Four Charged With Operating Loan Modification Fraud Ring Targeting Hispanics

Posted by Cotoblogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA  - Three men and two women have been charged with committing loan modification fraud by targeting Hispanic victims throughout Southern California. Three of the defendants are family members and are charged with leading a family-run home loan modification ring and illegally charging victims for services that they did not provide.

According to the Orange County District Attorney's office,  four of the defendants have been taken into custody and one defendant remains a fugitive. In addition to the charges below, each of the defendants face sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 under $500,000, taking funds exceeding $50,000 and theft exceeding $150,000. 

Carlos Centeno is accused of owning and operating the Foreclosure Prevention Department in Irvine, and co-defendants Ricardo Centeno and Lizeth Arzate are accused of owning and operating Debt Settlers of America (DSA) in Orange, which advertised assistance for the renegotiation of home loans. 

The defendants are accused of advertising DSA on Hispanic radio stations throughout the state in order to target victims. Co-defendants Hector Valdivia and Susie Rabadan are accused of being office managers and consultants at DSA. Valdivia and Rabadan are accused of knowingly assisting Carlos Centeno, Ricardo Centeno and Arzate in charging and accepting illegal upfront fees from victims for services that they did not provide by collecting and processing loan modification applications.

Between December 2009 and December 2012, the defendants are accused of contacting 23 victims and promising them assistance with negotiating their home loans after the victims paid DSA an upfront fee. Carlos Centeno, Ricardo Centeno, and Lizeth Arzate are accused of collecting illegal upfront fees from victims ranging between $2,000 and $2,500 per modification. The defendants are accused of directly collecting several victims' monthly mortgage payments and depositing them into their personal bank accounts.

Between December 2009 and December 2012, all five co-defendants are accused of accepting and depositing illegal upfront loan modification fees and home mortgage payments from the victims into their personal bank accounts totaling over $390,000 and using the money for the payment of personal bills and expenses.

After having never received modifications on their home loans, and in some cases losing their homes to foreclosure, several victims reported the crimes to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office (VCSO), who investigated this case.

Anyone who may have additional information or who may have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Andy Terhorst of the Major Fraud Unit at 714-347-8691.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Pete Pierce of the Major Fraud Unit is prosecuting this case.