VENTURA, Calif. – District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Daniel Montano (DOB 02/15/94), of Camarillo, was sentenced to 180 days jail, placed on formal probation for two years, and ordered to pay $102,366 in victim restitution. Montano had previously pled guilty on August 2, 2023, to four felony counts of forgery. Montano also admitted as true circumstances in aggravation that the crimes indicated planning, sophistication, and professionalism, and that he took advantage of a position of trust and confidence when he committed the offenses. Montano is a licensed real estate agent by the California Department of Real Estate. In October 2020, while Montano was employed by RE/MAX Gold Coast Realtors in Ventura, the victims chose him to represent them on two residential transactions. The investigation in this case, conducted by the District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation, determined that during this representation Montano forged the victims’ signatures on multiple California Association of Realtors forms. After forging the victims’ signatures, Montano sent the documents to escrow on the sale and purchase of residential properties located in Ventura.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Dominic Kardum, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Real Estate Fraud Unit, prosecuted the case.
“County residents rightfully place a lot of trust in real estate agents they choose to represent their families,” Kardum said. “When those agents violate that trust, the District Attorney’s Office will hold those individuals responsible by vigorously investigating and prosecuting their violations of the law.”
In addition to jail time, formal probation, and restitution, under the terms of his sentence Montano is prohibited while on probation from engaging in any employment activity requiring a real estate license. Prior to his sentencing today, Montano paid $68,500 in victim restitution.