SANTA ANA – A 75-year-old Laguna Beach man was sentenced Monday to four years in federal prison for embezzling nearly $6 million as the executor of the estates of wealthy clients.

David Robert McDonnell embezzled the money through his Laguna Beach-based company, McDonnell Business Services, prosecutors said. The company handled the estates of various clients and would dole out assets to heirs after a client had died.

Prosecutors said the defendant embezzled $5,909,220.15 from four trusts from 2018 through January 2024.

U.S. District Judge James Selna ordered McDonnell to pay $5.9 million in restitution.

McDonnell pleaded guilty on Aug. 12, 2024, to a count of wire fraud.

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