Orange County Superior Court Judge Israel Claustro has just confessed to a federal fraud charge that could land him behind bars for two decades.

In a stunning turn of events, Claustro, a 50-year-old jurist, has agreed to plead guilty to mail fraud tied to a scheme exploiting California’s workers’ compensation system, while also stepping down from his judicial post.

Let’s rewind to when Claustro was still a prosecutor in Orange County, long before he donned the black robe.

Uncovering a Deceptive Medical Operation

During that time, he ran Liberty Medical Group Inc., based in Rancho Cucamonga, while claiming his wife was the owner, according to reports in the Los Angeles Times.

Prosecutors revealed Claustro employed Dr. Kevin Tien Do, a 60-year-old Pasadena physician with a 2003 felony health care fraud conviction that barred him from the state’s workers’ compensation program.

Knowing full well about Do’s ban, Claustro still shelled out over $300,000 to him for medical evaluations and reports, hiding the doctor’s role by slapping other physicians’ names on billing forms.

Fleecing a Fund for the Vulnerable

This shady setup netted hundreds of thousands of dollars from California’s Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund, a program meant to support already-disabled workers facing further injury.

Apparently, exploiting a safety net for the vulnerable was just another day at the office for Claustro until the feds caught up.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli didn’t mince words, stating, “Judge Claustro violated the law for his personal financial benefit.”

Legal Consequences and Public Trust

Essayli’s jab hits hard, and rightly so—when a judge, of all people, games the system for profit, it erodes the very foundation of public trust we conservatives hold dear.

Claustro’s attorney, Paul S. Meyer, tried to soften the blow, saying, “He deeply regrets his wrongful 2022 participation in a business venture that did not involve any part of his work as a district attorney and ended before he became a judge.”

Regret is nice, but let’s not pretend timing excuses defrauding a public fund—actions have consequences, and Claustro’s plea agreement on Tuesday, alongside his resignation, proves the law isn’t swayed by belated remorse.

Resignation and Upcoming Court Date

Claustro is set to appear in Santa Ana court on Monday, where the weight of a possible 20-year sentence looms large, as announced by the U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Dr. Do, Claustro’s partner in this mess, already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and a false tax return charge in January 2025, with sentencing still pending.

This saga isn’t just a personal fall from grace—it’s a reminder that even those sworn to uphold justice can stray, and when they do, the system must hold firm without bowing to progressive excuses or identity politics.