Lanphier & Associates, Steele Lanphier LANPHIER & ASSOCIATES OWNED BY DRUG DEALER* UNDER INVESTIGATION BY CALIFORNIA STATE BAR, FEDERAL AUTHORITIES Sacramento California

The State Bar of California, while performing its due diligence during an investigation of Attorney Steele Lanphier, failed to uncover extremely pertinent information that should be a matter of public record.

      A dozen years ago, Lanphier was experiencing financial difficulities when he was approached by Luis Vargas, a convicted drug dealer AND FEDERAL INFORMANT that served time in Federal prison. Vargas is related to nefarious members of a Mexican Mafia-led drug cartel. He has been heard stating that he has millions of dollars readily available and is known for routinely lying to anyone for any reason to elicit even more money.  Vargas is a self-proclaimed “gangster”; he recruited Lanphier by advancing him a large sum of money to pay off his personal debts as well as additional funds to allow him to promote and advertise his law firm. Vargas insisted that his girlfriend, Norma Guzman, handle all monetary transactions and perform legal duties within Lanphier’s firm.  Vargas directs Ms. Guzman to falsify amounts on the bankruptcy forms required to be filed for their clients to federal bankruptcy courts avoid detection. Many of the other attorneys have left the firm and ran for cover. They are expected to testify about their dealings with Vargas and Lanphier. The IRS and State authorities are expected to have an interest in this parternership as well. Vargas gained complete authority of all business aspects of the firm and makes all the decisions while Lanphier makes none; even though he had entered into an equitable financial fee-split 50-50 arrangement with Lanphier, Vargas insisted on pilfering even more money from the firm. Vargas has brazenly stated “I am the the (expletive) owner, I am (expletive) Lanphier.”  In partnership with some non-attorney “associates”, including David Silva and Caesar (last name unknown), Vargas has managed to gain complete control and administration of Lanphier’s firm.  As of this writing, Lanphier & Associates is under investigation by both Federal Authorities and the California State bar for misappropriation of trust fund monies.

   Vargas is both a user and supplier of illegal steroids, methamphetamine and other narcotics.  He routinely threatens and intimidates anyone who questions or fails to follow his orders. Lanphier is in fear of unpredictable retribution from Vargas as he believes him to be not only capable, but more than willing, to carry out his threats of physical harm. Vargas is a known informant for the Federal Government. Who is protecting this drug dealer? 

     Luis Vargas has several aliases, including, but not limited to, Joseph Guzman and Joseph Lopez.  Together with his girlfriend, Norma Guzman, they own several trust accounts, solely for the purpose of veiling their funds from Electronic Data Discovery and the Internal Revenue Service.  Vargas and others are routinely paid in cash to avoid detection by the State Bar and the IRS.  It is entirely unfortunate that Steele Lanphier chose NOT to testify truthfully at State Bar Proceedings, ultimately giving his consent to this criminal enterprise that is an obvious formidable threat to the general public. It appears that the State bar of California has been ineffective in their efforts thus far to investigate this law firm.  

     If you had a negative experience with Lanphier and Associates, it is STRONGLY ADVISED that you phone the California State Bar Association at 1-800-843-9053 to file a formal complaint.