Attorney Alexander Daniel De Lucio Disbarred from Immigration Practice Following Arizona Disbarment for Fund Misappropriation

On Friday, October 25, 2024, the Board of Immigration Appeals issued an order disbarring attorney Alexander Daniel De Lucio from practicing before the Board, the immigration courts, and the Department of Homeland Security.

The case is entitled “In the Matter of Alexander Daniel De Lucio.”

The order stemmed from De Lucio’s disbarment by the Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Arizona Supreme Court on August 7, 2024. As reported in an ALABnews article, Judge Margaret H. Downie had disbarred De Lucio over allegations that he misappropriated over $1 million in settlement funds from several personal injury clients.

Specifically, between May 2023 and January 2024, De Lucio settled cases for various clients but failed to disburse the settlement money to them. He deposited the settlement checks into his law firm trust account but did not make any disbursements. Clients were unable to reach De Lucio or get information about their cases or money.

In February 2024, the State Bar of Arizona began receiving complaints against De Lucio. An investigation found his abandoned law office with no sign of him. Staff said he had not been to the office regularly or paid salaries since January 2024.

After issuing an interim suspension in late February, the State Bar filed a formal complaint against De Lucio in late May, which he did not respond to. In July 2024, a hearing was held where evidence from the State Bar was considered since De Lucio defaulted. Medical providers and former clients testified they could not get information or payment promised from settlement funds.

Based on De Lucio’s disbarment in Arizona, the Board of Immigration Appeals ordered De Lucio’s disbarment from immigration practice. The order stated the proposed sanction from the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security was appropriate given the circumstances. De Lucio had failed to respond to their September Notice of Intent to Discipline regarding the Arizona disbarment. De Lucio is prohibited from practicing immigration law before the Board, courts, and DHS effective immediately.

According to avvo.com, Mr. De Lucio was a business attorney in Phoenix, Arizona.

A copy of the original filing can be found here.