The 57-year-old son Nao Takasugi— a late assemblyman and Oxnard mayor — will remain in jail pending sentencing early next year for embezzling from an estate and will probably get five years in prison, according to prosecutors.
But new charges involving the theft of money from another estate that were made public Wednesday mean Simi Valley attorney Russell Takasugi could get an additional five years or more.
After learning there was an warrant for his arrest Wednesday, Takasugi turned himself in to authorities. He later discovered the district attorney had filed seven new felony charges, including grand theft, money laundering and multiple counts of forgery.
He will be arraigned on the new felonies on Jan. 5.
In October, Takasugi pleaded no contest to embezzling more than $500,000 from the estate of Oscar Muro. Muro died in August 2007 from pancreatic cancer at age 71. Takasugi has argued that he loaned himself money from Muro's estate.
Bank records filed in probate court show Takasugi spent lavishly on family members and at restaurants and stores, took vacations and bought a BMW.
Takasugi faces up to 14 years in jail if convicted of the new charges.
Leventhal said Takasugi stole tens of thousands of dollars from the estate of Hazel McVey, a former client who died Oct. 13, 2002. After McVey died, her accounts were left open and Takasugi helped himself to the money.
McVey's estate is valued at hundreds of thousands of dollars.
If you or someone you know is facing embezzlement charges, the most important thing you can do is
contact a criminal defense lawyer. Ventura County Criminal Defense Attorney
Robert Helfend has over 20 years of experience and the resources to help.