California man pleads guilty to identity fraud in Russia probe

An attorney says the man thought he was helping people fraudulently open online bank accounts, but had no idea "his customers were foreign nationals" trying to meddle in the election.|
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The attorney for the California man who pleaded guilty in the Russia probe says his client made a mistake.

The lawyer tells The Associated Press that Richard Pinedo's connection to Russian meddling "is way beyond anything he could have possibly imagined" being involved in.

The lawyer says Pinedo thought he was helping people fraudulently open online bank accounts, but that Pinedo had no idea "his customers were foreign nationals" trying to meddle in the election.

Jeremy Lessem says his client will not make any public statements.

Pinedo is from Santa Paula, California. He pleaded guilty earlier this month to using stolen identities to set up bank accounts that were then used by the Russians.

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