A former attorney in Orange County has been convicted and sentenced for embezzling more than $200,000 in insurance claims and for defrauding his clients, prosecutors said Friday.

Tuan Thanh Tran, 44, of Irvine, pleaded guilty Thursday to 10 felony counts and was sentenced to one year in jail, five years of probation and ordered to pay restitution, according to a statement from the Orange County district attorney’s office.

Prosecutors said that between May 2011 and February 2012, Tran represented five clients who were seeking damages from traffic accidents. Prosecutors said Tran settled with the insurance companies but did not inform his clients.

Prosecutors said he forged signatures on insurance checks and settlement forms, keeping the money for himself.


One of his clients reported the theft to Irvine police, who launched an investigation. Clients of Tran -- both in this case and other unrelated cases -- submitted complaints to the State Bar of California. On June 28, 2012, he became ineligible to practice law in California.

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