News Releases

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced today that a man has been charged for falsely claiming to be a licensed attorney and offering legal services in family law and personal injury cases as well as other legal matters.

“Practicing law without a license is illegal in California, unfair to the unsuspecting client and can cause irreparable harm to the client’s case,” District Attorney Gascón said.

Efferin Deans (dob 1/27/66) of Lake Balboa faces three counts each of grand theft and practicing law without being a member of the State Bar after a prior conviction, two counts each of preparing false documentary evidence and one count of perjury by declaration, all felonies.

Deans is scheduled to be arraigned today in Department 30 of Foltz Criminal Justice Center. The case was filed for warrant on October 27.

Between January 2019 and September 2021, Deans is accused of claiming to own The Law Offices of Deans & Associates in Canoga Park. He is also accused of filing court documents and appearing on the record as a licensed attorney. He allegedly provided victims and court staff with business cards and other indications of his standing as an attorney to get them to pay him retainers and fees.

Case BA499952 is being investigated by the District Attorney’s Notario Fraud Unit of the Consumer Protection Division with assistance from the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs and the State Bar of California.

Anyone who believes they may have been a victim in this case should call the Consumer Protection hotline at (213) 974-1452.