A 66-year-old man from Riverside County was arrested earlier this month after allegedly impersonating an attorney during court proceedings and investigators believe he may have additional victims.
On April 16, the suspect, Upland resident Erick Porras Rivera, fled the Riverside County Courthouse after deputies were alerted that he was not in fact an attorney.
An investigation was opened into the incident, with detectives reportedly learning Rivera had been fraudulently representing himself as a licensed attorney practicing law in Orange County and collecting retainer fees from a client.
A warrant was issued for Rivera’s arrest, and he was later taken into custody at his residence in the 200 block of West 9th Street in Upland, officials with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.
During the search of his home, authorities said deputies recovered multiple pieces of evidence related to the alleged crime.
The 66-year-old was booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center for false impersonation, theft by false pretenses, burglary and practicing law without a license.
Detectives said the investigation into Rivera remains ongoing and believe there may be additional victims.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation or anyone who believes they were victimized by Rivera is asked to contact Riverside County Sheriff’s Department’s Sgt. Bodnar at 951-776-1099 or the Sheriff’s Court Service Division at 951-955-2420.
