Three people associated with Grand View Financial have been indicted for running a mortgage fraud scheme throughout California, including San Diego County.
The scam targeted many elderly and financially distressed homeowners by promising mortgage and foreclosure relief, with combined losses totaling $7 million, according to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra.
"Individuals who prey on vulnerable communities to enrich themselves will be held accountable by the California Department of Justice," said Becerra in a statement released Friday.
Steven Rogers, Robert Sedlar and Audrey Gan have been arrested and charged with conspiracy, grand theft, elder abuse, filing false or forged documents in a public office, and engaging in a prohibited act as a foreclosure consultant. The 121-count indictment was issued by a Sacramento Superior Court Grand Jury.
Victims span Northern and Southern California, as well as the Central Valley. Three victims lived in San Diego County. The properties involved were in Ramona, Imperial Beach and San Diego.
According to the indictment, Grandview Financial offered assistance to people facing foreclosure from 2015 and 2019. Rogers, Sedlar and Gan promised homeowners that if they transferred their property and paid money to Grand View Financial, the company would eliminate the mortgage lien and deed the home back to the homeowner clear of any liens.
The scheme included the three filing false court proceedings, false documents with the county recorders offices and false bankruptcies.
Grand View Financial filed for bankruptcy in 2017, which was dismissed. At the time, the company listed its business address as Los Angeles. It is not known where Rogers, Sedlar and Gan reside.
The California Department of Justice's white collar crime team joined several federal agencies including the U.S. Trustee Program and U.S Marshals Service in the investigation. The Stanislaus County and El Dorado County district attorney's offices also participated.
