People v. Mora CA4/2

BACKGROUND

I. Nieto’s 2016 conviction for grand theft

The People filed a complaint in August 2016 charging Nieto with grand theft of

personal property. (§ 487, subd. (a).) Isaac Vega represented Nieto in the case.

According to the police report, Nieto forged a driver’s license, title to a Porsche,

and a bill of sale for the Porsche, and he then listed the Porsche on eBay for sale. He

found a Porsche for sale on another website and used the images and videos on that site

to create his eBay listing. The victim responded to Nieto’s listing and transferred

$42,500 to Nieto’s accounts, and after she tried for several days to pick up the car, Nieto

blocked her phone calls and emails. When officers searched Nieto’s home, they found

evidence of other forged driver’s licenses, titles to cars, and bills of sale, including forged

documents relating to a Ferrari, a Bugatti, and a Lamborghini.

In November 2016, Nieto pled no contest to the single count of grand theft. The

parties stipulated that the police report provided a factual basis for the plea. At the plea

hearing, the court asked Vega whether he had explained to Nieto “all immigration

2 consequences that might…