Reports: Former Judge Gets Probation, $5,000 Fine for Fraud Scheme With Suspended Provider

Friday, August 28, 2026 | 0

The Southern California judge who pleaded guilty to paying a suspended provider to write medical-legal reports was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $5,000 Thursday, according to media reports.

Israel Claustro pleaded guilty to one count of felony mail fraud in January and admitted to paying Dr. Kevin T. Do to perform exams, review medical records and write med-legal reports relating to Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund claims after Do was prohibited from participating in the workers' compensation system.

The Division of Workers' Compensation in October 2018 suspended Do, who served a year in federal prison for defrauding Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program, about 20 years ago. Do told Claustro about the suspension when it took effect.

Do pleaded guilty in January 2025 to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. He has not been sentenced yet.

He admitted in his plea agreement that he acted as the owner of Liberty Medical Group, but it was actually controlled by Claustro, who was not a medical professional and was a prosecutor with the Orange County District Attorney's Office at the time.

Claustro resigned his position as a family court judge when he was charged. 

The California Commission on Judicial Performance in March publicly censured Claustro and barred him from serving as a judge in the future.