Real Estate fraud crimes used to be investigated by the Sacramento Police and Sheriff’s Departments…then prosecuted by the DA’s Office. Now the DA will handle both. Marv Stern is Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney.
“It leads to a much more efficient one-stop shop for victims. They no longer have to worry about a different agency investigating the case versus prosecuting the case. It’s all here.”
The DA’s Real Estate Fraud Unit has added another investigator and another attorney. That brings the unit’s staff up to six. Stern says they’re currently working more than 50-cases…many of them involving foreclosure bailout scams. That’s when a scam artist offers to fix a homeowners bad mortgage…for a fee.
“And the fee is always a couple thousand dollars and then nothing gets done and these people who were desperate because they’re in a loan over their heads are further victimized.”
The expansion of the Real Estate Fraud Unit is funded with an additional $3 fee attached to county real estate documents.
“It leads to a much more efficient one-stop shop for victims. They no longer have to worry about a different agency investigating the case versus prosecuting the case. It’s all here.”
The DA’s Real Estate Fraud Unit has added another investigator and another attorney. That brings the unit’s staff up to six. Stern says they’re currently working more than 50-cases…many of them involving foreclosure bailout scams. That’s when a scam artist offers to fix a homeowners bad mortgage…for a fee.
“And the fee is always a couple thousand dollars and then nothing gets done and these people who were desperate because they’re in a loan over their heads are further victimized.”
The expansion of the Real Estate Fraud Unit is funded with an additional $3 fee attached to county real estate documents.