Press Release Date:

April 19, 2011

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Alonzo Gene McCowan (DOB 7/5/60) has been sentenced after pleading guilty to three felony counts arising out of a series of real estate transactions. The crimes are alleged to have occurred during the period of October 2004 through September 2006, but were not discovered until January 2008. The crimes for which McCowan pled guilty to are theft of real property from an elder, money laundering, and grand theft. McCowan also admitted as true special allegations of taking in excess of $500,000 in a series of related felonies involving fraud. In a negotiated disposition, McCowan was ordered to serve 365 days in the Ventura County jail. He may serve this sentence in the Work Furlough Program if approved by the Probation Agency. He will be on formal probation for 13 years, during which he must pay a minimum $1,000 per month restitution to an elderly victim, Leo G. The total restitution owed to Leo G. is $349,100, plus 10 percent interest annually on any unpaid balance. Should McCowan pay the entire balance owed, his probation grant may be terminated after a minimum five years have passed. Restitution in favor of Steel Mountain Capital, a commercial lender, is to be determined at a restitution hearing set for June 20, 2011. McCowan must remand to the Ventura County jail on May 16, 2011.

Press Release Date:

March 21, 2011

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit has filed a seven-count felony complaint against Larry Curtis Waltz (DOB 10/18/44) of Ventura. The complaint charges Waltz with one count of theft from an elder (Penal Code § 368(d)), five counts of grand theft (Penal Code § 487(a)) and one count of recording a false document (Penal Code § 115(a)). It is also alleged that the crimes were committed in violation of Penal Code section 186.11(a)(3), the aggravated white collar crime enhancement, in that the crimes were related felonies, a material element of which is fraud, and that the taking was more than $100,000.

Press Release Date:

March 7, 2011

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Enrique Sandoval Martinez (DOB: 01/19/65), formerly of Thousand Oaks, was sentenced to the maximum term of 15 years imprisonment after a jury convicted him of six felonies involving real estate fraud on December 2, 2010.

In an investigation conducted by the District Attorney Office’s Bureau of Investigation, it was determined that in late 2004 Martinez utilized a fictitious identity to purchase a $1.8 million new luxury home in the Moorpark Country Club Estate development. To further this transaction, Martinez committed grand theft against an individual victim who was led to believe he was investing in the property with Martinez . Martinez , working with Terrance George “Terry” Tucker, convinced this individual victim to take out four simultaneous home equity lines of credit. The victim entrusted Martinez and others with over $788,000 that was withdrawn from these lines of credit.

Press Release Date:

January 13, 2011

Ventura County District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Real Estate Fraud Unit has filed a felony complaint against Maria Victoria Santos (aka Vicky Santos, DOB 10/07/55) of Ventura, Felipe Carlos Segovia Castro (aka Felipe Carlos, DOB 11/20/43) of Moreno Valley, Laura Cecilia Carlson (DOB 10/18/46) of Hacienda Heights, and Margie Joanna Vargas (DOB 02/12/88) of the city of Orange.

The felony complaint charges Santos with 11 counts of foreclosure consultant fraud and seven counts of grand theft. Castro is charged with one count of foreclosure consultant fraud. Carlson, a licensed real estate salesperson, is charged with two counts of foreclosure consultant fraud. Vargas, a licensed notary public, is charged with two counts of foreclosure consultant fraud.

Press Release Date:

June 17, 2010

VENTURA, California – Federal and local authorities this morning arrested 13 individuals linked to mortgage fraud operations that filed fraudulent loan applications with several banks and other lenders, generated millions of dollars in loan fees and real estate commissions, and caused millions of dollars in losses when the homes went into foreclosure because the purchasers were unable to make their monthly payments.

Press Release Date:

May 21, 2010

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit has filed a felony complaint against Alfonso Corona (DOB: 03/26/70) and Maricela Corona (DOB: 04/18/68) of Newbury Park, and, Mirna Carranza (DOB: 07/07/84) of Moorpark.

The felony complaint charges Mr. Corona with three counts of grand theft (Penal Code section 487) and one count of money laundering (Penal Code section 186.10). It is also alleged as to Mr. Corona that the crimes he committed are in violation of the aggravated white collar crime enhancement (Penal Code section 186.11(a)(2)) in that the crimes were related felonies, a material element of which is fraud, and that the taking was more than $500,000. An enhancement for taking in excess of $1,300,000 (Penal Code section 12022.6(a)(3)) was also alleged as to Mr. Corona. Mr. Corona faces a maximum term in custody of eight years, eight months if convicted on all counts alleged against him. The felony complaint charges Maricela Corona with eighteen counts comprised of twelve counts of grand theft (Penal Code section 487) and six counts of money laundering (Penal Code section 186.10). It is also alleged as to Mrs. Corona that the crimes she committed are in violation of the aggravated white collar crime enhancement (Penal Code section 186.11(a)(2)) in that the crimes were related felonies, a material element of which is fraud, and that the taking was more than $500,000. An enhancement for taking in excess of $1,300,000 (Penal Code section 12022.6(a)(3)) was also alleged as to Mrs. Corona. Mrs. Corona faces a maximum term in custody of 20 years if convicted on all counts alleged against her. 

Press Release Date:

May 12, 2010

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that John William Vanderwall (DOB 12/13/63), a licensed real estate agent from Simi Valley, pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of felony grand theft and admitted a special allegation of taking more than $50,000 in a case filed by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Unit.

Press Release Date:

March 26, 2010

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Alysa Rosen (DOB 3/11/63) of Thousand Oaks, a former member of the California State Bar, was arraigned on felony charges of identity theft, forgery and grand theft. Rosen is currently in custody in the Ventura County jail on $100,000 bail. Also, Kelly Clough Gladstone (DOB 7/1/60) of Thousand Oaks, was cited and released on a single misdemeanor charge of failure to perform duties of a notary public in violation of California Government Code section 8228.1(a).

Press Release Date:

March 16, 2010

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Clinton Tod Harwell (DOB 10/1/58) of Westlake Village was arraigned on March 15, 2010, in the Ventura County Superior Court on one count of felony grand theft and a special allegation that he took more than $65,000. Harwell pleaded not guilty and denied the special allegation.