Ventura, CA - District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that on October 5, 2011, Ventura County Superior Court Judge Colleen Toy White found Russell Takasugi (DOB 10/26/1954) of Moorpark guilty following his pleas of no contest to 34 felony counts, including one count each of elder fraud and grand theft, 28 counts of money laundering, 2 counts of perjury, 2 counts of offering false instruments, and the aggravated white-collar crime enhancement. The Simi Valley Police Department conducted the investigation that resulted in Takasugi’s convictions.

Takasugi was a licensed California attorney from 1985 until he stipulated to his disbarment earlier this year. In 2007, Takasugi drafted a will for a terminally ill client. The client bequeathed his property to a friend and named Takasugi executor of his estate. After the client died, Takasugi failed to initiate probate for one year and systematically embezzled $537,205 from investment accounts the client owned while concealing those assets from the probate court. He subsequently filed false statements and instruments with the probate court.

Takasugi will be sentenced on December 9, 2011, in Division 37 at 1:30 p.m. He remains free on a $100,000 bond. Takasugi has repaid the $537,205 he stole, although at sentencing the victim is expected to claim additional losses resulting from his actions. In recognition of his early pleas and his repayment of the stolen funds, the court has committed to sentence Takasugi to a maximum of five years in state prison.