February 27, 2007

Attorney Sentenced in Theft Case

LOS ANGELES – An attorney who pleaded guilty to grand theft of personal property was sentenced today to perform 500 hours of community services as part of a three-year probationary term.

Deputy District Attorney Shannon Presby of the Justice System Integrity Division said Bryan Daniel Kamenetz, 36, made full restitution of a little more than $19,000. He also was sentenced to four days in jail and given credit for four days served, meaning he does not have to do any further time behind bars.

Kamenetz and former attorney Steven Unger, 48, were charged in 2005. Unger pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit the unauthorized practice of law and grand theft. He was sentenced last year to a 16-month state prison term.

A similar conspiracy charge against Kamenetz was dismissed at time of sentencing.

When the pair was charged in 2005, prosecutors said that Kamenetz took over Unger’s law office when the other man resigned from the California State Bar with charges pending in February 2002. It was alleged that Unger continued to represent five clients after he resigned from the state bar.