HOUSTON, Texas — It became a twist Baldemar “Val” Zuniga in no way saw coming. “Yeah, it becomes a sort of like a sucker punch,” Zuniga stated. “It simply was.” Zuniga, a crook protection attorney for 15 years, by no means had a patron turn on him until Steven Nguyen. “I wager no accurate deed goes unpunished,” Zuniga said. In August 2017, the 33-year-vintage became charged with tampering with a central authority file, accused of creating a fake driver’s license for the motive of using his sufferer’s credit bills. He employed Zuniga.
The following February, Zuniga negotiated a reduced sentence. Nguyen pleaded guilty and was given time served. He even got the $4,000 lower back the country had seized. Zuniga says it became a quite bargain. Eleven months later, he saw a security photograph from the Helzberg Diamonds at Memorial City Mall. “First, I failed to need to accept as true with it due to the fact I idea I had performed a really appropriate task for this gentleman, however then the fact units in and you have to start thinking, ‘This is what I represented him for,'” Zuniga stated. “So I shouldn’t be surprised that he could switch on me.”
Investigators with Houston Police Major Offenders Division say that Zuniga’s ID and his credit score account, Nguyen allegedly attempted to shop for a Rolex and free diamonds. When he could not, police say he went to a close-by Best Buy and bought an iPad and add-ons well worth $1, seven-hundred on the lawyer’s account. Somehow, Zuniga believes Nguyen got his social safety number and went from there.
“But why? You helped him,” stated ABC13 reporter Jessica Willey.
“That I’m still seeking to discern out,” Zuniga responded. Nguyen stays in prison on multiple fees of tampering with authorities’ statistics and could face new costs within the coming days. It is the very price Zuniga defended him on. The attorney says the enjoy as a sufferer has opened his eyes, and this time, he’s hoping for no deals for his former client.
“Maybe it is time he has an extended stay in prison and considers what he’s performed to human beings, especially the ones seeking to help him.” Nguyen does not have an attorney of the file on the current costs. He’s expected in court docket on Thursday.
