the justice system, to plead guilty to fraud
Orange County judge Israel Claustro, who touted his ability to help “foster trust in the American justice system," agreed Wednesday to plead guilty to one count of mail fraud at his next court date Monday in U.S. Central District Court in Santa Ana. He also resigned his judicial post.
OC Judge Charged with Workers' Compensation Fraud
Orange County Superior Court Judge Israel Claustro was charged in federal court Wednesday with workers’ compensation fraud and has agreed to plead guilty. Claustro, 50, signed his plea agreement Wednesday and is expected to enter the guilty plea Monday, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He was also charged with one count of mail fraud and has agreed to resign as a judge, authorities said. Claustro allegedly engaged in the fraud scheme wit…
Southern California judge faces up to 2 decades in prison for fraud
An Orange County judge could spend 20 years in federal prison after he agreed to plead guilty to fraud, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday. Superior Court Judge Israel Claustro was …
California judge pleads guilty to fraud
By KAREN VELIE Federal prosecutors charged a 50-year-old Orange County Superior Court judge today with defrauding California’s workers’ compensation program. Israel Claustro has agreed to resign from his position as a judge, according to U. S. Department of Justice. Facing one count of mail fraud, a crime that carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 […]
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