Crime & Safety
Laguna Beach Man Who Embezzled $5M+ From Clients Pleads Guilty
A 74-year-old Laguna Beach man pleaded guilty Monday to embezzling nearly $6 million as the executor of the estates of wealthy clients.
![A 74-year-old Laguna Beach man pleaded guilty Monday to embezzling nearly $6 million as the executor of the estates of wealthy clients.](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/22880696/20240812/072807/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-1152354839___12192754588.jpg)
LAGUNA BEACH, CA — A 74-year-old Laguna Beach man pleaded guilty Monday to embezzling nearly $6 million as the executor of the estates of wealthy clients.
David Robert McDonnell embezzled the money through his Laguna Beach- based company, McDonnell Business Services, prosecutors said. The company handled the estates of various clients and would dole out assets to heirs after a client had died.
McDonnell is scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 9.
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Prosecutors said the defendant embezzled $5,909,220.15 from four trusts from 2018 through January.