On Thursday, January 15, 2026, the Illinois Supreme Court granted a motion by Joseph Shun Mendoza Ravago to remove his name from the roll of attorneys licensed to practice law in Illinois, effective immediately. This action follows a statement of charges filed by Lea S. Gutierrez, Administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC), detailing allegations of misconduct involving the mishandling of escrow funds.
The case is entitled “In the Matter of Joseph Shun Mendoza Ravago,” with case number M.R.032915.
The ARDC’s charges stem from Ravago’s involvement as an escrow agent in transactions where he allegedly aided a client in defrauding two entities, EZ Equipment and RER Argos Trading, out of a combined total of $11,868,693.80. The allegations against Ravago include aiding and assisting a client in fraud of at least $10,421,306.90 from EZ Equipment and misrepresentation to EZ Equipment’s attorney.
According to the ARDC’s statement, in July 2023, the principals of the Raul Berninzon Trust retained Ravago as their attorney. Subsequently, in September 2023, EZ Equipment Zone, LLC entered into a written terms sheet with the Trust, with Ravago’s law firm acting as the escrow agent for funds deposited by EZ Equipment. EZ Equipment wired $10.5 million to Ravago’s IOLTA account on October 13, 2023, as part of an agreement where the Trust was to secure up to $350 million in loan proceeds for EZ Equipment.
However, by January 5, 2024, the Trust had not secured the loan funds, and Ravago had allegedly transferred approximately $9.43 million of EZ Equipment’s escrow funds at the direction of his clients. When EZ Equipment’s attorney inquired about the escrowed funds, Ravago falsely stated that the origination fees remained in the IOLTA account. The ARDC further alleges that Ravago continued to transfer EZ Equipment’s escrowed funds, reducing the balance to $78,693.06 by April 16, 2024. As of December 4, 2024, EZ Equipment had not received any loan funds, and Ravago allegedly failed to respond to demands for the return of the $10.5 million escrowed funds.
In a separate matter, RER Argos Trading entered into an escrow agreement with the Trust and Ravago in October 2024, with Ravago’s law firm acting as the escrow agent for funds deposited by RER. RER wired $1.5 million to Ravago’s client trust account on October 3, 2024, as part of an agreement where the Trust was to secure a $19.5 million line of credit for RER. The ARDC alleges that Ravago disbursed RER’s escrow funds without written authorization and that, by November 21, 2024, the balance in the account had been reduced to $48,963.15.
Ravago stipulated that if the charges proceeded to a hearing, the Administrator would present evidence that would clearly and convincingly establish the facts and conclusions of misconduct set forth in the Statement of Charges. Ravago also affirmed that his motion to strike his name from the Roll of Attorneys was freely and voluntarily made and that he understood the nature and consequences of said motion.
The Supreme Court granted Ravago’s motion pursuant to Supreme Court Rule 762(a), which allows an attorney to voluntarily remove their name from the roll of attorneys.
According to Avvo, Mr. Ravago was an immigration lawyer in Chicago, IL. He acquired his law license in Illinois in 1998.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
