Overview
- Israel Claustro signed a federal plea deal to one count of mail fraud and agreed to leave the bench by Jan. 12.
- He admitted operating Liberty Medical Group despite not being a physician, a violation of California requirements for medical corporations.
- Prosecutors say he worked with Dr. Kevin Tien Do, previously convicted of healthcare fraud and suspended from the state workers’ comp program.
- Federal authorities estimate $38,670 in losses to the workers’ compensation system attributable to Claustro’s role.
- An initial appearance is scheduled for Jan. 12 in Santa Ana, and prosecutors plan to recommend probation with home confinement as his sentence, while his lawyer says he cooperated and regrets his actions.