Ethics
Fake lawyer who used real bar number to practice law pleads guilty
A Las Vegas man accused of impersonating a lawyer and practicing law by using a real lawyer’s bar number has pleaded guilty to a felony count. (Image from Shutterstock)
A Las Vegas man accused of impersonating a lawyer and practicing law by using a real lawyer’s bar number has pleaded guilty to a felony count.
Jerrell Roberts, 40, of Las Vegas pleaded guilty Wednesday to a felony count of obtaining and using the personal identifying information of Jerrell Berrios, a Las Vegas civil attorney.
Roberts used Berrios’ bar number, which he said he made up and thought was inactive, on three occasions, according to a police report and coverage by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Fox5 Vegas via MSN.com. In addition, he used fake names and fictitious businesses to misrepresent himself.
A lawyer who appeared in court with Roberts was suspicious after Roberts used incorrect legal terminology. Later, he was detained by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and admitted that he had not attended law school.
Roberts, an employee of the juvenile court services who is now on leave, faces eight felony charges, which include three counts of practicing law without a license and two perjury counts.
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