Sentencing In S. California Foreclosure Rescue Scam Postponed To December
In what possibly is one the largest foreclosure rescue criminal prosecutions ever in California (although see the Stanislaus County, CA prosecution, Plea deal for men accused of fraud?) and maybe even the country, sentencing for four of the five individuals charged in the scam has been postponed to December 17, 2007, according to a Stipulation and Order filed last Friday (August 10, 2007) in a Los Angeles Federal Court.
The scheme victimized more than 100 homeowners and allegedly caused losses of at least $12 million. It resulted in the indictments of Martha Rodriguez, of Downey, Edward Seung Ok, of Torrance, Cynthia Valenzuela, of Downey, Vladimir Stefanovic, of Lancaster, and Maria G. Juarez, of Reseda. The indictment alleged 19 counts of mail fraud and seven counts of aggravated identity theft.
Of the five, Juarez has not (as of yet) agreed to plead guilty and her trial is scheduled for November 13. Of the remaining four, Rodriguez and Valenzuela entered plea agreements with the government in February (see Seal Beach escrow operator pleads guilty in fraud case).
Since the last time I visited this case, Ok and Stefanovic have entered plea agreements with the government, according to the case docket reports. The pleas were entered in June, and are currently under seal (ie. unavailable for public consumption).
For earlier reports on this case, see:
The scheme victimized more than 100 homeowners and allegedly caused losses of at least $12 million. It resulted in the indictments of Martha Rodriguez, of Downey, Edward Seung Ok, of Torrance, Cynthia Valenzuela, of Downey, Vladimir Stefanovic, of Lancaster, and Maria G. Juarez, of Reseda. The indictment alleged 19 counts of mail fraud and seven counts of aggravated identity theft.
Of the five, Juarez has not (as of yet) agreed to plead guilty and her trial is scheduled for November 13. Of the remaining four, Rodriguez and Valenzuela entered plea agreements with the government in February (see Seal Beach escrow operator pleads guilty in fraud case).
Since the last time I visited this case, Ok and Stefanovic have entered plea agreements with the government, according to the case docket reports. The pleas were entered in June, and are currently under seal (ie. unavailable for public consumption).
For earlier reports on this case, see:
- FBI Press Release - November 30, 2005
- FBI Press Release - July 20, 2006
- 5 People In Custody For Scamming Homeowners (Channel 2 - Los Angeles, July 20, 2006)
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posted by Home Equity Theft Reporter at 2:59 PM
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