Ian Diaz prison sentence fight targets his former lawyer
Ian Diaz is asking a court to vacate his 10-year sentence, arguing his trial lawyer failed him as prosecutors oppose the bid.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
Ian Diaz is trying to undo his 10-year prison sentence, arguing in a new court petition that his former trial attorney gave him ineffective representation, according to TMZ, which says it obtained the filing.
Diaz, featured in Netflix’s “A Toxic Love Story,” claims his conviction and sentence should be vacated because his lawyer failed to properly challenge the government’s case. He has been incarcerated in a Texas prison since his 2023 sentencing, TMZ reported.
Why is Ian Diaz trying to toss his prison sentence?
Diaz says his lawyer did not file the right paperwork to contest government claims, did not gather evidence, and did not accept evidence that was offered to the defense, according to the petition described by TMZ. Ineffective counsel is a legal claim arguing that a defendant’s lawyer performed so poorly that it affected the fairness of the case.
After reviewing his case file following sentencing, Diaz claims he found material that he believes undercut the charges against him. In the filing, he accuses the government of using assumptions and falsehoods to create what he says was a misleading version of events.
Diaz also alleges false statements were used to secure an indictment. He claims prosecutors targeted him because he was a deputy with the United States Marshals Service, TMZ reported.
The filing also takes aim at his former lawyer’s attention during sentencing. Diaz says the attorney took on a high-profile client during that stage of his case, and he claims the divided focus contributed to the length of his sentence. TMZ did not report a response from the former attorney.
Diaz also says he has not received any disciplinary actions while behind bars.
What happened in the case featured by Netflix?
Netflix’s “A Toxic Love Story” covered the case involving Diaz, his then-wife Angela Diaz, and his ex-fiancée Michelle Hadley. The documentary showed evidence suggesting Ian and Angela may have worked together to harass Hadley, according to TMZ’s account.
The couple allegedly tried to make it look as if Hadley was harassing Angela. They also allegedly posted Hadley’s address in Craigslist ads that falsely presented her as seeking a “rape fantasy” partner, in an attempt to have her sexually assaulted, TMZ reported.
Hadley was wrongfully arrested and spent three months in jail before she was released. Ian Diaz and Angela Diaz were later sentenced to prison time for their roles in the conspiracy.
Angela Diaz has since been released, while Ian Diaz remains in custody. The government is working to oppose his request to vacate the sentence, and the case is still ongoing, according to TMZ.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.