California Woman Ordered To Stand Trial For Burglary, Grand Theft In Alleged Upfront Fee Loan Modification Racket

In Monterey County, California, The Herald reports:

• A judge Friday ordered a Gonzales woman to stand trial in connection with an allegedly fraudulent real estate scheme, but cleared her nephew, saying there was insufficient evidence that he was involved in the conspiracy. Maria de Lourdes Ponce, 51, will be arraigned Dec. 8 on charges of burglary, conspiracy and five counts of grand theft. She faces up to nine years in prison if convicted.(1)

• According to testimony at her prolonged preliminary hearing, Ponce took advance fees from homeowners who were facing foreclosure, promising that she could negotiate with the banks to give them new or modified loans.

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• The burglary charge — which alleges that Ponce entered the home of her landlord to collect a $2,800 advance fee knowing that she would never deliver on the promised loan — is the most serious of the felony charges, carrying a maximum sentence of six years in prison.

For more, see Judge orders aunt to court in fraud scheme, burglary; clears nephew.

(1) Her associate, Melissa Garcia, of Watsonville, is serving a four-year prison sentence in connection with an unrelated case in Santa Cruz County, the story states. She reportedly pleaded guilty in the Monterey County case and has agreed to testify against Ponce.