Seth Adam Depiano, 43, formerly of Fresno County, has been charged with multiple crimes, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California made the announcement Thursday.
In 2018, Depiano was sentenced to over 12 years in prison for running a $24 million fraud scheme in California. However, while serving his sentence in federal prisons in Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Florida, Depiano continued his criminal activities.
Between 2021 and 2022, Depiano orchestrated a complex real estate fraud scheme, using contraband phones and computers to manage operations from prison. Posing as a real estate broker under the fake identities “Marcus Lazaro” and “Steven Baron Sr.,” Depiano marketed and sold properties he did not own or have authority to sell.
Depiano’s co-conspirators, located across the United States, helped him meet with potential investors, conduct financial transactions, and carry out other illegal activities. The group managed to defraud victims across California, Nevada, and other regions, securing approximately $10 million in illicit funds.
The money was laundered through Las Vegas casinos, international wire transfers, and shell companies, before being used to purchase properties and invest in legitimate businesses.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office emphasizes the severity of these charges and is committed to bringing justice to the victims of these fraudulent activities. Further legal proceedings will follow.
