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Con man posed as lawyer who told fraud victim he could get his money back, prosecutors say

A fraud victim was victimized a second time when a California man posing as a lawyer said he could help recover the money if bond of $290,000 was paid, prosecutors say.

Jerome Arthur Whittington, 65, of La Quinta, was charged in the alleged scheme along with David Herrera, 70, of Torrance, a former Drug Enforcement Agent who posed as an FBI agent, report the Desert Sun in a story published by USA Today, the Press Enterprise, the Daily Breeze, the Associated Press and CBS Los Angeles. Prosecutors say Whittington collected $290,000 and used it for personal expenses and to pay Herrera.

Whittington and Herrera are also accused of duping a second victim into paying $8,000 for legal help in an immigration case.

According to the Desert Sun, Whittington has “cycled through court and prison since the late ’80s,” and has posed as a real estate investor, a legal expert and a businessman. Whittington is currently in custody because of June 2014 charges in another case in which he is accused of posing as a lawyer to persuade two victims to invest about $165,000 in phony deals.

In the latest case, Whittington and Herrera have been charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and a false statement on a passport application, according to this press release.