Seth Adam Depiano, a former resident of Clovis, California, appeared in court following an indictment on charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Michele Beckwith.
Court documents reveal that Depiano was previously sentenced in 2018 to over 12 years in prison for orchestrating a $24 million fraud scheme in the Eastern District of California. While serving his sentence across federal prisons in Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Florida during 2021 and 2022, Depiano allegedly managed another intricate real estate fraud operation involving co-conspirators nationwide.
Depiano reportedly used contraband phones and computers under the aliases “Marcus Lazaro” and “Steven Baron Sr.” to impersonate a real estate broker with non-existent clients. He marketed properties he neither owned nor had authority to sell. His network of co-conspirators engaged with potential investors and conducted financial transactions on his behalf.
The fraudulent activities led to approximately $10 million being acquired from victims located in California, Nevada, and other regions. The funds were laundered through Las Vegas casinos and other businesses using international wire transfers and shell companies for property purchases.
This investigation is a collaborative effort by IRS Criminal Investigation, the Bakersfield Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Spivak is prosecuting the case.
Depiano remains in custody with his next court appearance scheduled for July 16, 2025, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto. Co-defendants Zahria Barber from Las Vegas and Paola Quintero Beltran also face charges related to this scheme; their court dates are set for the same day before Judge Oberto.
If found guilty, Depiano could face up to 20 years imprisonment for wire fraud along with a mandatory minimum two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft. Sentencing will be at the court's discretion after considering statutory factors and Federal Sentencing Guidelines. It is important to note that these charges are allegations; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.