Press Release Date:

September 29, 2009

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit obtained full restitution in the amount of $220,091 on behalf of crime victim Carolyn Koenig.

On September 17, 2009, Ronald Ted Hasson (DOB 1/19/54) of Encino was sentenced on two felony counts – theft from an elder and securities fraud. At the sentencing hearing, Judge Edward Brodie ordered the court-appointed Receiver to disburse these funds to the victim, Ms. Koenig, who is 70 years of age. The funds were obtained by use of California ‘s “Freeze and Seize” law which allows prosecutors to seek court orders to liquidate assets owned or controlled by convicted criminals who have violated the aggravated white collar crime enhancement.

Press Release Date:

September 17, 2009

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit filed a felony complaint against Alonzo Gene McCowan (DOB 7/5/60) and Kimberly Ann Oglesby McCowan (DOB 11/6/63), a married couple from Camarillo. The felony complaint charges Alonzo McCowan with two counts of theft from an elder (Penal Code section 368(d)) and two counts of money laundering (Penal Code section 186.10(a)). It is also alleged as to Alonzo McCowan that the crimes were committed 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.

Press Release Date:

September 17, 2009

Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant of $1,665,231 Awarded to Ventura County District Attorney for the Prosecution of Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud
District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the District Attorney’s Office has received an award in the amount of $1,665,231, over the course of two years, to assist, investigate, and prosecute cases involving real estate and mortgage fraud in Ventura County.
The grant comes from the American Recovery Reinvestment Act and is aimed at curbing recent increases in real estate and mortgage fraud.

Press Release Date:

September 10, 2009

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Unit has filed a felony complaint against John William Vanderwall III (DOB 12/13/63) of Simi Valley . The complaint charges Vanderwall with one count of grand theft (Penal Code section 487(a)).

Press Release Date:

August 7, 2009

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Veronica Sanchez Gallegos (10/30/80), a licensed real estate agent residing in Ventura , pled guilty on August 6, 2009, to one felony count of theft from an elder, five felony counts of grand theft, and admitted a special allegation of taking more than $500,000.

Press Release Date:

August 3, 2009

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that the Special Prosecutions Division has concluded a civil prosecution conducted against real estate businesses owned and operated by Oscar Soto Vasquez (DOB: 11/30/71 ), of Fillmore and his wife Delia Vasquez, along with his loan company, Quest Home Loans, Inc. (“Quest”), dba Quest Mortgage of Oxnard, and his realty company, Real Estate Vision, Inc. (“ REV ”), dba Century 21 New Vision of Oxnard, and Vasquez’s wife, Delia Vasquez (DOB: 05/25/71 ) of Fillmore, agreed to pay restitution, civil penalties, and costs of the suit. The Final Judgment and Permanent Injunction were signed this afternoon by Judge Frederick Bysshe.

Press Release Date:

November 12, 2008

District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that Manuel “Manny” John Perez, Jr. (DOB 5/7/72), of Oxnard , was sentenced to the California Department of Corrections following his convictions for several real estate fraud-related crimes. Perez had previously pled guilty to four counts of grand theft, arising from his actions between May and September 2005, under the guise of his wholly-owned businesses, Case Bonita Realty, Creative Mortgage Solutions and Elite Escrow. Perez received a total sentence of ten years, eight months. His prison sentence included enhanced punishment for excessive taking and violating the aggravated white collar crime statute.