FRESNO, Calif. – A shocking case of deceit has come to light in Fresno, California, where a former resident, Seth Adam Depiano, 43, of Clovis, has been charged with managing a complex real estate fraud scheme from behind bars.
According to court documents, Depiano was sentenced in 2018 to more than 12 years in prison for running a $24 million fraud scheme in the Eastern District of California (Case No. 1:17-cr-172 DAD). However, while serving his sentence, Depiano allegedly orchestrated a nationwide real estate scam that bilked victims out of approximately $10 million in California, Nevada, and other locations.
The scheme, which was carried out with the help of co-conspirators, utilized contraband phones and computers to pose as a real estate broker. Depiano, operating under the fictitious identities "Marcus Lazaro" and "Steven Baron Sr.," convinced victims to purchase properties that he did not own and had no authority to sell.
Co-conspirators were tasked with meeting with potential investors, conducting financial transactions, and performing other activities on Depiano’s behalf. Once the funds were obtained, they were laundered through Las Vegas casinos and other businesses.
Depiano and his co-conspirators also formed shell companies to purchase and hold real estate using victim funds, and wire transferred money overseas. The scheme’s scope and complexity are a testament to the cunning and audacity of the perpetrators.
Depiano is currently in custody, facing charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and aggravated identity theft. His next court date is set for July 16, 2025, at 1:00 pm before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila K. Oberto.
Co-defendants Zahria Barber, 28, of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Paola Quintero Beltran were also charged in the scheme. Barber and Beltran’s next court dates are July 16, 2025, before Judge Oberto.
Depiano faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison for wire fraud and mail fraud. He also faces a mandatory minimum penalty of two years consecutive for aggravated identity theft. If convicted, Depiano will be determined by the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The charges against Depiano are only allegations, and he is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
This case is the result of an investigation by the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Bakersfield Police Department, with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Nevada Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey A. Spivak is prosecuting the case.
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Key Facts
- State: California
- Category: White Collar Crime|Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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