Attorney Convicted for Multi-Million Dollar Casino Swindle in Las Vegas
Title: The Extravagant Fall from Grace: California Attorney Sara King and Her $8.7M Embezzlement Scheme
Author: Richard Janvrin (Informal, Approachable)
Source: Richard Janvrin (2025)
Image: Flickr, CC BY-NC 2.0
Get to the Heart of the Matter
These days, the name Sara King is synonymous with luxurious living gone wrong. Once a respected attorney in Newport Beach, California, King's life took a drastic turn when she embarked on a multi-million dollar embezzlement scheme to fund her high-rolling lifestyle and gambling addiction.
King's downfall began when she masterminded a bogus loan scheme through King Family Lending LLC, her hard-money lending business. Luring investors with the promise of quick 10% returns, King never intended to initiate or fund any loans. Instead, she swindled millions, using the money to enjoy the high life and feed her gambling habit—mostly at Vegas casinos[1][2][4].
Dubbing herself the “slots whisperer” and embracing the infamous “Lady Mafia” nickname, King lived lavishly, spending six months in a VIP suite at Wynn Las Vegas, gambling non-stop. Resplendent in designer clothing, swanky cars, and socializing with the Orange County elite, King's world came crashing down as her criminal activities were exposed[1][2][4].
Her luxurious lifestyle, fueled by a heady mix of alcohol and Xanax, eventually caught up with her, leading to criminal charges. In July 2023, King pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering and was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison. The Judge also ordered her to pay full restitution of $8,785,045 to her victims, who included high-profile investors and ordinary individuals[1][2][3][4].
Fasten Your Seatbelts, Folks
King's brazen and sensationalized approach to her offenses came to light when she appeared on the “Lady Mafia” podcast prior to sentencing. Prosecutors cited her podcast appearance as evidence of her disregard for the law. However, her attorney argued she deserved leniency, citing substance addiction and her personal downfall—losing her law license, which had been suspended pending disbarment[1][3].
In the end, Sara King's life story is one of excess, deceit, and a comeuppance. From her position of respect in the Newport Beach community to her self-imposed "Lady Mafia" persona and criminal conviction, King's fall from grace serves as a stark reminder of the perils of owing to one's vices.
[1] US Department of Justice news release. Justice.gov. Retrieved June 23, 2025. Accessed online: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/orange-county-lawyer-pleads-guilty-wire-fraud-and-money-laundering-scheme-costing-victims
[2] Arshad, N. (2023). “Former Attorney Sara King Indicted for Allegedly Stealing $8 Million to Fund Gambling Habit.” OC Weekly. Retrieved June 23, 2025. Accessed online: https://www.ocweekly.com/news/former-attorney-sara-king-indicted-for-allegedly-stealing-8-million-to-fund-gambling-habit-7919987
[3] Goldsmith, A. R. (2023). “Sara King Indicted on 40 Counts in Scam That Fleeced Investors.” The Daily Journal. Retrieved June 23, 2025. Accessed online: https://www.dailyjournal.com/2023/10/31/sara-king-indicted-on-40-counts-in-scam-that-fleeced-investors/
[4] Ruiz Jr., R. G. (2023). “California Attorney Sara King Indicted on Fraud Charges for Allegedly Stealing $8 Million for Personal Use.” ABC-7. Retrieved June 23, 2025. Accessed online: https://abc7.com/california-attorney-sara-king-indicted-on-fraud-charges-for-allegedly-stealing-8-million-for-personal-use/12644166/
- Evidently, Sara King's high-life was predominantly funded through her involvement in sports betting, online casinos, and poker, particularly at Las Vegas casinos.
- Before her criminal activities were exposed, Sara King, dubbed the "slots whisperer," was known for her lavish lifestyle, marked by designer clothing, expensive cars, and socializing with the Orange County elite.
- King's embezzlement scheme involved a bogus loan scheme through her hard-money lending business, King Family Lending LLC, which she used to fuel her gambling addiction and fund her extravagant lifestyle.
- In 2025, the general news and casino-and-gambling sections in journals reported that King had been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and ordered to pay full restitution of $8,785,045 to her victims.
- In a twist of events, King's involvement in crime and justice issues, though not traditionally linked to her career in journalism, culminated in her downfall, as she was sentenced for wire fraud and money laundering in July 2023.
- As a cautionary tale, King's life story serves as a reminder of the risks associated with online casinos, sports betting, and gambling addictions, and the potential consequences for those who resort to fraudulent means to sustain such vices.