• Facebook
  • Google Plus
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Header image

Times of San DiegoLogo

Local News and Opinion for San Diego

Menu

Skip to content
  • All
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Education
  • Arts
  • Military
  • Tech
  • Life
  • Opinion
Search Thousands of San Diego Jobs
  • San Diego State Can't Make Up for Mitchell's Loss, Dropping 2nd Straight to Utah State
  • Motorcyclist Killed on Northbound I-5 Near Las Pulgas Canyon Road
  • San Diego County Reports 3,027 New COVID-19 Cases and 28 More Deaths
  • California Democrats Liken Newsom Recall Effort to Extremist ‘Coup’
  • Journal: 'Scientifically Undeniable' That Humanity Faces '6th Major Extinction'

Home » Crime » This Article

Two of 4 Men Indicted by San Diego Grand Jury for Mortgage Fraud Scheme At-Large

Posted by Debbie L. Sklar on February 14, 2018 in Crime | 469 Views
| Comments | Leave a Comment
Share This Article:
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail
Gavel
Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Two of the four men indicted by a San Diego Superior Court grand jury in connection with a mortgage fraud scheme were at-large.

Support Times of San Diego's growth
with a small monthly contribution

Become a supporter

Arnold Millman and Andrew Valles were indicted for grand theft, filing false or forged documents in a public office, conspiracy to commit those offenses and identity theft, as well as special allegations for aggravated white-collar crimes, Attorney General Xavier Becerra said.

Mark Bellinger and Jemal Lilly were indicted on the same charges, arrested Jan. 30 and have pleaded not guilty, Becerra said.

There were 194 felony criminal counts in the indictment, Becerra said. The purported crimes resulted in a total loss of roughly $2 million for 40 victims, most of them black and Hispanic families, many of whom ultimately lost their homes and life savings, according to Becerra.

“The perpetrators of this mortgage fraud stole the life savings of decent Californians,” Becerra said. “It’s too common a story with all-too- common tactics. I hope (the) arrests and indictments break the stride of those who prey on hard-working Americans and betray their trust.”

The defendants allegedly carried out the offenses in San Diego, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties between 2012 and 2017, using a fake insurance company called “SafeCare,” which promised to provide home loans at a low monthly price.

Over the five-year period, according to the indictments, Bellinger, Lilly, Millman and Valles delayed foreclosures and eviction actions by filing false court documents under fictitious names, and instructed victims to deposit illegal advance fees and other large payments into a bank account controlled by the defendants.

When the promised loans did not come through, the defendants would proceed with the fabricated filings, prosecutors allege. The victims were charged additional fees for the false “attorney services,” according to Becerra.

“This case is evidence that insurance fraud is not a victimless crime,” Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones said. “These suspects allegedly deceived dozens of victims to the tune of over $2 million, leaving them uninsured and at great financial risk.”

The charges stem from a joint investigation by the California Department of Justice, California Department of Insurance and the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of the Inspector General.

Any addition victims of the alleged scheme were urged to call the Department of Justice at (916) 322-3360.

—City News Service

Two of 4 Men Indicted by San Diego Grand Jury for Mortgage Fraud Scheme At-Large was last modified: February 14th, 2018 by Debbie L. Sklar

>> Subscribe to Times of San Diego’s free daily email newsletter! Click here

Follow Us:
Facebooktwitterrss
Posted in Crime | Tagged at-large, Jemal Lilly, Mark Bellinger, mortgage fraud, San Diego Superior Court grand jury
Search Thousands of San Diego Jobs

Get Times of San Diego by Email

Our free newsletter is delivered at 8 a.m. daily.


Most Popular Today

  • New CDC Data Shows How San Diego County Ranks Nationally in the Pandemic New CDC Data Shows How San Diego County Ranks Nationally in the Pandemic 1,470 views
  • Opinion: Santee's Dustin Trotter Should Resign as Backer of D.C. Insurrectionists Opinion: Santee’s Dustin Trotter Should Resign as Backer of D.C. Insurrectionists 1,220 views
  • MarketInk: Prolific Announcer Hangs Up Microphone After 2,000 Games Over 35 Years MarketInk: Prolific Announcer Hangs Up Microphone After 2,000 Games Over 35 Years 620 views
  • San Diego Residents 65+ Are Next in Line for Vaccine, But Supplies Still Limited San Diego Residents 65+ Are Next in Line for Vaccine, But Supplies Still Limited 510 views
  • Nazi Flag Driver, an Iraq Combat Veteran, Has Gun Violence Restraining Order Nazi Flag Driver, an Iraq Combat Veteran, Has Gun Violence Restraining Order 500 views

©®2021 Times of San Diego LLC

Menu

  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service