First Of Ten Defendants In Alleged San Diego-Area Land Grant Foreclosure Rescue Scam Cops Plea; 400+ Homeowners Victimized, Say Prosecutors

In San Diego, California, XETV-TV Channel 6 reports:

• A man accused with nine other people of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a home foreclosure scam pleaded guilty Tuesday to seven felonies, including conspiracy and grand theft. Octavio Escatel, 29, will be sentenced to probation and a year in jail at a June 5 hearing before Judge Charles Gill.

• William Hutchings and wife Xiaoke Li, Edgar Martinez, Diego Gil, Shawna Landis, Joel E. Garcia, Stephen Mauer and Alex Olmos pleaded not guilty to more than 150 counts of grand theft, conspiracy and deceitful practices as a foreclosure consultant. They, along with a 10th defendant, Rose Napoli, had their trial set for Jan. 19.

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• More than 400 homeowners in San Diego and Riverside counties were victimized, prosecutors said. Two methods were allegedly used to induce property owners in foreclosure to participate in a so-called land grant program, according to prosecutors. One method required homeowners to pay a one-time fee of up to $10,000 to put their property in a land grant, prosecutors said. The second method was a lease-back scheme, according to authorities. In both scenarios, the homeowners were typically evicted and retained no legally recognized title to their property.

For the story, see Man Preyed on Over 400 People in Home Foreclosure Scheme.