San Diego DA Indicts 10 On 150+ Felony Charges In Alleged Foreclosure Scams Involving Sale Leasebacks, Land Grants

In San Diego, California, the San Diego Union Tribune reports:

• The county grand jury indicted 10 people(1) yesterday for allegedly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a foreclosure scam that victimized hundreds of homeowners in San Diego and Riverside counties. The District Attorney's Office received indictments on more than 150 felony counts. Authorities said the crimes were uncovered last year following complaints by homeowners, most of whom are Latino.

• The alleged victims said they were tricked into paying fees to foreclosure consultants who did nothing to prevent their homes from being taken back by lenders. Many had only a basic command of the English language, said Deputy District Attorney Stephen Robinson.

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• The alleged scammers had two ways to trick the owners of some 400 homes into paying them fees for bogus consulting services, the district attorney charged. One required them to pay a one-time fee of up to $10,000 to place their property into a land grant. The second method was a lease-back, in which they deeded over their properties and paid rent.

For more, see 10 indicted in alleged foreclosure conspiracy (Authorities: Homeowners tricked into paying fees).

(1) Five suspects in the case were arrested in May. Yesterday in Superior Court, 10 defendants were arraigned on charges of conspiracy, grand theft, rent skimming and deceitful practices. They were William Hutchings, 62, and his wife, Xiaoke Li, 43, both of San Diego; Edgar Martinez, 30; Diego Gil, 38, Shawna Landis, 29; Octavio Escatel, 29; Joel E. Garcia, 26; Stephen P. Mauer, 54; Rose M. Napoli, 34; and Alex Olmos, 39.