Case # 16CF2770
Date: October 31, 2016
OCDA SEEKS PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF ATTORNEY CHARGED WITH USING $150,000 IN CLIENT SETTLEMENT FUNDS TO PAY PERSONAL DEBTS
SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of an attorney charged with using $150,000 in client settlement funds to pay other clients and pay personal debts. Fred Raymond Hunter Jr., 50, Riverside, is charged with three felony counts of embezzlement by a fiduciary of trust with sentencing enhancement allegations for theft exceeding $100,000 loss and aggravated white collar crime over $100,000. If convicted, Hunter faces a maximum sentence of five years and four months in state prison. The defendant is out of custody after posting $100,000 bond at his arraignment today. He is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on Dec. 2, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.
Hunter is a licensed attorney who is accused of misappropriating approximately $150,000 in funds from at least three clients.
Between June 10, 2013, and Nov. 25, 2013, the defendant is accused of using over $4,600 of settlement funds intended for Jane Doe 1 to pay another client and people to whom he owed money.
Between June 10, 2013, and Nov. 29, 2013, Hunter is accused of embezzling approximately $52,200 from John Doe’s settlement for similar purposes.
Between April 24, 2014, and July 17, 2014, the defendant is accused of fraudulently appropriating over $88,800 from Jane Doe 2’s settlement for purposes that violated their agreement.
This case was referred to the OCDA by the State Bar of California after they received information about the embezzlement from a number of potential victims.
The investigation in this case is ongoing. Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Stan Berry at (714) 664-3964.
Deputy District Attorney Gautam Sood of the Special Prosecutions Unit is prosecuting this case.