24 Suspects In Alleged Street Gang Member-Led Mortgage Fraud Scam Could Face Hard Time As California Feds Bring RICO Charges Against Group

In San Diego, California, voice of san diego.org reports:

• Federal prosecutors on Tuesday announced unprecedented charges against individuals involved in an alleged mortgage fraud ring involving 220 properties in San Diego County, with total purchase prices topping $100 million. The 24 defendants were all charged with participating in a "corrupt enterprise" under a federal law created by the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, which allows for charging multiple defendants with extended penalties for their participation in an ongoing crime ring.

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• The indictment describes a network of individuals allegedly masterminded by defendant Darnell Bell, or D-Bell.(1) Bell is a documented member of the Lincoln Park street gang and had already been serving time for about a year for narcotics charges when he was arraigned on the racketeering charges in federal court [Tuesday] morning, [U.S. Attorney Karen] Hewitt said.(2)

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• By recruiting members of their organization to cover every piece of the real estate transaction -- from appraiser to escrow to real estate agent to buyer -- the organization allegedly obtained millions of dollars in cash back and fraudulently obtained commissions and fees, according to the indictment.

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• Because prosecutors decided to fuse the alleged actions of all 24 defendants into the overarching racketeering charge, the individuals could each face up to 20 years in prison and fines of $250,000. The alleged racketeering activity includes charges of bank fraud, money laundering and wire fraud.

For more, see Mafia-Esque Charges Brought Against Alleged Mortgage Fraud Ring.

For the Federal indictment, see U.S. v. Bell, et al.

See also, San Diego Union Tribune: 24 people indicted in mortgage fraud plot ($11 million netted in S.D.-area scheme).

(1) Besides Bell, the lead defendants in the case reportedly are:

• Michael Ivy, 43, of San Diego, who prosecutors say negotiated the property transactions;
• Stanley Gentry, a 49-year-old licensed local real estate broker, who allegedly allowed the organization to use his broker's license to facilitate the purchases, in exchange for $10,000 a month and a cut of the commissions and fees on each deal; and
• Billie Bishop, 49, of La Mesa, an escrow officer who allegedly enabled the organization to purchase more than 100 properties.

The other defendants include several real estate professionals: Diana Jaime, 33, a public notary; Jorge Cortez, 39, a licensed real estate agent; Esteban Valenzuela, 28, a licensed real estate appraiser; Anton Ewing, 38, a CPA; and Randolph Hirsch, 43, and Dennis Tapia, 49, both registered tax preparers. Prosecutors said defendants Latashia McKinney, 35, and Marcus Dozzell, 34, rounded up some of the straw buyers. Lorena Callu, 52, worked for the organization and allegedly helped to prepare and submit loan applications. Prosecutors also name several straw buyers as participants in the corrupt enterprise: Desiree Holiday, Dexter Holiday, Keith Holiday, Gerard Holiday, Ray Logan aka Jack Nasty, David Lewis, David Lewis, Joseph Lewis, Stevie Frazier, Jorge Magana, Nicoele Watson and Daniel Williams. All of them fraudulently obtained mortgages and purchases properties on behalf of the organization, according to the indictment.

(2) According to the indictment (beginning at page 6, line 26), Bell "used his status as a long-standing member of the Lincoln Park street gang to recruit some of the "straw buyers" and to maintain discipline within the enterprise."