Overview
Drawing on extensive first-chair trial experience as a former federal prosecutor, Scott Paetty brings a commanding and strategic approach to defending DTO’s clients in complex matters.
During his career in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, Scott obtained some of the Office’s most significant criminal trial victories in Los Angeles. As Deputy Chief of the Major Frauds Section, Scott led the prosecution team that convicted disgraced plaintiff’s attorney Tom Girardi. His work prosecuting one of the largest COVID fraud rings in the country, including the extradition of the two lead defendants from Montenegro, was featured on CNBC’s American Greed. His federal trial work spans several subject areas, including winning a six-week, $230 million securities fraud trial involving a complex market manipulation scheme and a three-week insider trading trial involving the controller of a publicly traded company. Scott has also argued cases on appeal in the Ninth Circuit. Scott also served as the District’s disaster fraud coordinator—a post that put him at the front lines of investigating and charging cases of emergency benefits fraud in the wake of the devastating Southern California wildfires in January 2025.
Before his time as an AUSA, Scott was an attorney at two international law firms, where he represented clients in complex commercial litigation and in federal criminal investigations. He previously served as a law clerk to Judge James J. Brady of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana and Judge Alfred T. Goodwin of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Before attending law school, Scott was a professional actor with appearances in numerous film and television projects, including Friends, Beverly Hills 90210, Six Feet Under, and Dance with Me.
Scott was a three-time nominee for the Department of Justice Director’s Award, for Superior Performance as an Assistant United States Attorney, one of the highest awards available to federal prosecutors.
Presentation and Training for Head Feds (Senior Management at Regional Law Enforcement) on Investigation and Prosecution Techniques for Combating Pandemic Relief Fraud (2022)
Panelist, “Fidler Institute on Criminal Justice: Dark Web and Federal Investigations,” Loyola Law School (2019)
Presentation and Training for new AUSAs on trial presentation and communication skills
Classless Not Clueless: A Comparison of Case Management Mechanisms for Non-Class-Based Complex Litigation in California and Federal Courts, 41 Loy. L.A. L. Rev. 845 (2008)
Experience
U.S. v. Girardi et al., in which celebrity attorney Tom Girardi and the chief financial officer of Girardi’s law firm were convicted for stealing over $15 million from clients. Girardi was sentenced to over 7 years in prison.
U.S. v. Ayvazyan, in which 8 members of a fraud ring were convicted of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering for a massive COVID relief fraud scheme causing over $25 million in losses. The prosecution team recovered over $10 million from the defendants.
U.S. v. Loman, in which the controller of a publicly traded Los Angeles company was convicted of insider trading, including short-sale trades in company stock.
U.S. v. Reodica, in which a notorious Southern California fugitive fraudster from the 1980s was finally brought to justice. His arrest at LAX and subsequent conviction marked the end of decades-long efforts to vindicate his many victims who lost tens of millions of dollars.
Credentials
Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, J.D.
Stanford University, B.A.
U.S. Department of Justice (2014-2025)
O’Melveny & Myers LLP (2013-2014)
Perkins Coie LLP (2011)
Admitted in California and Louisiana
Federal Courts:
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana
Hon. Alfred T. Goodwin
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (2011-2012)
Hon. James J. Brady
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana (2009-2010)
